“We have taken legal action against more than 3,000 foreign nationals and Ethiopians who attempted to obtain passports illegally” – H.E. Selamawit Dawit
“We have taken legal action against more than 3,000 foreign nationals and Ethiopians who attempted to obtain passports illegally” – H.E. Selamawit Dawit
Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Gmail Viber Telegram Facebook MessengerAddis Ababa, April 21, 2026 – The Immigration and
“We have taken legal action against more than 3,000 foreign nationals and Ethiopians who attempted to obtain passports illegally” – H.E. Selamawit Dawit
Addis Ababa, April 21, 2026 – The Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) has held a press conference regarding its operational performance and key achievements over the past nine months.
In her briefing to journalists, the Director General of the Service, Honorable Mrs. Selamawit Dawit, stated that the institution successfully issued passports to more than 1.1 million citizens over the last nine months.
Highlighting the successful delivery of services, she noted that assistance was provided to over 847,000 foreign nationals. Furthermore, she mentioned that travel services were facilitated for more than 5.4 million inbound and outbound passengers at both air and land border checkpoints.
Revenue and Service Expansion
The Director General revealed that the institution generated a total revenue of 30.9 billion Birr from its overall services during the nine-month period. Regarding service accessibility, she pointed out that passport services have been expanded from 12 to 22 branch offices. Additionally, services are currently being provided through 10 “Mesob” one-stop centers.
Regulation and Border Security
Mrs. Selamawit added that, concerning the registration and regulation of foreign nationals, the legal status of 42,809 foreigners working in various domestic companies was verified, ensuring their transition into legal compliance.
She also emphasized that the institution played a crucial role in safeguarding national security and national interests through border control operations. Over the past nine months, more than 10,530 foreign nationals and Ethiopians were intercepted while attempting to cross borders illegally, and appropriate legal actions were taken.
Furthermore, regarding passport services, Mrs. Selamawit stated that focused efforts are being made to deliver services in a manner that protects citizens’ rights. To this end, 3,638 foreign nationals and Ethiopian individuals who attempted to obtain services illegally using forged documents or fraudulent citizenship credentials were apprehended and are being held legally accountable.
Modernizing Civil Registration
In relation to civil registration, 4.8 million vital events were registered within the nine months of the 2018 fiscal year, of which 1.8 million were current events. To modernize this registration process, an AI-powered system has been developed and put into operation. The Director General concluded by noting that preparations have been finalized to roll out this system to regional states in the near future.
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By admin
May 29, 2026
