PASSPORT AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

INFORMATION ABOUT KENYAN

PASSPORTS

1. THE E-PASSPORT
The Department of Immigration has rolled out issuance of the e-Passport
with effect from 1st September 2017. All applicants must register on
www.ecitizen.go.ke, fill in the application online before downloading and
printing it out as a PDF. All payments must also be made on the same page
and 2 Invoices printed out.
The Embassy no longer accepts any application that has not
been processed and paid for through eCitizen.
Current passports will remain valid only until 31st August 2019,
Applicants who are over 18 years of age and do not posses a Kenyan
National Identity Card will no longer be able to apply for a new or
replacement passport. The applicant must travel to Kenya or to London to
register and process an ID card.
All applications will henceforth be forwarded to Kenya for further processing
and issuance.
Applicants who have filled in the passport application and made their
payment on the on the e-citizen platform but are not able to travel to Kenya
to be profiled and have their biometrics taken may forward the application
documents to the Embassy for onward transmission to Kenya.
Kindly click on this Youtube link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
SlyGB448B0) to find out how to register on eCitizen.
In the event that the passport has expired, he/she will be issued with a one-
way Emergency Travel Document by the Embassy to facilitate travel to
Kenya, to process the ID card. Further information on how to obtain an
Emergency Travel Document is available on this page at the bottom.

2. VALIDITY OF A PASSPORT
Kenyan passports will have a validity period of ten years and will be non-
renewable. If at any time a passport contains no further space for visas, a
new passport must be obtained. The same applies for any official name
changes due to marriage or divorce. All passports that are not e-Passports
will only be valid until 31st August 2019.
Caution: Passports are valuable documents and should not be altered in
any way or allowed to pass into possession of unauthorized person. If lost,
withdrawn or destroyed the fact and circumstances should be immediately
reported to the local police and the same report shared with the Kenya
Embassy.

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Application for a new passport must be done well in advance, at
least 6 MONTHS before expiry date and/or your intended date
of travel.
Kindly note that the Embassy endeavours to assist all Kenyans in
emergency situations. However, it is the responsibility of each Kenyan to
apply for a new passport before the expiry date.
3. RECOMMENDER
All passport applications must be recommended by a Kenyan who holds a
valid Kenyan passport or ID card and is not related to the applicant. YOU
CANNOT RECOMMEND YOURSELF, YOUR CHILD OR ANY OF YOUR
RELATIVES!!!
If the recommender is not in your area of residence, you must send him/her
the recommender's page to fill in and return it back to you per post together
with the relevant pages of his/her Kenyan passport or Kenyan ID card as
stated on the checklist.
AN APPLICATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECOMMENDED WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED.
4. APPLYING FOR A PASSPORT REPLACEMENT
Visit www.ecitizen.go.ke. A Kenyan National Identity Card number is
required for registration on the e-citizen website. Once you have printed out
the application and invoice, check the relevant checklist of additional
documents for your application.
All application documents must be forwarded in 2 identical sets as specified
on the checklist. If any document as stated on the checklist is missing and
the checklist does not specify what can be done, email your question to
the Embassy (consular.vienna@mfa.go.ke) for further guidance.
AN INCOMPLETE APPLICATION WILL BE RETURNED TO THE
APPLICANT IF IT DOES NOT MEET THE CHECKLIST.
5. PROCESSING TIME FOR ALL PASSPORTS
It may take up to 12 weeks from the time of submission of a complete
application to when you receive the new passport. There are certain
circumstances that can lead to longer waiting periods e.g. if the passport
being replaced was issued outside Nairobi or if the passport issuing
authority requires additional documents or further clarification on your
application. In the latter case, you will be contacted by the Embassy to
provide the required document/clarification.
6. LOST PASSPORT REPLACEMENT
If you happen to have lost your passport, report to the police and their
contact your local lost and found office to see if the passport was found and
deposited there. You can also email the Embassy to find out if the passport
might have been sent to us. If your search remains futile, contact a Notary
Public to swear an Affidavit on the loss.

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The Kenyan passport remains property of the Kenyan government and
should be handled with extreme care and kept safe at all times. You are
advised to only carry coloured photocopies of it and of your residence permit
(if it is in-printed in your passport) for identification purposes. Passports
should not be carried to night clubs or any social gathering, since these are
the most common reported areas of loss.
7. APPLYING FOR A FIRST PASSPORT FOR YOUR CHILD
If you are the holder of a valid Kenyan passport or your child was born while
you are still a Kenyan, you can apply for a passport for your child by filing
the relevant application on eCitizen. Children who have other nationalities
and are over 3 months old, must provide the passport of the other
nationality too when applying for the Kenyan passport. If the passport of the
other nationality is not available, proof from the other country stating that
the child does not hold a passport of that country is required.
If the child is solely Kenyan and is over 6 months old the application will be
considered a late application. Accordingly, the parent guardian will have to
provide an official letter explaining the late application as well as certified
copies of the International Birth Certificate of the child that have been
certified by the issuing authority.
8. CHANGING SURNAME
(i) AFTER MARRIAGE
Women who have married and taken up their husband's surname must
apply for the change of name on their Kenyan passport. You will have to fill
in your names as they appear on the marriage certificate on the passport
application form.
(ii) DEED POLL
If the change of name is through a deed poll, you will have to submit a
certified copy of the deed poll and the Kenya Gazette Notice of the name
change in addition to other documents on the relevant checklist.
(iii) ADOPTION
A change of name after adoption can only be made if the adoption
documents are filed through the High Court of Kenya and an official change
of name approved by the authorities in the original place of residence of the
child. Certified copies of the High Court of Kenya documents as well as
certified copies of the name change documents are required and must be
provided.
10. KENYANS WITHOUT IDENTITY DOCUMENTS
If you were born in Kenya but have never held a Kenyan passport or ID card
or only have a recently issued Kenyan birth certificate, you cannot apply for
a Kenyan passport or be issued a Travel Document by the Embassy. You
will have to apply for a Travel Document for Foreigners at your local
Foreigner's Authority and then apply for a Referred Visa from the Embassy
to facilitate travel to Kenya to process a ID and passport.

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If you are sent by your local Foreigner's Authority to apply for a
passport or Travel Document and you fail to bring the application
documents, you WILL NOT be issued any confirmation letter as proof
that you were at the Embassy.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION OF NEW PASSPORT

Application Form 19

The following is required for an application for a new passport, or

replacement of a passport after ten (10) years:-

1. Two(2) copies All 4 pages of the e-Passport Application Form duly

filled in and downloaded from the e-Citizen website.

2. Two(2) copies of passport pages with endorsements of your profession,

changes or deletions and Bio photo i.e. 29 - 32 or 46 - 48 or 62 - 64.

3. Three (3) passport size photos which should be:

 Clear - they should not be blurred nor have a dark hue, all facial
features should be clearly outlined.
 With full face and both ears showing,
 Taken against a white background,
 The size of the photo should be 2.5 inches (6.1cm) by 2 inches
(5.8cm)
 Weaves and hair should not cover the forehead or the rest of the
face. Hair should be pulled back.
 Decent - ladies should not be wearing strappy or strapless tops.
 Without shadows in the background
 The applicant is not smiling or laughing.
 Taken without spectacles.
4. Two (2) copies of your birth certificate. The back page of the certificate
is required if it has official endorsements.
5.Two (2) copies of your marriage certificate, or divorce decrees
(translated into English)
6. Two (2) copies of a Deed Poll (if your change of name was not thru marriage)
7. Two (2) copies of Kenyan ID, front and back.
8. Two (2) copies of the e-Citizen Invoice of payment that you have downloaded
from your e-Citizen account.

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APPLICATIONS FOR CHILDREN FROM 0 TO 16 YEARS

The following is required for an application for children:

1. . Two(2) copies All 4 pages of the e-Passport Application Form duly

filled in and downloaded from the e-Citizen website

2. Two(2) copies of passport pages with endorsements of your profession,

changes or deletions and Bio photo, i.e. 29 - 32 or 46 - 48 or 62 - 64.

3. Three (3) passport size photos which should be:

 Clear - they should not be blurred nor have a dark hue, all facial
features should be clearly outlined.
 With full face and both ears showing,
 Taken against a white background,
 The size of the photo should be 2.5 inches (6.1cm) by 2 inches
(5.8cm)
 Without shadows in the background
 The applicant is not smiling or laughing.
 Taken without spectacles.
4. Two (2) copies of your birth certificate. The back page of the certificate
is required if it has official endorsements. All certificates have to be
translated into English if they are in a foreign language.

5. Copies of Kenyan passport of parent(s) as described in No. 2.

6. Copy of Kenyan ID of parent(s)

7. Duly filled parent consent form.

APPLICATIONS FOR NEW PASSPORT DUE TO LOSS

ALL the documents mentioned to apply for a new passport are required for
such applications, additionally with the following:

a) Two copies of a Police Report (translated into English)

b) A self-explanatory letter on how the passport got lost
c) A Sworn affidavit from a lawyer/notary about how the passport got lost (in
English)

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APPLICATIONS FOR NEW PASSPORT DUE TO DAMAGE

ALL the documents mentioned to apply for a new passport are required plus
the following:

a) Passport fee for a damaged passport: €130.00

b) Self-explanatory letter how the passport got damaged.

EMERGENCY TRAVEL DOCUMENT

This document is issued only in emergency cases after loss of Kenyan

passport. This document is a one-way emergency travel document and is
issued for repatriation to Kenya only. Please note each case is investigated
thoroughly and approval from relevant Kenya Government authorities is
required before issuance.
Requirements include:
 Interview at the Embassy
 Two passport size photos
 Ticket itinerary
 Proof of Kenyan citizenship
 Police Report if passport is lost
 Cost €20

Citizenship
This is to inform that the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011
which implements Chapter 3 of the Constitution (Citizenship), commenced
on 30/08/2011. Under the Act;
1. A person born of a Kenyan parentage irrespective of the place of birth
automatically becomes a citizen by birth
2. The Constitution confers automatic recognition of the persons holding
citizenship of other countries as citizens of Kenya by birth so long as
they are able to prove parentage through production of evidence i.e.
parents; Kenya National Identification card or passport
3. Kenyan citizens by birth who ceased to be citizens of Kenya by
voluntarily acquiring citizenship of other countries in accordance with
the repealed Constitution may regain their Kenyan citizenship upon
application in the prescribed manner (application form may be down
loaded from this website)
4. A person who enjoyed dual citizenship but who by virtue of the
repealed Constitution renounced or lost their Kenyan citizenship upon
attainment of the age of twenty three (23) years would automatically
be deemed to be a citizen by birth.

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KENYA CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Kenyan citizenship is conferred by the constitution and is acquired by;

 Birth
 Registration

CITIZENSHIP BY BIRTH
A person is a citizen by birth if at the date of his or her birth; one of the
parents is or was a citizen of Kenya. This is regardless of where the person
is or was born.
Section 30 of part 6 of the constitution provides how persons born before
12th December, 1963 became citizens by birth.

REGAINING OF KENYA CITIZENSHIP

A citizen by birth who acquired citizenship of another country, and
renounced the Kenyan citizenship may apply to regain citizenship.
The requirements for regaining include;
 Application form duly completed
 Copies of Kenyan passport or identity card previously held
 Passport or citizenship certificate of the other country
 2 passport size photographs

CITIZENSHIP BY REGISTRATION
The following persons are entitled/eligible for registration as citizens of
Kenya

1. Spouses, widows and widowers of Kenya citizens

The applications under this category are made by persons who have been
married to citizens of Kenya for a period of at least seven years.
The requirements include;
 Application form duly completed
 Marriage certificate
 Certificate of good conduct
 Proof that the marriage was not entered into for the purpose of
acquiring immigration or citizenship status (sworn affidavit)
 Proof that the marriage is subsisting (applicable to spouses)

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  Copy of national passport
 Copy of Kenyan passport or identity card of the Kenyan spouse
 Copy of death certificate (applicable to widows and widowers)
 2 passport size photographs

2. Lawful residents
Applications under this category are made by persons who have been
ordinarily resident in Kenya for a period of seven years immediately
preceding the date of application and must have been so resident under
authority of an entry permit or exemption.
The requirements include;
 Application form duly completed
 2 passport size photographs
 Copy of national passport
 Certificate of good conduct
 Copy of the permit held for the last 7 years
 Proof that the applicant is not adjudged bankrupt (personal bank
statement)
 Proof of contribution made to the progress or advancement in any
area of national development within Kenya or capability to do so
Applicant must;
 Be able to understand and speak Kiswahili or local dialect
 Have adequate knowledge of Kenya and of duties and rights of citizens
as contained in the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act
 Understand the nature of the application
(The last 3 requirements are demonstrated before Citizenship Advisory
Committee)

3. Children and persons with disabilities

Applications under this category are made for the biological or legally
adopted children of Kenyan citizens (a child means any human being under
the age of eighteen years)
The requirements include;
 Application form duly completed
 2 passport size photographs
 Kenyan passport or identity card of the parent
 Birth certificate
 Immigration pass or permit
 Medical certification (applicable to persons with disabilities)
 Adoption certificate (applicable to adopted children)
 Copy of national passport

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4. Stateless and migrant persons
Applications under this category are made by persons who voluntarily
migrated to Kenya before 12th December,1963 and/or have continuously
lived in Kenya.
The requirements include;
Application form duly completed
 2 passport size photographs
 The applicant should not hold a passport or an identification
document of any other country
 The applicant must have adequate knowledge of Kiswahili or a local
dialect
 Certificate of good conduct
 The applicant should understand the rights and duties of a citizen
 Proof of continuous residence in Kenya since 12th December 1963

5. Descendants of stateless and migrant persons

Applications under this section are made by persons who have attained the
age of eighteen years and whose parents had voluntarily migrated to Kenya
before 12th December, 1963 and or has continuously lived in Kenya.
The requirements include;
Application form duly completed
 2 passport size photographs
 Proof that the parents are stateless or migrants
 The applicant should not hold or have held a passport or an
identification document of any other country
 The applicant must be able to understand and speak Kiswahili or a
local dialect
 Certificate of good conduct
 The applicant should understand the rights and duties of a citizen

6. Renunciation of Kenya citizenship

Declarations for renunciation are made by citizens of Kenya who wish to
voluntarily renounce their Kenyan citizenship.
The requirements include;
 Original Kenya passport and identity card
 Renunciation form 15 duly completed
 Copy of passport or citizenship certificate of the other country
 Cost €230

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7. Disclosure of dual citizenship
A dual citizen is required to disclose her/his other citizenship within three
months of becoming a dual citizen.
The requirements include;
 Declaration form 2 duly completed and Notarized with official stamps
 2 passport size photographs
 Kenyan identity card and passport (original and copies)
 Non Kenyan passport or/ and certificate of citizenship (original and
copies)

PASSPORT PRICES
Type of service Passport series Price
Passport renewal A (32 pages) €60
B (48 pages) €75
C (64 pages) €90
Mutilated passport €130
Lost passport €150

CONSULAR HOURS: OPEN - MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9.00 AM – 5.00 PM

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