While traveling outside the country, a passport is the primary document required. You will be required to show it to the airport and the border. Passports can also serve as Identification cards.
Whether you are applying for the first time, replacing a lost or damaged passport, or renewing an existing one, follow the steps below to be guided. In the article, we have outlined the step-by-step procedure for the first application, necessary documents, costs, and time taken for collection.
- Create your ecitizen account and log in.
Ecitizen is a website gateway to all government services, including passport applications. You should create and log in to your e-citizen account to apply for a passport. To create e-citizen account, you should provide the following information:
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Date of birth
- National ID number
- Email address
- Other personal details.
After successful registration, verification is required, and the reference to activate your account will be sent to your email account. You can now log in from there using your ID number
- Aces immigration services
You will see a dashboard displaying several government services in your e-citizen account. Select the Department of immigration service and click on the Get Service button, which will show you all the services provided by the immigration department. Click on the passport application. Select the account you want, which is either for an adult or a child.
The next step is to choose the type of passport you want. The various types of passports available are
- Ordinary Passport (A series, 32 pages ordinary) costing 4,550
- Ordinary passport(B series 48 pages ordinary) costing 6,050
- Ordinary passport(C series 64 pages ordinary) costing 7,550
- Diplomatic passport( 48 pages) at 7,550
- Mutilated Passport at 10,050
- Lost passport / Renew at 12,050
- Certificate of identity for a foreigner at 3,050
- Temporary permit at 350
Documents required for passport application
- Original Birth certificate and a copy
- Original applicant’s national Identity card and a copy
- Copies of parents’ national identity cards/ Death certificates if not alive.
- Dully filed consent form for minors
- A filled application form 19 and two payment invoices
- Passport Picture, pocket size
Documents required for Renewal of passports
- Previous passport and a copy
- Original Identity card and a copy
- Complete application form 19 and payment invoices
- Dully consent form for minors
- Any other documents
Documents for replacement
- Original ID and a copy
- Police abstract for the loss
- Copy of the lost passport
- Affidavit to support the loss
- Personal explanation to support the loss or damage
- Complete form 19 and two payment invoices
Documents for mutilated
- Original ID
- Personal statement explaining the damage
- Complete form 19 and payment invoices
- Previous passport and a copy
- The explanation for the circumstances that led to mutilation
- Affidavit to support
When you fully feel in all the information required, you will have to submit it, and upon submission, you will be directed to payments. Payment options such as credit/debit cards, Mpesa, and Airtel money are available and acceptable. Once payment is made, you will be directed to the next step.
- Book Biometrics
You must book Biometrics at your convenience center in the country. If you select the nearest center, the system will display all the available dates and times. Select a suitable day for you, and the system will automatically schedule an appointment. Print the application schedule and the payment invoices.
- Visit Immigration
On the day scheduled for the appointment, carry your scheduled printout and payment invoice to the immigration office. At the immigration office, they will take your fingerprints and your photo. Make sure that you have all the documents required and arrange them accordingly.
- Wait for processing and passport collection.
After Biometrics, you will have to wait a month or more for it to be processed. When it is ready, you will be notified via email or SMS. Ensure you check the spelling of your name before leaving the immigration office.