Laissez-Passer
A Laissez-passer is an official travel document issued by the Ethiopian Embassy to Ethiopian citizens needing to travel to Ethiopia urgently, in the event that their passport or travel document has been lost or stolen.
Please note that this document can only be used once to go back to Ethiopia. This is a temporary document.
Applications must be made in person at the Embassy on Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment only, as you will be required to provide fingerprints.
Appointments can be made by contacting us at 343-961-7212.
To apply for a Laissez-passer travel document, please read the following information carefully.
Application Flow
You must complete two copies of the application form.
Completing the Application Form
The form must be completed in BLOCK CAPITAL letters in either blue or black ink.
You must:
- Complete the form to the best of your ability, answering all the required questions clearly. Your application may not be processed if you fail to provide all necessary information
- Sign and date the form, where asked
If you have any questions concerning your application, please contact the consular section via contact us .
- A completed Laissez-passer application form
We cannot accept forms submitted by email.
- A formal application letter
A formal application letter detailing the reason for your application.
- Documents certifying your citizenship
Documents allowed are ID Cards, Birth Certificates, Copy of your Passport, etc.
- Two recent, passport-sized color photographs
The photograph should be full face without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless for ethnic or religious reasons.
The photo should be attached to the application form by paper clip or another non-permanent means. DO NOT staple the photographs to the application form.
Please write your name on the back of the photograph in BLOCK CAPITAL letters.
Please note that we may not accept photographs that do not meet these specifications.
- The application fee
A list of the fees can be found here.
The fee for a Laissez-Passer application is $68.00.
The Consular Section only accepts credit and debit card payments for all Consular Services. Payments by American Express, cash, postal orders or banker’s draft are no longer accepted.
You may submit your application on Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment only.
You require an appointment to submit your application.
Provided you have submitted all the required documents, applications are usually processed within three working days. Some applications, however, may take longer.
At the time you submit your application, you will be notified when to return to collect your documents.