The Swedish Embassy in Addis Ababa has in December 2008 upon request given the following information.

According to the information gathered, there has been two ID cards issued by the Ethiopian Immigration Office in Addis Ababa, which is the head office and only entity that issues these IDs.

The first one is a yellow booklet issued to those who was born in Eritrea. It doesn't conclude that the holder is Eritrean citizen but that the person was born in Eritrea. This ID is no longer valid since 2001/2002. This yellow card is only renewed twice since it is issued in 1998/99.

After that have those who are recognized Eritrean citizens been issued a blue booklet that is valid for two years and they can live in Ethiopia by renewing it. There is no other ID that is valid for Eritreans issued by the Ethiopian Immigration. If they plan to leave the country, they will be issued an Ethiopian alien passport. The booklet has no security features (watermarks or other hidden seals) but stamps of the authority.

Those who hold the Eritrean ID has presented their Eritrean voting card, and submitted 14 pages of their biographic information (that is that they have to fill a form of 14 pages stating information concerning family, relatives, home address, curriculum vitae etc.) and any other document that proves their citizenship to the Ethiopian Immigration Authority, the Head office. Then the Immigration will issue the blue ID booklet. Physical appearance is a requirement and there is no exception for it. The holder has to receive it directly.

The blue ID will allow the holder to use it to any authority in Ethiopia to receive services in banks, hospitals and the like.

The Immigration has informed that they have no specimen for the ID but if the Embassy request for verification of any document, the request has to come through the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry and will reply accordingly.