Ethiopian citizens are facing higher costs for passport services following a recent fee hike implemented by the Immigration & Citizenship Services (ICS).
The price of obtaining a new booklet or renewal has doubled from 2,000 Br to 5,000 Br. Urgent passport services have experienced even more dramatic increases, with two-day delivery now costing a hefty 25,000 Br, while a five-day delivery is priced at 20,000 Br. The most expensive option, an urgent lost passport with corrections delivered in two days, has skyrocketed to 40,500 Br.
These substantial fee hikes have drawn criticism from the public, with many expressing concerns about the financial burden.
The fee adjustment, which took effect last week, comes amid the government’s decision to float the national currency. Partnering with Toppan Gravity, a subsidiary of the renowned Japanese printing giant, ICS is gearing up to introduce electronic passports (e-passports) within the next few months. The new venture is hoped to reduce reliance on foreign currency and will feature microchip-embedded biometrics to bolster security and combat identity theft.
