Eligibility Quiz
Is your spouse an Ethiopian citizen or a foreign national with a valid Ethiopian permanent residence permit?
Documents Required
You must gather and digitize the following paperwork before beginning your application. All documents not in English or Amharic must be accompanied by a certified translation.
Identity and Legal Documents
- Valid Passport: Your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining from your date of application.
- Marriage Certificate: The original certificate and a copy. If issued outside Ethiopia, it must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the issuing country and the Ethiopian Embassy in that jurisdiction.
- Spouse’s Identification: A copy of your spouse’s Ethiopian Passport, National ID, or Permanent Residence ID.
- Passport Photographs: Recent color photographs taken against a white background.
Supporting Documents
- Police Clearance Certificate: An official document from your home country's law enforcement confirming a clean record.
- Proof of Financial Means: Bank statements or employment contracts (either yours or your spouse's) showing sufficient funds for living expenses.
- Proof of Address: A lease agreement or a letter from the local Kebele (neighborhood administration) confirming your residence in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is on our roadmap
We can notify you when we're ready to support Ethiopia.
Key Developments
The Immigration and Citizenship Service announced the launch of a new digital passport and visa system to modernize processing and reduce manual delays for residence-related applications.
addisinsight.net ↗Under Council of Ministers Regulation No. 550/2024, fees for residence permit issuance and renewals were significantly increased to 5,000 ETB, representing a major adjustment in the cost of maintaining legal status through marriage.
ethiopianlaw.com ↗The Ethiopian government enacted the Immigration and Citizenship Service Proclamation No. 1338/2024, which overhauled the legal framework for immigration services, including the administration of residence permits for foreign spouses.
justice.gov.et ↗