The Kenyan Passport is one of the most important travel documents. It is a globally recognized and accepted identification document each person planning to travel internationally should have. What if you don’t have one? What are the passport processing stages in Kenya? How long does it take?
Despite the straightforward online application, a lot goes into generating a Kenyan passport. The stages of processing a passport in Kenya help applicants understand the work that goes around obtaining or renewing a passport. Therefore, understanding them will help you to know when your travel document is ready.
Before looking at the different stages of passport application, you must ensure you have all the documents stipulated by the Kenya government through the immigration department. For a new passport, you will need the following:
To replace a lost or damaged Passport, you will need the following:
If you want to renew an expired passport, you need the old Passport and photocopies of the first three pages
In May 2015, the Kenyan Government launched an online passport application through the e-Citizen portal, significantly simplifying the application process. Here is a detailed look at the passport processing stages in Kenya and how long it takes.
Logging in to e-Citizen is the first step in applying for a passport because the website offers access to many government services in the country. First, you need to register on the website using the following:
Once the registration process is complete, you will receive a link to verify the account to log in with your ID number and password.
After you log into your e-Citizen account, a dashboard with several government services will be displayed. Find the ‘Department of Immigration Service’ and click ‘Get Service’.
At this point, you will see all the services offered by the immigration department. Navigate to 'passport application’ and click under ‘Get Service’. You will receive a prompt to choose the type of account you are creating (for an adult or a child).
There are five types of passports:
After selecting your preferred passport type, the next page will ask if you are a new applicant or renewing an old passport. For a first-timer, select ‘new application’ and ‘renew’ if you want your Passport renewed.
At the bottom, you will see the application guidelines and the cost of your chosen passport type. Once you are done, click 'submit’ to go on.
In the third stage, you must key in all your details and upload some documents to affirm your claims. These details and backing documents are:
Once you submit all the documents, you will be requested to make a payment on the next page. Some of the methods of payment available are:
After completing the payment, you can proceed to the next stage.
You will be prompted to book an appointment for biometrics. This is one of the most crucial Passport production stages because if you fail to capture your biometrics, your Passport will not be processed.
You should choose the location which is closest to where you are. Upon selecting the location, the system automatically schedules time for biometrics. After choosing your appointment, print out the application schedule and three copies of your payment invoice.
The valid application centres are:
Kenyan passport applicants in the Diaspora can have the biometrics and picture taken at the following:
During the appointment day, carry your payment invoice and your schedule print-out. Only your fingerprints and a photo of you will be captured at the office. This takes less than 10 minutes.
Also, make sure you have all the documents arranged in the following order for the first-time applicants:
These are the last stages of passport processing after biometrics. After you have finished your biometrics, you will have to wait for your Passport to be ready. Once it’s ready for pickup, you will be notified through email and SMS.
The stated timeline for a passport application on E-Citizen's immigration portal is 5 to 10 days. However, in reality, it takes between one and three weeks.
The time depends on various factors, including the workload at the immigration department. However, you can track the status of your Passport through the E-Citizen website.
Passport processing stages in Kenya are relatively simple and self-explanatory. However, gathering all the necessary documents is the most important thing to avoid the rejection of your application. Once everything is done, you will have your Passport in roughly three weeks.
Tuko.co.ke shared an article about different types of passports in Kenya. A passport is an official document issued by a government. It certifies the holder's identity and citizenship, thus entitling them to travel to and from foreign countries under its protection.
Kenyans planning to travel abroad for business, leisure, study, or vacation must apply for a Kenyan passport. Since there are various types of Kenyan passports, you should know the category you belong to before you apply for one.
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Passport processing stages in Kenya
Passport processing stages in Kenya and how long it takes - Tuko.co.ke
Stages Of Kenyan Passport Processing | Passport Application Processes