Addis Ababa, January 7, 2017 – The Immigration and Citizenship Service has announced that it collected 16.3 billion birr in revenue from various services over the past six months, surpassing its initial target of 10 billion birr.

In an official statement, Director General Salamyat Dawit reported that more than 1.1 million passport booklets were imported into the country, with over 721,000 passports printed and distributed during this period.

Breaking down the numbers, she stated that 649,326 regular passports (including new issuances and renewals) were issued, while 71,372 urgent passports were processed and delivered. In total, 721,623 passports were issued, with 98% of recipients—701,871 individuals—successfully obtaining their documents.

Regarding visa facilitation, she highlighted that 188 countries now accept visas on arrival for travelers visiting Ethiopia for tourism, conferences, and business purposes. This policy has facilitated entry for 1.6 million travelers arriving by air, while 1.24 million individuals departed from the country, bringing the total number of processed passengers to 3.3 million.

Additionally, she emphasized the government’s coordinated efforts with the National Intelligence and Security Service and the Addis Ababa Police Commission to combat illegal activities. As part of these efforts, 126 suspects involved in fraudulent and deceptive brokerage operations have been apprehended and brought to justice.

The Immigration and Citizenship Service reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring efficient passport issuance, visa services, and security enforcement to enhance Ethiopia’s travel and immigration systems.