Kenya - Apply for Citizenship

ProcedureEdit

Apply Online
Step 1: Register with the Kenya electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal

Go to the electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal and register for an account, or if you already have one, log into the portal.
To register with the eFNS portal, follow the following steps;
- Using a browser search the electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal and click on the “Create eFNS account” link.
- For Kenyan citizen applicants, one will need their national ID number, while foreigners residing in Kenya will need their foreigner certificate. If you do not have national ID or foreigner certificate, select “Other” and use your passport details to register, then click on the “Proceed” button to go to the next page.
- On this next page, the applicant should provide all the required information i.e. Passport number, Full Name, Gender, and Country, and then click on the “Proceed” button to go to the “Verify” page.
- On the verify page, the applicant should enter his/her email address, Password, and Phone number then check on the Captcha box, and then click the “Create Account” button.
- Then the applicant will receive a pop notification informing the applicant that the account is created.
- The applicant should then click on the “ok” button in the notification and be directed to the Kenya Foreign Nationals Service Portal and the applicant should enter his/her login credentials and click on the “login” button to log into their account.

Step 2: Apply for Citizenship

Once registered applicant will then need to log in to his/her eFNS account and under the Submit application tab click on “Submit New Applications” and scroll down to the “Citizenship Services” tab.
Then the applicant should click on the “Apply Now” button under the tab of the citizenship he/she wishes to apply. For example, if the applicant wishes to apply for Kenyan citizenship as a Lawful resident, the applicant should click on the “Apply Now” button under the “Lawful residence” tab to go to the application information page.
On the next page, applicants should read all the provided details regarding the application and click on the “Apply Now” button to go to the online application form.
Fill in the online application form with all the required details and upload supporting documents. These details include:-
- Start by choosing the application type (initial registration, renewal, duplicate, correction on civil status or other corrections)
- Full names
- Marital status
- Gender
- Passport ( number, date of issue, expiry date )
- Date and place of birth
- Nationality (at birth, present)
- Country of residence
- Contact information ( phone number, postal address, physical address )
- Occupation
- Number of years for the alien certificate (note: 3 Years should only be for permanent residents)
Then click on the “Proceed” tab.
Applicant will be redirected to the next page where he/she is supposed to upload all the supporting documentation as listed on the site before clicking on the “Save” button.
After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on "Dashboard" and then the "Payments" Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, click on the “Here” link to make a payment.
Click on the “wallet icon” to make your payment via the provided payment methods.
Print the payment acknowledgment receipt and the online application form and present them to the Immigration Headquarters Offices in Nyayo House Nairobi or their regional offices.
- Make sure you present all the required documents to the immigration offices,

Step 3: Submit the complete application dossier to the nearest immigration office for processing.

At the immigration offices, the complete application dossier will be examined for verification before being registered for processing and consideration.
Applicant will receive automatic notifications via email and on the applicant’s account about the progress of his/her application.
After a successful document evaluation phase which is usually within 2 months, the citizenship certificate is drawn up and made available for withdrawal by the applicant at the specific office the application was submitted against their identification document and the acknowledgment slip.

Note: For all Foreign Nationals Applications that require biometrics capture, please make the necessary uploads to be able to book an appointment, and for all appointments that require scheduling, click "APPOINTMENTS" from the dashboard to complete the booking and print the booking invoice.

Required DocumentsEdit

Spouses, widows, and widowers of Kenya citizens

Application form duly completed
Marriage certificate
Certificate of good conduct
Proof that the marriage was not entered into to acquire immigration or citizenship status (sworn affidavit)
Proof that the marriage is subsisting (applicable to spouses)
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

Lawful residents

Application form duly completed
2 passport size photographs
Copy of national passport
Certificate of good conduct
Copy of the permit holder 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
Applicants must meet the last 3 requirements are demonstrated before Citizenship Advisory Committee):
- 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

Children and persons with disabilities

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

Stateless and migrant persons

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

Descendants of stateless and migrant persons

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

Required Documents Checklist

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Department of Immigration Services - Head Office
Nyayo house
Passport Section Ground Floor,Kenyatta Avenue/ Uhuru Highway
P.O. Box 30191, 00100 Nairobi.
Tel: +254-20-2222022, +254-20-2217544, +254-20-2218833
Email: [email protected]
Website Link
electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) Link

EligibilityEdit

Spouses, widows, and widowers of Kenya citizens (if the applicant is married for at least 7 years.)
Lawful residents (those who have been ordinarily resident in Kenya for a period of seven years)
Children and persons with disabilities (made for the biological or legally adopted children of Kenyan citizens)
Stateless and migrant persons (persons who voluntarily migrated to Kenya before 12th December 1963 and/or have continuously lived in Kenya)
Descendants of stateless and migrant persons (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)

FeesEdit

The following fees are applicable;

Citizenship by marriage: Fee - Non-East Africans - Kshs.30,000 and Fee - East Africans - Kshs.5,000
Citizenship in case of Widows and widowers: Fee - Kshs.5, 000
Citizenship by Lawful Residents: Fee - Kshs.200, 00
Citizenship in case of a Children & Dependent: Fees - Kshs.20,000
Citizenship in case of Stateless persons: Fee - Kshs.2, 000
Citizenship in case of Descendants of stateless persons and Migrants: Fee - Kshs.2, 000
Citizenship in case of Migrants: Fee - Kshs.2, 000
Declaration of Dual Citizenship: Fee - Kshs.500
Regaining citizenship: Fee - Kshs.5, 000

ValidityEdit

Citizenship is valid forever unless the citizen renounces his/her citizenship.

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

The time frame for processing the application is 2 months.

InstructionsEdit

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required InformationEdit

Immigration File Number (R Number)
Full Name(s)/ Gender
Foreign Address (For those currently not living in Kenya)
Phone No(Mobile)
Email Address
Kenyan By ( citizenship)
Other Citizenship
Other Nationality By
Place of Birth
Country of Birth
Date of Birth
Habitual Residence at the time of making this application
Upload of Police Clearance Certificate
Passport numbers
Declaration by applicant

Need for the DocumentEdit

Being registered as a Kenyan citizen entitles the holder to privileges and rights, provided to Kenyans’ by the Kenyan government.

Information which might helpEdit

A Citizen of Kenya has a right to:

Enter, exit, remain in and reside anywhere in Kenya
be registered as a voter without unlawful restrictions
participate in free, fair and regular elections based on universal suffrage and subject to the constitution, to vote and vie for any elective body or any party post where the citizen is a member.
Own land and other property in any part of the country in accordance with the law
be appointed to a public office
vie for any elective office as president or deputy president subject to Article 78 and 137 of the constitution – NB: – this only applies to citizens by birth with no allegiance to any other country (dual citizenship)
Any documents of registration or identification e.g. ID cards, birth certificates, passports, voter’s cards (for eligible persons)

External LinksEdit

Kenya citizenship
Citizenship Information Package

OthersEdit

More information which might help people.