Addis Ababa, July 14, 2025 (FMC) — The Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) has undertaken comprehensive modernization efforts to address national demands and comply with international benchmarks, Director-General Selamawit Dawit announced today.
Delivering her remarks at the inauguration of a two-day ICS performance review meeting in Addis Ababa, Director-General Selamawit highlighted significant progress achieved over the past two years.
She acknowledged that the service previously faced challenges due to reliance on outdated systems that fell short of both national requirements and global standards.
However, through extensive reforms, ICS has realized notable advancements in its operations, marked by streamlined procedures, upgraded technological infrastructure, and enhanced staff competency training.
“These initiatives have collectively fostered improved accessibility, efficiency, responsiveness, and equity in our services,” she noted, emphasizing the transition from a predominantly manual process to a digital platform that effectively reduces bureaucratic delays and long waiting times.
Among the milestones accomplished, ICS has launched the e-passport system and expanded its outreach by establishing new branches equipped with adequate material and human resources.
Since implementing reforms in the Ethiopian year 2015, the service has substantially bolstered its operational capacity and service delivery efficiency.
Highlighting recent achievements, Director-General Selamawit reported that in the last Ethiopian fiscal year (2017), ICS issued 1.4 million passports, facilitated services for 7.2 million travelers, and generated revenue exceeding 34 billion Birr.
Furthermore, digital service coverage surged from 61 percent in the prior year to 75 percent, while customer satisfaction improved markedly from 55 percent to 70.4 percent.
She also underscored Ethiopia’s successful integration into the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Public Key Directory system, which has significantly enhanced the security and speed of electronic passport verification.