Kenya - Apply for Dual Citizenship

ProcedureEdit

Step 1: Make Online Application

Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal. eFNS portal
Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal.
Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the "Apply now" Link.
Click on the "Submit Applications" tab and select the Dual Citizenship tab.
Confirm, if you have the following required documents;

i. Two passport size photographs

ii. Copy of birth certificate

iii. Copy of Kenyan passport

iv. Copy of Kenyan identity card

v. Copy of the other country’s passport

vi. Copy of the other country’s Citizenship certificate

vii. Applicants must ensure that they are lawfully present in the country as they wait for application to be finalized

viii. Copy of the Police Clearance Certificate
Verify that you have the required document/pre-requisites and you meet the relevant criteria before you apply. Click on the "Apply Now" button on your right to apply.
Fill in the required information and upload your passport photo picture and police clearance certificate. Click on the ’’continue’’ button to proceed to print your application.
You should then print your filled application and present to the immigration department offices or Kenya missions abroad.

Step 2: Visit immigration offices or Kenya missions abroad to complete application

After printing the application and invoice you are required to visit an immigration office in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu or Kenya missions abroad for collection of fingerprints, digital photo and signature and also to drop required documents.
You must appear in person for digital photo and biometrics capture in immigration office or Kenyan mission.
You must present the following documents to the offices:

i. Two copies of printed online application form 3 (Print the form after completing your application)

ii. Two passport size photographs

iii. Copy of birth certificate

iv. Copy of Kenyan passport

v. Copy of Kenyan identity card

vi. Copy of the other country’s passport

vii. Copy of the other country’s Citizenship certificate

viii. Applicants must ensure that they are lawfully present in the country as they wait for application to be finalized

ix. Copy of the Police Clearance Certificate
After lodging the application for dual citizenship the application will be ready for collection at the immigration office after 15 working days.
You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application.

Required DocumentsEdit

Two copies of printed online application form 3 (Print the form after completing your application)
Two passport size photographs
Copy of birth certificate
Copy of Kenyan passport
Copy of Kenyan identity card
Copy of the other country’s passport
Copy of the other country’s Citizenship certificate
Applicants must ensure that they are lawfully present in the country as they wait for application to be finalized
Copy of the Police Clearance Certificate

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:Ministy of Immigration Contacts

electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS): Link

EligibilityEdit

Applicant must be eighteen (18) years and above.

FeesEdit

The application is free of charge.

ValidityEdit

A citizen by birth does not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country.
However an individual who has assumed a Kenyan citizenship as an additional citizenship can revoke it and maintain his/her citizenship by birth.

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 processing time is about three weeks.

InstructionsEdit

You will have to start the application process for dual citizenship on the electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal eFNS portal. Thereafter they will be required to visit an immigration office in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu or Kenyan mission abroad for collection of fingerprints, digital photo and signature and also to drop required documents.
e-FNS portal instructions.

i. Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal.

ii. Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal.

iii. Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the "Apply now" Link.

iv. Click on the "Submit Applications" tab and select the Dual Citizenship tab.

v. You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application

Applicants MUST appear in-person for digital photo and biometrics capture.
You must present the following documents to the immigration offices

i. Two copies of printed online application form 3 (Print the form after completing your application)

ii. Two passport size photographs

iii. Copy of birth certificate

iv. Copy of Kenyan passport

v. Copy of Kenyan identity card

vi. Copy of the other country’s passport

vii. Copy of the other country’s Citizenship certificate

viii. Applicants must ensure that they are lawfully present in the country as they wait for application to be finalized

x. Copy of the Police Clearance Certificate

Required InformationEdit

Immigration File Number (R Number)
Full Name(s)
Postal Address
Gender
Foreign Address (For those currently not living in Kenya)
Phone No(Mobile)
Email Address
Kenyan By ( cititzenship)
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

Need for the DocumentEdit

By Kenyan law, every dual citizen shall disclose his/her other citizenship in the prescribed manner within three months of becoming a dual citizen.
Dual citizenship allows one to gain rights of both countries. A Citizen of Kenya has a right to:

i. enter, exit, remain in and reside anywhere in Kenya

ii. be registered as a voter without unlawful restrictions

iii. 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.

iv. own land and other property in any part of the country in accordance with the law

v. be appointed to a public office

vi. 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)

vii. Any documents of registration or identification e.g. ID cards, birth certificates, passports, voter’s cards (for eligible persons)

Information which might helpEdit

You can apply for your Pass, Permit, Alien card, Permanent Residence or Kenya Citizenship and pay using cards and/or mobile money. Through the electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal (https://fns.immigration.go.ke) for the Department of Immigration Services under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.
Application print-outs must be presented to the Immigration headquarters or Kenya missions abroad
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
According to the new constitution, anyone holding citizenship of another country is automatically recognized as a citizen of Kenya by birth, so long as they are able to prove that one or both of their parents is/was a Kenyan citizen at the time of their birth (e.g. by presenting the parent’s/parents’ national ID card(s) or passport(s) ).
Kenyan citizens by birth who wish to obtain the citizenship of another country which does not allow dual citizenship, may voluntarily renounce their Kenyan citizenship. They are entitled to regain their Kenyan citizenship at a later date by applying in the prescribed manner.
Kenyan citizens by birth who voluntarily renounced their Kenyan nationality when acquiring the citizenship of another country (in accordance with the repealed constitution), are entitled to regain their citizenship by applying in the prescribed manner. The procedure, undertaken by the Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons, may take a period of one year or more.
Kenyan citizens who hold dual citizenship and have renounced or lost their Kenyan citizenship at the age of twenty three (23) (in accordance with the repealed constitution), are automatically considered a Kenyan citizen by birth and may apply for citizenship in the prescribed manner.
Kenyan citizens who obtain the citizenship of another country are required to disclose their other (non-Kenyan) citizenship within three months of becoming a dual citizen. Failure to do so is an offence.
A dual citizen who is 18 years and above is required to declare their other citizenship within there (3) months of becoming a dual citizen.

Declaration made by a dual citizen

Section 8(3) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011 provides that: every dual citizen shall disclose his/her other citizenship in the prescribed manner within three months of becoming a dual citizen.
Section 8(4) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011 provides that: a dual citizen who fails to disclose the dual citizenship in the prescribed manner commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five million shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.

External LinksEdit

Declaration made by a dual citizen : Declaration made by a dual citizen
Acquisition of Kenya Citizenship : Acquisition of Kenya Citizenship

OthersEdit

Endorsement of passport

Section 8(1) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulation 2012 provides that the passport of any other country that is held by a dual citizen may, upon application by the holder, be endorsed to indicate that the holder is a citizen of Kenya

It is mandatory to have the dual citizenship endorsed into your non-Kenyan Passport. The endorsement costs KES 500 per applicant. Below are the requirements;

Requirements for Endorsement:

i. Duly filled and signed Endorsement on Non Kenyan Passport Endorsement on Non Kenyan Passport

ii. 2 passport size photographs

iii. Certified copy of birth certificate

iv. Certified copy of Kenyan passport and identity card

v. Certified copy of the other country’s passport and Citizenship certificate

vi. Immigration Application Fee: KES 500