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Ethiopian Embassy in Ottawa (Embassy of Ethiopia in Canada): Complete Guide

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Contact information for the Ethiopian Embassy in Ottawa, Canada; consular services for the community; visa rules; and document legalization for Ethiopia.

Waving national flag of Ethiopia

Canada established diplomatic relations with Ethiopia on October 13, 1965, and opened its embassy in Addis Ababa a year later. Over six decades, relations between Ethiopia and Canada have grown into one of Canada's most significant partnerships in Africa. Addis Ababa also hosts the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, so the Canadian embassy there plays a regional role as well, while the two governments hold regular bilateral consultations on foreign policy, trade, education, and climate.

Ethiopia ranks among the biggest recipients of Canadian aid — $250 million in 2022–2023 alone — and it hosts Canada’s largest bilateral development program of any country. The money moves both ways: two-way merchandise trade topped $163 million in 2021. Canadian companies have put down roots across aerospace, energy infrastructure, ICT, agriculture, and education, and Ethiopian Airlines even flies Canadian-built aircraft and trains its crews on Canadian flight simulators.

People-to-people ties are just as important. The Ethiopian diaspora in Canada numbers some 44,000 people, with large communities in Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec. For these families, and for Canadians planning to travel, invest, or work in Ethiopia, the embassy in Ottawa is the gateway to Ethiopia. On this page, you will find its contact details, a list of consular services, and a clear guide to preparing Canadian documents for use in Ethiopia.

If you need certified translation, notarization, or authentication of Canadian documents for Ethiopia, I can handle the entire process for you. Contact me for a clear timeline and an exact quote.

Contact Details

Ethiopia's embassy in Ottawa (officially, the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) is the main diplomatic mission of Ethiopia in Canada and the only Ethiopian consular office in the country. Ethiopia does not operate consulates general in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, or other cities, so all consular services for Ethiopians who reside in Canada are coordinated through Ottawa. The embassy's reach also extends beyond Canada: it is accredited to Caribbean states, including Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago.

The embassy's work combines government-to-government and people-to-people diplomacy: meeting Canadian officials on one side, and staying in touch with Ethiopians living in Canada on the other. Beyond that, the embassy works to foster cooperation, promote trade and investment, and highlight Ethiopia's rich heritage and untapped tourism potential. Ethiopia also has a separate Permanent Representation to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, but it does not provide consular services.

Please note: as of April 10, 2026, requests for authentication and powers of attorney go through the Digital MOFA mobile app only. The embassy stopped taking these requests by mail or at its office.

Embassy of Ethiopia in Ottawa, Canada (Ethiopian Embassy)

Consular Services List

The embassy serves three main audiences: Ethiopian citizens and foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin living in Canada, Canadians and other foreigners who plan to visit Ethiopia, and businesses interested in economic opportunities there. Many services are now digital, so before you seek consular assistance, check whether your request must be submitted online, by email, or through the Digital MOFA app.

For Ethiopian Citizens and People of Ethiopian Heritage

For Canadian Citizens and Foreign Nationals (Visa Requirements)

For Businesses: Trade and Investment Opportunity

Canadian Document Legalization Process

There are two types of legalization:

Ethiopia is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not enough for Canadian documents to be recognized there. To use official documents issued in Canada in Ethiopia, they must go through a full legalization process that combines Canadian authentication with verification by Ethiopian authorities.

Step 1: Authentication

The embassy's instructions say that Canadian documents must be signed or certified by a notary first. This applies to birth, marriage, and divorce certificates, court decisions, trademarks, property papers, and fingerprint records.

After the notary, the document goes to your provincial authentication office if you live in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, or Saskatchewan. In all other provinces and the three territories, Global Affairs Canada does the authentication.

One thing to watch: a provincial office normally works only with documents issued or notarized in that province. Ontario, for example, won't authenticate a document notarized in Alberta. Each office also sets its own rules for how to submit and how long it takes.

Step 2: Legalization

The next stage is verification by Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since April 10, 2026, the Ministry only accepts these requests through Digital MOFA, which you can download from Google Play or the App Store. You can no longer mail your documents to the embassy in Ottawa or bring them in person.

Because everything is uploaded, the quality of your scans matters. Every page, stamp, and signature should be easy to read. Some Ethiopian offices will also ask for an Amharic translation. Police clearance certificates and Tax Identification Numbers are a separate case: the embassy doesn't handle them, so most people ask a relative or a representative in Ethiopia to apply for them.

Mistakes at the Canadian stage are the most common reason documents are rejected later in Ethiopia. I can arrange notarization, provincial or federal authentication, and certified translation, and prepare your files for submission through Digital MOFA. Get in touch with me to discuss your documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

I check this page from time to time, but Ethiopian government sites can take months to reflect a new rule or a changed phone number. Before sending documents or going to the embassy, it's worth confirming the details by phone or email.

Who is Ethiopia's ambassador in Ottawa?

The Quebec government's directory of foreign representations lists H.E. Tewodros Girma Abebe as the current ambassador. Before him, the embassy was led by H.E. Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan, who served from December 2021 until July 2024.

The ambassador leads the diplomatic mission, represents the Ethiopian government in Canada, and oversees relations with the countries to which the embassy is also accredited.

Does the Ethiopian embassy in Canada have consulates in other cities?

No. Some directories list an Ethiopian consulate in Toronto, but the official information points only to the embassy in Ottawa as Ethiopia's consular office in Canada.

Before sending personal data or payments, check that the website or office you are dealing with links to ethioembassy.ca or to Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This helps you avoid unofficial intermediaries.

Where can I find the official link to the Digital MOFA app?

The Digital MOFA app is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia and is available in the official Google Play and Apple App Store listings. The embassy's Authentication & Legalization page confirms that submissions must go through this app.

Search the store for "Digital MOFA," check that the publisher is the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and register an account before you upload documents.

How can the Ethiopian diaspora connect with the Government of Ethiopia?

The embassy regularly engages with the Ethiopian-Canadian community through events, national celebrations, and information sessions. Its official Facebook and X pages are the fastest way to follow announcements and changes to services.

There are also Ethiopian community groups in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, and other cities. They organize cultural and educational events and share news from home, including business opportunities and the challenges Ethiopia is facing. Getting involved is one of the easiest ways to stay connected.

What do bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Canada focus on?

Development aid is the largest part: Canada funds projects in farming, gender equality, and humanitarian relief. The two governments also talk regularly about peace and security in the Horn of Africa.

Business is a smaller but growing piece. Canadian companies work on gold mining, aviation, and energy projects in Ethiopia, and Ethiopian coffee and handicrafts are easier to find in Canadian shops than they were a few years ago.

Need Help with Canadian Documents for Ethiopia?

Getting a Canadian document ready for Ethiopia takes a notary, an authentication office, and an upload through Digital MOFA. If one stamp is missing, the wrong office is used, or a scan is hard to read, the request can be rejected and you lose weeks.

I support clients across Canada from the first document review to final submission. Contact me today, and I will explain the exact requirements for your situation, give you a clear timeline, and take care of the paperwork for you.