This changed on 2 April 2026. Document authentication, which used to be done in person, is now handled exclusively through the ministry’s digital system. And the prerequisite is stated plainly: any document originating in the United States must first be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications, before it can be submitted.
Quick facts
The two-tier fee is a real saving worth knowing about: $59 for holders of an Ethiopian passport or an origin identity card, and $90 for everyone else. The card pays for itself over a handful of documents.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication, Ethiopian passport or origin card holder | $59 | Money order to the embassy |
| Authentication, all other applicants | $90 | Money order to the embassy |
| Federal authentication | $20 per document | U.S. Department of State |
| State certification beforehand | $3–$25 per document | Secretary of State |
| Notarisation | $5–$25 per signature | For private documents |
Payment rules are strict: the money order is made payable to the embassy, and cash, debit cards, credit cards and personal checks are not accepted.
How to prepare a document
- Notarise the document if it is private, then obtain the state certification.
- Send it for federal authentication, which is the compulsory prerequisite.
- Submit the request through the ministry’s digital application.
- Send or deliver the original document with the confirmation page from the online application.
- Include the money order for the correct amount and a prepaid return envelope.
- Allow for the federal stage, which is the slowest part of the chain.
Required documents
- Original document, already authenticated federally.
- Confirmation page from the online application.
- Money order for $59 or $90 as applicable.
- Prepaid return envelope.
- Copy of the identity document establishing which fee applies.
What the embassy does
It renews passports, issues origin identity cards, authenticates documents through the digital system, handles powers of attorney and assists Ethiopians in difficulty.
Additional notes
In-person authentication has ended
Guidance describing a counter visit for this service is out of date. The digital route is the only one.
The federal step takes weeks
Build it into your timetable. Nothing can be submitted until it is done.
Two fees, one card
If you deal with Ethiopian paperwork regularly, the saving between $90 and $59 per document is an argument for obtaining the origin card.
No apostille route
Ethiopia uses authentication rather than the apostille, so an apostille alone will not satisfy an Ethiopian institution.