An urgent passport renewal in Ethiopia costs 25,000 ETB for a 2-working-day turnaround or 20,000 ETB for 5 working days, compared with 5,000 ETB for normal processing. Both urgent tiers are domestic-only. You apply online through the Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) portal, pay by code, then attend an in-person biometric appointment that finalizes the file.
Fees and Turnaround
Council of Ministers Regulation 550/2024 sets the current fee schedule. For a renewal — whether your passport expired or simply ran out of pages — the three tiers are:
- Normal processing: 5,000 ETB, with timelines significantly longer than the urgent options.
- Urgent, 5 working days: 20,000 ETB.
- Urgent, 2 working days: 25,000 ETB.
The same fees apply to expired passports and passports with no remaining blank pages.1Immigration and Citizenship Services. Immigration and Citizenship Service Fees (Revised by Council of Ministers Regulation 550/2024) The gap between the 2-day and 5-day tier is only 5,000 ETB, so anyone with a real deadline usually picks the faster one.
Replacing a lost passport is a separate 13,000 ETB fee under the same regulation, applied on top of your chosen processing speed.
Documents You Need
What you bring depends on why you are renewing:
- Expired passport: a copy of the expired passport’s information page.
- Pages full: a copy of the passport’s information page.
- Damaged passport: a copy of the information page (or any page showing the passport number) and a valid Kebele identity card.
- Change of personal data: a copy of the information page and a court evidence letter.
Lost or stolen passports require more: a valid Kebele identity card, a police evidence letter, and a copy of the passport or whatever details you have, such as the passport number.2Ethiopian Passport Services. Apply for Ethiopian Passport Online
For domestic applications, the office captures your photograph and biometrics at the appointment, so you do not need to bring a printed photo. Bring the originals of every supporting document you uploaded — ICS verifies them at the appointment.
How to Submit the Application
Start online at ethiopianpassportservices.gov.et. Fill in the form so that every field matches your government records exactly; mismatches send you back to the start.
Choose the urgent tier — 2-day or 5-day — during the online form stage. That selection sets your fee. Once you submit, the system generates a payment code, which you can settle online or at a bank.2Ethiopian Passport Services. Apply for Ethiopian Passport Online Pay promptly. The code has a limited validity window, and if it expires you resubmit the whole application.
After payment clears, book your in-person appointment through the same portal. ICS will not admit you to any office without a confirmed appointment.3Ethiopian Passport Services. Ethiopian Passport Services Home
What Happens at the Appointment
Arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before your scheduled time.3Ethiopian Passport Services. Ethiopian Passport Services Home Bring the originals of every document you uploaded. The office then takes your photograph, fingerprints, and other biometric data, which finalizes the application.
If you cannot make the appointment, cancel it before the date by sending an SMS with the word “Cancel” to 8611.4Ethiopian Passport Services. Passport Appointment FAQ Missing an appointment without canceling can complicate rebooking, and any delay defeats the reason for paying the urgent fee.
Lost Valid Passports and the 15-Day Wait
One thing to know before you count on urgent service: replacing a lost passport that was still valid triggers a 15-day clearing period before ICS will process the replacement.2Ethiopian Passport Services. Apply for Ethiopian Passport Online The 2-day or 5-day clock only starts after that period ends. It is a security measure to flag potential misuse of the missing document.4Ethiopian Passport Services. Passport Appointment FAQ Lost expired passports do not carry the waiting period, but you still submit a confirmation of loss.
For a damaged or mutilated passport, submit the passport itself with a confirmation of mutilation. The 13,000 ETB replacement fee sits on top of your chosen processing speed.1Immigration and Citizenship Services. Immigration and Citizenship Service Fees (Revised by Council of Ministers Regulation 550/2024)
If the Applicant Is Under 18
Minor applicants need extra documents on top of the standard renewal set. A parent provides a valid Kebele identity card or a copy of their passport information page. If a legal guardian is applying instead, a court-issued guardianship document is required. An authenticated birth certificate for the child is also mandatory.2Ethiopian Passport Services. Apply for Ethiopian Passport Online
If You Are Outside Ethiopia
The urgent tiers do not apply. Ethiopian citizens abroad initiate applications through the Digital INVEA platform or the nearest Ethiopian embassy or consulate, and processing typically runs from several weeks to a few months depending on embassy workload and coordination with ICS in Addis Ababa.5INVEA. Passport Services Fees are paid in the local currency of the host country, and accepted payment methods vary by embassy, so confirm with your consular office before submitting.
Tracking and Collecting the New Passport
After the biometric appointment, check status through the Passport.ET portal or its mobile app using your reference number or full name.6Passport.ET. Urgent and Regular Ethiopian Passport Services The Ethiopian Postal Service (Ethiopost) handles passport delivery at branch offices in cities including Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Hawassa, Gondar, and Jimma.7Ethiopost. Branch Services: Passport Delivery Depending on where you are, self-pickup at a designated center or home delivery may also be available.