Legalization

Legalization admin September 18, 2022

Legalization

You can get certain official documents legalized or authenticated by the Embassy in order to use them in Ethiopia.

Until further notice, all applications for the legalization of documents must be made by post.

Official Documents Legalized

Please note that you can ONLY purchase bond directly from Ethiopia following the steps below.

1
Authentication

Document Authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia.

2
Fee & Payment

Upon receipt of your application, a consular officer will contact you to take payment over the phone.

3
Legalization

Legalization Office at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Legalization flow

Birth or Marriage certificates, Educational qualifications, Driving licenses and other similar documents.

As well as Court decisions and orders, and other pecuniary documents.

Canada Documents must first be authorized and stamped by the Legalization Office of the Foreign and Commonwealth office in Canada.

Ethiopian Documents must first be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ethiopia.

Documents that have not been issued in the Canada or Ethiopia must be authenticated by the governing body of the country where the documents were issued.

The original document and its copy must be posted to the Embassy along with a covering note including the following details:

  • Name of individual/organization
  • Service Requested (e.g Legalization)
  • Postal Address
  • Telephone Number 

All applications must be made by post.

Please submit your documents to the following address:

Consular Department
Embassy of Ethiopia
350 Spark St, Ottawa ON K1R 7S8

Please ensure that you enclose a pre-paid self addressed return by special delivery envelope to allow us to return your documents to you following legalization.

Please allow 10 working days for your documents to reach us before attempting to contact us. If after 10 working days you have still not been contacted, please call us on +1 (343) 961 7212

Please note that…

  • The processing fee is non-refundable
  • Paperwork submitted in a manner different from the above will not be accepted
  • Due to COVID-19, your application could take longer than usual to reach the Embassy

Upon receipt of your application, a consular officer will contact you to take payment over the phone.

We kindly request that you do not contact the Consular Department to make payment.

The fee listed is per seal. 

Non-Business Documentation (Marriage Certificates, Educational Certificates, Driving Licenses etc…)

  • Ethiopian Passport and I.D. card holders – $50.00
  • British/Other passports – $75.00

Business Documentation (Registration Certificates, Articles of Associations etc…)

  • Ethiopian Passport and I.D. card holders – $52.00
  • Canada/Other passports – $80.00

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 not accepted. 

Payment by cheque or any means other than those stated above, cannot be accepted.
The processing fee is non-refundable.

Documents are usually processed within five working days. Due to COVID-19, some applications may take longer to process than normal.

At the time you pay the fee for your documents over the phone, you will be notified when to expect your documents to be returned to you.

The Consular Section will return your documents to you by post, using the pre-paid self-addressed return envelope you enclosed with your original application.