Guidance

Ethiopia: Knowledge Base profile

Published 4 September 2025

Version 2.0

About: Ethiopia

This document contains useful information about Ethiopia which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 1 September 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Ethiopia: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Ethiopia.

Names in Ethiopia consist of:

• a forename
• their father’s given name
• occasionally, their paternal grandfather’s given name

Change of name

Women in Ethiopia do not change their names after marriage. However, women can apply for a change with a court order and marriage certificate.

Ethiopia: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Ethiopia.

Dual nationality is not recognised in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Ethiopia.

Legitimacy

Ethiopia recognises a difference between illegitimate and legitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate:
  • if their parents were married at the time of the birth
  • if their parents married within 180 days of the birth
  • if their parents divorced within 300 days of the birth
  • from the time of the marriage, if the parents marry over 180 days after the date of birth and the father acknowledges paternity of the child
• illegitimate if their parents never marry

The legal father of the child is considered to be the mother’s husband if:

• the child was born when the mother was married
• the mother married within 180 days of the birth
• the child was born within 300 days of the mother’s divorce

In these circumstances the husband does not need to be named on the birth certificate to be considered the legal father.

Ethiopia: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Ethiopia.

Adoption is legal in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Ethiopia.

Surrogacy is recognised in Ethiopia but has no legal framework.

Ethiopia: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Ethiopia.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Ethiopia.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not legal in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia recognises:

• civil marriage
• religious marriage
• customary marriage

Polygamy is illegal in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from Ethiopia.

Birth certificates

Births in Ethiopia must be registered within 90 days of the date of birth. Late registration is allowed and will incur a fine or up to 6 months imprisonment. Registrations are made regionally in the district where the birth occurred.

Birth certificates are reissued if a mistake is identified on the original.

­­ Adoptive parents can get a birth certificate for an adopted child showing they are the parents of the child. As the format of birth certificates vary between districts, this may or may not be shown as a footnote at the bottom of the certificate.

Marriage certificates

Civil marriages in Ethiopia must be registered within 1 month of the ceremony taking place. Late registration is allowed and there is no penalty.

There is no time limit for registering religious or customary marriages.

Marriage certificates are issued for civil and religious marriages.

Customary marriages do not have a marriage certificate and are supported by a statutory declaration from the fathers or male representatives from both families.

The couple must be present during the marriage ceremony unless permission is given for a proxy marriage by the Ministry of Justice. Permission will only be given if there is a serious cause preventing the couple attending in person.

Death certificates

Deaths in Ethiopia must be registered within 30 days of the date of death at the local civil registration office near where the deceased lived. Late registrations are allowed and incur a penalty.

A member of the family must register the death to get a death certificate. They must provide:

• proof of identity of the deceased
• a hospital certificate if the death occurred in hospital
• a letter from the Kebele office if the death occurred at home

Anyone can acquire a copy of a death certificate if they are able to provide the above documents.

Identity documents

All Ethiopia residents over the age of 18 are issued with a Kebele identity card. Foreign nationals living in Ethiopia are issued with an alien registration card.