How to Apply for a Child’s Passport in Kenya

Parents and guardians seeking to obtain a passport for children in Kenya must follow a structured process through the government’s digital services platform.

First, they complete the passport application online. Then, they finalize the process through physical submission at designated immigration offices.

Applicants can start the process through the official portal: eCitizen Immigration Services

Online Passport Application Process

To begin, a parent or guardian logs into the eCitizen platform and selects the passport application option.

Next, they choose the category for minors below 18 years.

The system prompts the applicant to enter the child’s personal details alongside parental information.

After that, they upload the required supporting documents before submitting the application.

Also Read: How to Apply for an Emergency Travel Document

Required Documents

Before attending the appointment, applicants must prepare all required documents:

• The child’s original birth certificate and a photocopy
• A consent letter signed by both parents
• Copies of both parents’ national identity cards
• Three recent and clear passport-sized photographs of the child
• A copy of the recommender’s national ID card (the recommender must be a Kenyan citizen)
• A death certificate, where applicable, if one or both parents are deceased

Payment and Form Printing

After submitting the application, applicants proceed to pay the prescribed passport fee through approved channels on the eCitizen platform, including mobile money, bank transfer, or card payment.

Importantly, they must complete all payments within the official government system and avoid sending money to personal or private accounts.

At this stage, applicants pay the same passport fees for both adults and children, depending on the booklet size. A 34-page passport (A Series) costs Ksh 7,550, a 50-page passport (B Series) costs Ksh 9,550, while a 66-page passport (C Series) costs Ksh 12,050.

However, in practice, the eCitizen system often defaults to the 66-page passport, which typically costs between KSh 12,050 and KSh 12,500 depending on system updates.

Once payment is complete, applicants download and print the completed application form together with the payment receipts.

Also Read: How to Track Your Passport Application in Kenya

Submission and Biometric Appointment

Next, applicants book an appointment through the eCitizen system before visiting a designated immigration office or Huduma Centre.

During the visit, the parent or guardian must bring the child in person to an authorised Directorate of Immigration Services processing centre, such as Nyayo House in Nairobi, for biometric capture.

There, immigration officials take a digital photograph and fingerprints of the child.

At the same time, officials verify all original documents against the submitted copies.

Processing and Collection

After submission, the Directorate of Immigration Services processes the passport application.

Inder normal circumstances, processing takes approximately 7 to 14 working days. However, high demand or system delays can extend this period to several weeks.

Meanwhile, applicants receive notifications via SMS or email once the passport is ready.

Finally, applicants collect the passport at the selected immigration office by presenting the payment receipt and identification documents.

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Nyayo House where passport services are offered by the Directorate of Immigration Services
PHOTO/File