Ethiopia
A well developed and functioning civil registration system ensures the registration of all vital events including births, marriages and deaths and issues relevant certificates as proof of such registration. Civil registration promotes efficient government planning, effective use of resources and aid, and more accurate monitoring of progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Birth Registration
| Legal framework for birth registration | Proclamation No. 760/2012 |
| Official authorities in charge of registering births | Vital Events Registration Agency |
| Organizational structure | Decentralized |
| Is there a legal obligation to register the birth of a child? | Yes |
| Is an official birth certificate issued as a result of birth registration? | Yes, immediately |
| Legal informant to register a birth | Parents;
In the default of the parents, by the guardian of the child; In default of the guardian, by the person who has taken care of the child. |
| Time allowed for registration | 90 days |
| Fee for birth registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | Yes, the fee can be waived through an affidavit and with approval from the authorized administrative bodies, |
| Fee for birth certificate | Yes, for majority of regional states; fees are governed by specific laws enacted by regions. There is no fee for refugees. |
| Penalty for late registration | Punishable by imprisonment up to six months or fine (up to 5000 Ethiopian Birr); |
| Other official fees involved in the birth registration process | No |
| Requirements or fees specific to children who are eligible for citizenship but were born outside the country | No |
| Requirements or fees specific to children whose parents are foreign nationals | No |
| Requirements for birth registration | Identification card of the mother and father, Name of the child, Physical presence of both parents (unless for justified ground where both can be present) |
| Information collected | Regarding the child: Name, Date of birth, Sex, Weight at birth, Place of occurrence [of the birth], Type of place of occurrence (hospital, home, etc.), Date of registration, Place of registration, Attendant at birth, Type of birth (single, twin, triplet and so forth)
Regarding the mother of the child: Date of birth, Type of assistance and qualification of health attendants (if any) during delivery, Marital status, Ethnicity, Place of usual residence, Place/country of birth, Occupational and educational status, Citizenship, ID number Regarding the father of the child: Date of birth, Marital status, Ethnicity, Place of usual residence, Occupational and educational status, Citizenship, ID number, Name of father (grandfather of the child) |
| Processing | Manually (on paper) |
| Place of registration | -Civil registration office (nearest administrative office to the principal residence of the parents)
-Nearest ARRA office for refugees -Ethiopian Ships for registration of births and deaths occurring at sea -Ethiopian Embassies for Ethiopian residing in foreign countries -Ministry of National Defence for registration of birth and death occurring on active duty |
| A birth certificate is required for: | – |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on births | The Central Statistical Agency is part of the Vital Events Board of Management and responsible for the establishment of vital statistics. |
Download sample birth certificate
Download sample adoption certificate
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.
Marriage Registration
| Legal framework for marriage registration | Proclamation No. 760/2012 |
| Official authorities in charge of registering a marriage | Vital Events Registration Agency |
| Organizational structure | Decentralized |
| Legal age for marriage | 18 years old for both sexes;
Exemptions: Girls can marry at age 15 in Somali Region and Afar Region (Civil Code of Ethiopia, 1960). |
| Is there a legal obligation to register marriages? | Yes |
| Is an official marriage certificate issued as a result of marriage registration? | Yes, immediately |
| Legal informant to register a marriage | Officer of civil status who observed the marriage ceremony, Spouses (if celebrated by religious or customary ceremony) |
| Time allowed for registration | 30 days |
| Fee for marriage registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | No |
| Fee for marriage certificate | Yes; fees are governed by specific laws enacted by regions |
| Penalty for late registration | No |
| Other official fees involved in the marriage registration process | No |
| Additional registration requirements or fees if one spouse was born outside the country or has dual citizenship | No |
| Requirements for marriage registration | Husband’s presence at registration, Wife’s presence at registration, Proof of wife’s age, Proof of husband’s age |
| Information collected | Regarding the marriage: Date of occurrence, Date of registration, Place of occurrence, Place of registration
Regarding the spouses: Date of birth or age of spouses, Place of usual residence of spouses, Ethnicity of spouses, Religion of spouses, Citizenship of spouses, Identification number of bride |
| Processing | Manually (on paper) |
| Place of registration | Civil registration office, Place of residence of the spouses, Place of residence of the parents or close relative of either spouse |
| A marriage certificate is required for: | – |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on marriage | The Central Statistical Agency is part of the Vital Events Board of Management and responsible for the establishment of vital statistics. |
Download sample marriage certificate
Download sample divorce certificate
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.
Death Registration
| Legal framework for death registration | Proclamation No. 760/2012 |
| Official authorities in charge of registering a death | -Vital Events Registration Agency
-ARRA for refugees -Ethiopian ships for registration of births and deaths occurring at sea -Ethiopian Embassies for Ethiopian residing in foreign countries -Ministry of National Defence for registration of birth and death occurring on active duty |
| Organizational structure | Decentralized |
| Is there a legal obligation to register deaths? | Yes |
| Is an official death certificate issued as a result of death registration? | Yes, immediately |
| Legal informant to register a death | Any person who lived with the deceased; In the absence of persons who lived with the deceased, his or her relatives by consanguinity or affinity, close neighbours, or any person who knows his or her death;
Any police officer receiving a report of a death occurring through accidental or unknown causes shall declare the death [for registration] within 3 days following the date of receipt of the report. |
| Time allowed for registration | 30 days |
| Fee for death registration | No |
| Can the fee be increased or waived? | No |
| Fee for death certificate | Yes; fees are governed by specific laws enacted by regions |
| Penalty for late registration | Yes; |
| Other official fees involved in the death registration process | No |
| Registration requirements or fees specific for the deaths of people who were residents in the country and also of foreign nationality | No |
| Requirements for death registration | Medical death certificate, Police report for accidental deaths (if available but not mandatory) |
| Information collected | Regarding the deceased: Name, Sex, Ethnicity, Date of birth or age, Marital status, Citizenship, Occupation, educational status, Place of usual residence, Parents’ place of residence for deceased persons below age 15 years
Regarding the death: Date of death, Place of occurrence of the death, Type of place of occurrence (hospital, home, etc.), Date of registration, Place of registration, Cause of death, Certifier, Name of the cemetery/place of burial |
| Information collected in case of fetal death | Fetal death is not registered |
| Processing | Manually (on paper) |
| Place of registration | Civil registration office (usual residence of the deceased) |
| A death certificate is required for: | – |
| Process for establishing vital statistics on deaths | The Central Statistical Agency is part of the Vital Events Board of Management and responsible for the establishment of vital statistics. |
Download sample death certificate
Data sources: Information on civil registration systems was compiled over a period from December 2016 to November 2017 using the existing relevant legal frameworks and in consultation with CRVS experts, officials within the relevant national institutions, and UNICEF country offices. All reasonable precautions have been taken by UNICEF to verify this country profile; updates will be made to reflect changes in policy and implementation and/or new information.