ePassport
Update: Deadline for phasing out of the old generation passport
ePassport ready for mailout / pickup
Opening of ecitizen.go.ke account without Kenyan phone number
You can apply for a new passport or replace your current passport through the ecitizen portal www.ecitizen.go.ke. You’ll have to download and print out a form at the end. You must sign and date the form, add the documents and photographs that are required (see below) and submit them in person at the Embassy (2249 R St NW Washington D.C. 20008) for biometric capture.
Applicants will pay using mobile money, Credit, Debit Cards or online banking.
Steps to apply for ePassport
- Register on www.ecitizen.go.ke
- Login into your account
- Click on Directorate of Immigration Services (New Applications)
- Click on passport application.
- Read the instructions carefully then fill the application form.
- Select the mode of payment and pay for the passport fees.
- Download and print the application form and application receipts.
- Return to the Embassy website passport page and book an appointment date and time. (Link below)
- Submit the application form in person at the Kenya Embassy – Washington D.C. Original documents needed and what to bring when coming to the Embassy can be found below under “preparation for Biometrics”
If you are logged out of your account due to application session timeout:
- Log back into your account
- Click on history
- Select your application (starts with epp1 or cpp1)
- Click on edit
- Continue filling your application.
Below is a sample method on how to resize your documents for upload on ecitizen
- Go to – https://imageresizer.com/
- Click on ‘Select Image’
- Select on your phone/computer the image you want to resize
- For computer – On the left hand side under export settings type in 150 (make sure ‘KB’ is selected next to it. Also select ‘JPG’ under ‘Save Image As’
- For Phones – At the bottom click on resize, then under export settings type in 150 (make sure ‘KB’ is selected next to it. Also select ‘JPG’ under ‘Save Image As’
- Click on resize image
- The image will be processed
- Click on the download image link
Requirements
- A prepaid, self-addressed return envelope from UPS, United States Postal Service (USPS) Express overnight or Priority mail with delivery confirmation must be submitted with each application. (This envelope is for mailing the new passport to you once we receive from Nairobi.)
- Ensure you have enough postage.
- Letter-sized envelopes are not accepted.
(1) Replacement of passport (Current holders of passports being phased out)
- Receipts – Government copy and Customer copy (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Application form (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Original and copy of Passport Bio-data page only (page with picture)
- Copy of Birth certificate
- Original and copy of Applicant’s valid Kenya National ID (For person’s aged 18 years and above)
- 2(two) passport-size pictures
(2) Lost Passports
- Receipts – Government copy and Customer copy (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Application form (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Copy of the lost Passport (if available)
- Copy of Birth certificate
- Copy of Applicant’s valid Kenya National ID (For person’s aged 18 years and above)
- Affidavit
- Police report
- Personal letter explaining the circumstances of the loss
- 2(two) passport-size pictures
(3) Mutilated passport
- Receipts – Government copy and Customer copy (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Application form (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Original and copy of Passport Bio-data page only
- Copy of Birth certificate
- Original and copy of Applicant’s valid Kenya National ID (For person’s aged 18 years and above)
- 2(two) passport-size pictures
(4) First time applicants (Never held a Kenyan passport before):
- Receipts – Government copy and Customer copy (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Application form (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Copies of Parents’ documents (Valid Kenya National ID and Kenya Passport)
- Copy of Applicant’s valid Kenya National ID (For person’s aged 18 years and above)
- 2(two) passport-size pictures of applicant
- 1(one) passport-size picture of the parent filling the application
- Original and copy of Birth certificate
- Current picture taken maximum within the last one month.
- Clear Pictures. They should not be blurred nor have a dark hue, all facial features should be clearly outlined.
- Pictures with full face and both ears showing
- Pictures taken against a white background
- Weaves and hair should not cover the forehead or the rest of the face
- Remove earrings, studs, necklace, nose rings, earphones
- Decent pictures-ladies should not be wearing strapy or strapless tops
- Pictures should be without shadows in the background.
- Pictures in which the applicant is not smiling or laughing
- Pictures should be taken without spectacles.
- The size of the pictures should be 2 inches by 2 inches.
- Recommender ID is not required
Notes
- It is the onus of the applicant to fulfill all the application requirements as above.
- Applications must be presented against original Kenyan National IDs.
- All minors must accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
- Change of name apart from through Marriage must be accompanied by a Deed poll and the changes must be affected in the Kenyan National ID card.
- The Birth Certificate numbers appear on the Left hand side of the Birth Certificate (above the date of birth) and not at the top right hand side (Serial No.).
Part of the application process involves scanning of your documents. When uploading make sure they are in picture format(.jpeg or .png) and not in document format (.pdf, .rtf, .docx or .doc)
Persons who were born before 27th August 1987 and have acquired Citizenship of other countries before 27th August 2010 will be required to show proof of having regained Kenyan Citizenship( under the provision of Article 14(5) of the constitution of Kenya 2010)
eCitizen Queries Contact:
Email: support@ecitizen.go.ke
Preparation for Biometrics
Your biometrics appointment will involve taking a picture and fingerprints. You will present your original current passport (unless it is a lost passport application) and Valid Kenya National ID.
Please make sure that your documents are arranged in the following order when coming for your biometrics appointment :
(1) Replacement of passport (Current holders of passports being phased out)
- Receipts – Government copy and Customer copy (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Application form (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Original and copy of Passport Bio-data page only (page with picture)
- Copy of Birth certificate
- Original and copy of Applicant’s valid Kenya National ID (For person’s aged 18 years and above)
(2) Lost Passports
- Receipts – Government copy and Customer copy (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Application form (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Copy of the lost Passport (if available)
- Copy of Birth certificate
- Copy of Applicant’s valid Kenya National ID (For person’s aged 18 years and above)
- Affidavit
- Police report
- Personal letter explaining the circumstances of the loss
(3) Mutilated passport
- Receipts – Government copy and Customer copy (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Application form (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Original and copy of Passport Bio-data page only
- Copy of Birth certificate
- Original and copy of Applicant’s valid Kenya National ID (For person’s aged 18 years and above)
(4) First time applicants (Never held a Kenyan passport before):
- Receipts – Government copy and Customer copy (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Application form (Downloadable from your ecitizen account)
- Copies of Parents’ documents (Valid Kenya National ID and Kenya Passport)
- Copy of Applicant’s valid Kenya National ID (For person’s aged 18 years and above)
- 2(two) passport-size pictures of applicant
- 1(one) passport-size picture of the parent filling the application
- Original and copy of Birth certificate
- Recommender ID is not required
Passport Mailout Procedures
- A prepaid, self-addressed return envelope from UPS, United States Postal Service (USPS) Express overnight or Priority mail with delivery confirmation must be submitted with each application. (This envelope is for mailing the new passport to you once we receive from Nairobi.)
- Ensure you have enough postage.
- Letter-sized envelopes are not accepted.
