Kenyans travelling abroad will be required to replace their passports over the next two years.
This is after the government announced that it would roll out electronic passports starting from September.
Immigration Department Director Gordon Kihalangwa stated that the department would no longer issue passports in the current format.
“Holders of valid current passports will be allowed to use them for the next 2 years after which they will be rendered invalid,” Mr Kihalangwa said in a statement.
“Please note that the department will no longer be issuing the current ordinary, diplomatic and East African passports.
“The processing duration remains the same, 10 working days and the requirements as well remain the same,” he added.
Dr Kihalangwa noted that Kenyans would acquire the digital visas at Sh4550 for the ordinary 34-page passport, Sh6050 for the 48-page one while the 64-page ordinary passport and diplomatic e-passports will each cost Sh7550.
The new e-passports are embedded with a computer chip that contains a holder’s biometric information making the passport tamper-proof.
The embedded computer chip on the document contains a traveler’s itinerary that will be updated at every border point through the International Civil Aviation Organisation online portal.
