Eligibility quiz
Was either of your parents a Kenyan citizen when you were born?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Kenyan passport and ID
Kenyan citizens are entitled to a Kenyan passport and national identity documents, including a national ID, birth certificate and certificate of registration.
A voter’s card is available where applicable.
A passport has its own validity and renewal rules, separate from citizenship.
If you have another citizenship, you may use either passport to enter or leave Kenya.
Your other passport can be endorsed to show your Kenyan citizenship, so you can use it to enter or leave without a Kenyan visa or permit while you remain a citizen.
Live in Kenya for life
Kenyan citizens can enter and leave Kenya, remain there and live anywhere in the country without immigration permission.
Citizenship has no expiry date and does not need renewing.
Study in Kenya
Kenyan citizens can study in Kenya without a student immigration pass.
School places, qualifications and fees have their own rules.
Work in Kenya
Kenyan citizens can work and run a business in Kenya without a work or business immigration pass.
They can also be appointed to public office if they meet the relevant qualifications.
Some jobs and professions have their own qualifications or licensing rules.
Get help abroad
Kenyan citizens can seek help from Kenyan embassies and consulates when abroad.
Own property in Kenya
Kenyan citizens have the right to own land and other property anywhere in Kenya.
Land and other property rules still apply.
Vote and run for office
Adult Kenyan citizens can register to vote and vote in elections and referendums.
Citizens can also stand for elected office if they meet the qualifications for that office.
How to apply
Applying from inside KenyaApplying from inside Kenya
Find a processing centre
Find a Kenyan passport processing centre you can visit to hand in your application.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Kenya passport processing centre can I visit from your city?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the passport application.
See required documentsFill in the application
If a parent was Kenyan when you were born, you are already Kenyan by birth. Create an account and fill in the Kenyan passport application online to document your citizenship.
Start your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in a Kenya passport application online?”
Pay the fee online
Pay the passport application fee online.
Pay the feeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Kenya passport application fee online?”
Book an appointment
Book an appointment to hand in your passport application at a processing centre.
Book an appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book a Kenya passport application appointment?”
Go to your appointment
Bring your application and required documents to the processing centre. Give your fingerprints and other biometric details there.
Prepare for your appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “What do I bring to a Kenya passport application appointment?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the passport service to process your application. Respond if the office asks you for more information or documents.
Check processing timesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Kenya passport application take to process?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Bring your original birth certificate and a copy, along with your parents’ birth certificates. Your birth certificate shows who your parents are.
Parent's citizenship records
Bring your Kenyan parent’s Kenyan identity card or passport and any other records that establish their Kenyan citizenship. Your parent must have been a Kenyan citizen when you were born.
Parent's death certificate *
Bring your parent’s death certificate. Ask the office handling your document whether it needs the original or a copy.
* Only if your parent has died and your document service asks for it.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Report another citizenship
If you hold another citizenship as well as Kenyan citizenship, you must disclose it within three months of becoming a citizen of both countries.
Failure to do so can lead, on conviction, to a fine of up to KSh5 million, up to three years in prison, or both.
Limits on state offices
If you hold another citizenship and are elected or appointed to certain state offices, you generally must give up your other citizenship before taking office.
This does not apply if the law of your other country does not allow you to give it up.
You can still stand for Parliament or county government while holding both citizenships.
Citizenship can be revoked
Citizenship gained by registration can be taken away for reasons including fraud, false statements or hiding an important fact.
You must receive written notice, a chance to respond and reasons for the decision.
You can appeal to the High Court within 30 days and remain lawfully in Kenya while a filed appeal is decided.
Documents issued to a person whose citizenship is revoked become invalid and must be returned.
Revocation does not erase obligations or debts that arose before it.
Giving up citizenship
You can give up Kenyan citizenship.
Giving it up does not erase obligations or debts that arose before you did so.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Kenya immigration matters🇰🇪
English Facebook group for people interested in Kenyan citizenship
Join on Facebookr/Kenya
English Reddit group for people interested in Kenyan local life
Join on RedditStatehouse kenya forum
English Facebook group for people interested in Kenyan local life
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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