Netherlands diplomatic mission in Ethiopia
Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Find the address, telephone number and consular information for the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa. Learn how to arrange passport and identity card applications, visa appointments, document collection and other consular services.
Contact
Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa: Contact Details
Kifle Ketema
Lideta Kebele 02/03
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Friday: 8:00 AM–2:00 PM
By appointment only
Friday: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
No new appointment required
Important: visits to the consular counter are by appointment. Different arrangements apply to document collection, which is available during specified hours without booking another appointment.
Location
Where Is the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa?
The Dutch Embassy is located in the Old Airport Zone, Kifle Ketema, Lideta Kebele 02/03, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The embassy’s postal address is P.O. Box 1241, Addis Ababa. This postal box is intended for correspondence and is not the visiting location.
Use the full visiting address when arranging transport and allow enough time to reach the embassy.
Choosing the correct application location
Applications for Dutch passports, identity cards and selected consular services are handled at the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa.
Regular Schengen visa applications are submitted through VFS Global in Addis Ababa, which operates separately from the embassy’s consular counter.
Completed Dutch travel documents can be collected directly from the embassy during the published collection hours.
Before travelling: check your appointment confirmation, the required identification documents and any public holiday closures.
Diplomatic representation
About the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa
The Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa represents the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ethiopia.
The embassy maintains diplomatic relations with the Ethiopian authorities and supports cooperation between the Netherlands and Ethiopia.
Its work includes political relations, international development, economic cooperation and engagement with international and regional institutions.
Addis Ababa is also home to the headquarters of the African Union, making the city an important diplomatic centre.
Consular assistance
The embassy provides various consular services to Dutch nationals living in Ethiopia or visiting the country.
These include passport and identity card applications, emergency travel assistance, certain nationality procedures and consular certificates.
The correct appointment method depends on the service requested.
Regional passport services
The embassy in Addis Ababa can also be an authorised passport or identity card application location for Dutch nationals living in certain other countries.
For example, NetherlandsWorldwide refers applicants living in Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan to Addis Ababa for particular travel document procedures.
Applicants travelling from another country should check their own country-specific document requirements and entry arrangements for Ethiopia.
Consular services
Consular Services at the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa
Passports and Identity Cards
Dutch citizens can apply for a new passport or identity card by booking an online appointment at the embassy.
Nationality Procedures
Naturalisation and option procedure appointments are arranged by contacting the consular team by email.
Certificates and Legalisations
The embassy handles selected consular certificates, proof-of-life statements and legalisation services.
Emergency travel documents
If your Dutch passport or identity card has been lost or stolen and urgent travel is necessary, you may be eligible for an emergency travel document.
Contact the embassy at add-ca@minbuza.nl to request an appointment and obtain instructions.
Naturalisation and option procedure
Eligible applicants wishing to pursue Dutch nationality through naturalisation or the option procedure can request an appointment by email.
Check the applicable legal conditions and gather the necessary supporting documents before attending.
Legalisation of signatures
If you require official legalisation of your signature, arrange an appointment by emailing the embassy.
Bring your identification document and the paperwork requiring your signature.
Certified copies of identity documents
For legalisation of a copy of an identification document, request an appointment by email and confirm the documents you need to bring.
Certificate of marital status
You can book an online appointment for a consular statement concerning your marital status.
Certificate of legal capacity to marry
If you require a certificate of legal capacity to marry, book an appointment online with the embassy in Addis Ababa.
Prepare the documents needed to establish your nationality and civil status.
Certificate of residence
The embassy provides an online appointment procedure for certificates of residence. Check the required proof of address before applying.
Proof-of-life certificate
If you need proof of life for a pension provider or another organisation, book an online appointment at the embassy.
Basic civic integration examination abroad
Applicants wishing to take the basic civic integration examination abroad must request an appointment by email at add-ca@minbuza.nl.
Caribbean Carpet Programme
Eligible organisations may submit their completed registration form directly by email to the consular section.
Check the appointment method: applications for passports and several consular certificates are booked online. Emergency travel documents, nationality procedures, signature legalisations and the civic integration examination use email appointments.
Travel documents
Applying for a Dutch Passport or ID Card in Ethiopia
Dutch nationals living in Ethiopia can apply for or renew a passport or identity card at the embassy in Addis Ababa.
1. Prepare a Checklist
Create a personal checklist through NetherlandsWorldwide and collect all required documents.
2. Book an Appointment
Make an online appointment with the embassy. Book separate appointments for a passport and an identity card.
3. Attend in Person
Bring your printed checklist, completed and signed application form and original supporting documents.
Proof of legal residence in Ethiopia
Applicants must demonstrate that they are legally resident in Ethiopia.
The official guidance identifies several possible documents:
- A valid visa with supporting documentation.
- A valid Ethiopian residence permit.
- For applicants who also hold Ethiopian nationality, a valid Ethiopian passport or identity card.
First passports for babies
For an infant’s first Dutch passport or identity card, the child’s birth certificate can serve as proof of legal residence.
Ethiopian birth certificates use a sequence of names rather than the conventional Dutch distinction between given names and surnames. The names recorded on the Ethiopian certificate are relevant to the Dutch travel document.
Documents issued in Ethiopia
Ethiopian birth and marriage certificates must be legalised when required for a passport or identity card application.
Documents in languages other than Dutch, English, German or French must be translated by a sworn translator.
Applications involving Sudan
Applicants living in Sudan may need additional evidence of legal residence, depending on their circumstances.
Possible documents include a valid visa, residence permit, Alien of Sudanese Origin Passcard or Habitual Residence document.
Applications involving Somalia
Applicants residing in Somalia must provide evidence of legal residence and follow the specific rules for documents issued in Somalia or Somaliland.
Official documents issued by the Somali authorities in Somalia or Somaliland may be forwarded to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) for authenticity verification.
That verification can take approximately six to nine months. Certain applications involving minors of Dutch-Somali background may therefore take longer.
Applications for children
Children must attend passport and identity card appointments in person.
Parental or legal guardian consent may be required for passport applicants under 18 and identity card applicants under 12.
Existing travel documents
Bring all Dutch and foreign passports and identity cards you possess, including expired documents.
Ask the embassy whether you can keep your current document until the replacement is available.
Important residence implications for first-time applicants
NetherlandsWorldwide warns that Ethiopian authorities may regard someone receiving a Dutch passport for the first time as a foreign national.
Applicants affected by this rule should arrange the appropriate Ethiopian residence permission promptly after receiving the Dutch passport.
Failure to hold a valid Ethiopian visa or residence permit may lead to substantial daily penalties under the published official guidance.
Important: the embassy in Addis Ababa does not send new Dutch passports or identity cards by post or courier. Both types of document must be collected at the embassy.
Visas and residence
Applying for a Visa for the Netherlands in Ethiopia
Schengen visa applications
Eligible residents of Ethiopia who require a short-stay Schengen visa for the Netherlands can apply through VFS Global in Addis Ababa.
Ordinary Schengen visa applications are not submitted to the embassy’s consular counter.
1. Check Visa Requirements
Confirm whether you need a visa and whether the Netherlands is responsible for your application.
2. Prepare Your Application
Complete the visa form and collect documents relevant to the purpose of your journey.
3. Book with VFS Global
Arrange an online appointment at the VFS Global application centre in Addis Ababa.
When to apply
Schengen visa applications can generally be submitted from six months before travel, or nine months for eligible seafarers.
The official guidance recommends submitting the application at least 15 calendar days before the intended journey.
MVV visa stickers
Applicants with an approved residence application from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) may need an MVV visa sticker.
You may apply for the sticker at the embassy in Addis Ababa if your IND approval letter authorises collection in Ethiopia.
Book an online appointment and follow the instructions in your approval letter.
Caribbean visas
Applications for short-stay and long-stay Caribbean visas are handled through VFS Global in Ethiopia under the relevant conditions.
Airport transit visas
If you require an airport transit visa for a connection through the Netherlands, you can arrange the application through VFS Global.
Entry visas
If your Dutch residence permit has been lost, stolen or expired while you are in Ethiopia, you may need an entry visa for your return journey.
For this service, NetherlandsWorldwide directs applicants to VFS Global in Addis Ababa.
Orange Carpet Visa Programme
Eligible companies wishing to participate in the Orange Carpet Visa Programme can contact the embassy at add-ea@minbuza.nl.
Approved participants may submit qualifying Schengen visa applications through VFS Global without an appointment, subject to its visiting hours and programme conditions.
Important: regular Schengen, Caribbean, airport transit and entry visa applications use VFS Global. Eligible MVV visa sticker applications are handled at the embassy by online appointment.
Visiting hours
Opening Hours of the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa
The embassy publishes the following general visiting hours. Access is by appointment only.
Separate document collection hours
Completed passports, identity cards and other documents can be collected during separate periods:
- Monday to Thursday: 2:00–3:30 PM.
- Friday: 11:00 AM–12:30 PM.
A new appointment is not necessary for collection.
Public holiday closures
The embassy closes for selected Dutch and Ethiopian public holidays, including Ethiopian Christmas, Timket, Ethiopian New Year and other holidays published on its official calendar.
Check the current closure dates before travelling.
Appointments
How to Make an Appointment at the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa
Online Appointments
Book Dutch passports, identity cards, MVV visa stickers and several consular certificates online.
Email Appointments
Use add-ca@minbuza.nl for emergency documents, nationality procedures, selected legalisations and civic integration examinations.
VFS Global Appointments
Use VFS Global for regular Schengen visas, Caribbean visas, transit visas and entry visas.
Passport and identity card appointments
Before booking, prepare your documents checklist and confirm that all required documents are available.
Book a separate appointment for each type of travel document.
Certificates requiring online appointments
Online appointments are available for certificates of marital status, legal capacity to marry, residence and proof of life.
Appointments arranged by email
For naturalisation, the option procedure, emergency travel documents, legalisation of signatures and certified identity document copies, contact add-ca@minbuza.nl.
Changing or cancelling an appointment
For online appointments, follow the instructions in the confirmation email.
For appointments arranged directly by email, contact the embassy’s consular team.
Document collection
Collecting a Dutch Passport or ID Card in Addis Ababa
Once your Dutch passport or identity card is ready, you will receive a notification.
You can collect the document from the embassy during the official collection periods.
No document delivery
New Dutch passports and identity cards cannot be sent from Addis Ababa. Both types of travel document must be collected in person.
Surrendering your old document
When collecting your replacement passport or identity card, you must surrender your old document according to the embassy’s instructions.
If your old passport contains a valid visa or residence permit, inform the embassy before it is invalidated.
Collection deadline
Your new passport or identity card must be collected within three months of notification. Documents not collected within that period are destroyed.
Check your personal information
After receiving the new document, verify your name and other personal details.
If you notice an error, email add-ca@minbuza.nl with the details that need correcting.
Important: passports and identity cards cannot be delivered. Plan to collect your document in person, particularly if you travelled to Ethiopia from another country for the application.
Before your visit
Preparing for a Visit to the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa
Confirm Your Appointment
Ensure that the appointment is for the correct service and that you have received confirmation.
Bring Required Documents
Take your application form, personal checklist, original records and any required translations or legalisations.
Check Closures
Review the embassy’s public holiday calendar and allow sufficient travel time.
Consular fees
Official fees apply to passports, identity cards, legalisations, certificates and certain visa procedures.
Check the current consular tariff schedule and accepted payment methods before attending.
First Dutch passports and Ethiopian residence status
Applicants receiving their first Dutch passport should be particularly careful about their legal immigration status in Ethiopia.
NetherlandsWorldwide warns that the Ethiopian authorities may treat them as foreign nationals after the Dutch passport is issued.
Arrange any required Ethiopian residence permit promptly to avoid penalties or difficulties with lawful residence.
Urgent consular assistance
Dutch nationals facing an urgent consular problem in Ethiopia can contact NetherlandsWorldwide, including outside embassy opening hours.
Emergency assistance: call +31 247 247 247, available 24 hours a day. WhatsApp support is available at +31 857 737 400. Do not share sensitive documents through WhatsApp. In immediate danger, contact local emergency services first.
Frequently asked questions
Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa: FAQ
Where is the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa?
The embassy is located in the Old Airport Zone, Kifle Ketema, Lideta Kebele 02/03, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
What is the telephone number of the Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa?
You can call +251 113 17 03 60. NetherlandsWorldwide can also be reached on +31 247 247 247.
What are the embassy’s opening hours?
General visiting hours are Monday to Thursday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, by appointment only.
Can I apply for a Dutch passport or identity card in Addis Ababa?
Yes. Create your personal documents checklist and book an online appointment with the embassy.
When can I collect a new passport or identity card?
Collection is available Monday to Thursday from 2:00 to 3:30 PM and Friday from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, without a new appointment.
Can my Dutch passport or identity card be delivered?
No. New Dutch passports and identity cards cannot be sent from the embassy in Addis Ababa. You must collect them in person.
Where can I apply for a Schengen visa in Ethiopia?
Eligible applicants can apply through VFS Global in Addis Ababa. Regular Schengen visa applications are not submitted directly at the embassy.
Can I apply for an MVV visa sticker at the embassy?
Yes, provided your IND approval letter authorises an application in Ethiopia. Book an online appointment with the embassy.
Can Dutch nationals living in Eritrea, Somalia or Sudan apply in Addis Ababa?
Addis Ababa is an authorised location for certain travel document applications from these countries. Check the specific supporting document and residence requirements before travelling.
How can I obtain urgent consular assistance in Ethiopia?
Contact NetherlandsWorldwide on +31 247 247 247, available 24 hours a day. In immediate danger, contact local emergency services first.
Official information