Djibouti: Requirements and procedures to obtain a passport for an adult or a minor; whether the consent of both parents is required for a minor to obtain a passport
Information on the requirements and procedures to obtain a passport within Djibouti could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the times constraints of this Response.
In a 23 November 2011 telephone interview, an official of the Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti in Washington, D.C., which also serves as the Embassy of Djibouti to Canada, provided the following information regarding the requirements and procedures to obtain a passport through the embassy (Djibouti 23 Nov. 2011).
Individuals who apply for passports at the embassy must provide the originals or photocopies of their birth certificates and national ID cards. If the previous passport has been lost, the applicant must also provide a police report. A copy of the previous passport is also required, as the interior ministry in Djibouti must verify the information provided and give approval to issue a new passport in order to prevent fraud. An application form and a form providing background information on the applicant must be filled out and passport photographs must be provided. The fee for a passport application is 50 USD.
The application process at the embassy, including receiving approval from the interior ministry to issue a passport, usually takes about a week to a month, but may take "much longer" in certain circumstances, such as when information is missing. The official was not aware of the exact requirements and procedures for obtaining a passport from within Djibouti.
According to the official, a minor can be included on the passport of one of the parents, usually the mother. The official added that minors, including babies, may have their own passports instead. The birth certificate of the minor and the parents' identity cards must be presented in the case of a passport application for a minor. The official stated that both parents must give consent to a minor's passport application.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Djibouti. 23 November 2011. Embassy of the Republic of Djibouti, Washington, D.C., Telephone interview with an official.
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: European Country of Origin Information Network; Djibouti – Ministère des Affaires Étrangères et de la Coopération Internationale; Site Officiel de la République de Djibouti, United Nations – Integrated Regional Information Networks, Refworld.