Embassy of the United States Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Working Hours: 

Emergencies: American citizens requiring urgent or emergency services should call the Consular Section to arrange a time to come by for the service.  During business hours, the Consular Section can be reached at +251-111-306000.  In very serious emergencies, after working hours or on weekends and holidays,  call +251-111-306911.   

U.S. Citizen Registration: The Consular Section strongly encourages all U.S. Citizens living or traveling in Ethiopia to register online at:

travel.state.gov.

Or download form DS-4024 from:

http://eforms.a.state.gov/editdocument.aspx?documentid=1294 

Fill it out and drop it at the American Embassy Consular Section, American citizen Services. Please note that online registration will allow travelers to change their contact and itinerary information at any time, without waiting at the Embassy. Registration enables the Embassy to promptly notify U.S. Citizens of important matters or emergency situations that might arise.  It also helps the Department of State's long term crisis planning.

Registering is an essential first step in protecting yourself while traveling overseas. The State Department's secure online travel registration website allows you, as an American citizen, to record your foreign trip and residence information that the Department of State can use to communicate with you and assist you in the event of an emergency.  The Internet Based Registration System (IBRS) allows U.S. Citizens to provide and maintain information about themselves, their travel companions and family members, emergency contacts and travel itinerary or overseas residence to the Department of State via the Internet.  Registration information for groups of U. S. citizens can also be entered by their organizations, companies, schools or travel agencies. You can access IBRS at: https://step.state.gov/step/

Notary Services: The Consular section notarizes documents that will be used in the United States or in Ethiopia.  All applicants for notary services must come in person at the consular section with photo ID. DOCUMENTS MUST BE SIGNED IN FRONT OF A CONSULAR OFFICER. The fee for notary services is USD 50.00 or the equivalent in Ethiopian Birr.

 The Consular Section offers the following types of notary services:

      Authentication: The Consular Section authenticates original
      documents issued in the  United States only after they have been
      signed and sealed by the Department of State in Washington D.C.
      Documents issued in Ethiopia are authenticated  by the consular
      section only after  the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
      authenticate them. For more information about the authentication
      process, please visit travel.state.gov.

     True Copy: The Consular Section executes and confirms a true
      copy of an original or another copy of a document.

      Driving License: The Consular Section validates U.S. issued
      driving licenses so that travelers can be issued an Ethiopian
      driving license. After a driving license is validated, the document
      must be taken to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for
      confirmation so that other local government offices will accept it.

     Marriage information: Statement of free-to-marry status for
     U.S. Citizens or legal permanent residents, who wishes to be
     married in Ethiopia, can be obtained from the consular section.
     The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs should authenticate
     the document so that local municipality offices will accept the
     document.

 Arrests: When the Consular Section is advised that an American has been arrested, a consular officer visits the arrested American Citizen as soon as possible; provides information regarding the foreign legal system and a list of attorneys; and offers other assistance such as contacting family or friends on the prisoner's behalf based on a Privacy Act Waiver signed by the arrested American; arranges transfer of private funds for delivery to American prisoners, arranges dietary food supplements and/or medical care through a U.S. Government loan. Although consular officers can provide information and supportive assistance, they cannot "spring" an American from detention, serve as the prisoner's legal representative, or intervene in the foreign judicial process. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY YOU ARE VISITING BEFORE YOU ARRIVE, especially if you intend to reside abroad for an extended period of time.  

The laws of Ethiopia are strictly enforced, including immigration and customs regulations that you may encounter when entering Ethiopia for the first time. Please consult the Embassy's warden messages for the most current information.

Financial Assistance: Under most circumstances, the Embassy cannot directly assist American citizens with cash. The Consular Section assists Americans overseas in financial trouble by contacting family, friends,  or employers on an American's behalf and can assist in the transfer of funds from outside of  Ethiopia to the American in need. In rare instances that an American's contacts cannot offer any assistance, the Embassy can issue a short-term loan to repatriate a U.S. Citizen to the United States. Recipients of loans must travel directly to the United States and all ticketing arrangements are made and paid for by the Embassy. Embassy loans may not be taken in cash and FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OR TO FOREIGN NATIONALS MARRIED TO AMERICAN CITIZENS. Financial assistance/loan  is approved only if the American citizen looking for the assistance is in a dire situation and unable to get any source of fund , and if only ready to be repatriated to the United States.   If you are in need of financial assistance please come to the Embassy Monday through Friday during working hours.

Medical Assistance: A Consular officer is available to assist seriously ill or incapacitated Americans 24 hours a day. An officer can assist in locating family members, guardians and friends in the United States, with translation services for Americans in hospitals and by identifying and transmitting private funds when necessary. When necessary an officer can also assist in the return of the ill or injured individual to the United States via commercial air or private medical evacuation services. Please note that most domestic insurance companies do not offer coverage for medical evacuation services abroad. Please consult with your insurance company, credit card or company human resources department to check on your coverage before you travel.

Death of American Citizens: When an American dies abroad, the Embassy identifies and notifies the next of kin or a legal representative. The Embassy provides guidance on how to make arrangements for local burial or return of the body to the United States according to the preference of the next kin. The Consular Section takes the responsibility for safeguarding the personal estates of U.S. Citizens who die abroad if the deceased has no legal representative in Ethiopia. The State Department has no funds to assist in the return of ashes or remains of U.S. Citizens who die abroad. Additional information about the costs and procedures when an American dies abroad can be found here.

Welfare and Whereabouts: In welfare and whereabouts cases, the Consular Section tries to obtain all pertinent data available about the individuals and attempts to locate the individuals, determine their welfare, pass on any urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back the results of their search efforts.

Federal Benefits: The Consular Section assists in the processing of individual benefits claims and problems investigates claims on behalf of benefit agencies and performs other tasks requested by benefits agencies and the Treasury Department or needed by the beneficiaries.

It is possible to receive federal benefits checks at the Embassy if you are a resident of Ethiopia. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO RECEIVE FEDERAL DISABILITY BENEFITS WHILE LIVING OR TRAVELING ABROAD, even if your checks are being sent to a U.S. Address. Doing so can result in the suspension of benefits and possible prosecution. If you are unsure about what benefits you can receive abroad, please visit the Consular Section Monday through Thursday 08:00-11:30am.

Property Claims: The Consular Section assists claimants by distributing general information and providing a list of local attorneys in Ethiopia.

Selective Service Registration: Young men who have reached the age of 18 years should register with the Selective Service online at http://www.sss.gov/default.htm.

Federal Voting Assistance: The Consular Section provides voting information and assistance in completing the Federal Post Card Application, which may be used to register to vote and request absentee ballots. The Section also provides Federal Write-In Absentee Ballots to people who have applied for state ballots but do not receive them in time to be returned and counted. For additional information please visit travel.state.gov.  

Taxes: The Consular Section has federal tax forms available to assist U.S. Citizens to file their taxes. The Embassy cannot provide clients with tax advice. For filing assistance or other tax-related question, please contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Additional Links:

  Consular Affairs site for consular birth, death and marriage records

  Consular Affairs site for American Citizens Services information

  Consular Affairs site for Passport application requirement 

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Contact Information

Address:
Entoto Street
P.O.Box 1014
Addis Ababa

For specific inquiries regarding adoption please e-mail:
ConsAdoptionAddis@state.gov

For American Citizen Services, please e-mail: 

consacs@state.gov

To report fraud, please e-mail:        
FPMAddis@state.gov

To request an expedited appointment, please e-mail:
addisvisas@state.gov

All other inquiries should be sent to:
consaddis@state.gov

If you are calling about an emergency involving a U.S. citizen please call 011 130 6000 available 24 hours per day, seven days per week

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Thu 08:00-11:30am, 01:00-03:30pm.

 U.S. Government Links

•   "No Fear Act"

• Travel Information
• Travel Warnings
• Travel Alerts
• Bureau of Consular Affairs
• Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS)

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)