The Ministry of Interior on Thursday, September 22, made a crucial reminder on the looming deadline for all Kenyans to apply for a new East African Community Passport.
A statement signed by Immigration Services Director General Alexander Muteshi indicated that the deadline had been moved to November 2022 as opposed to the earlier date announced by Interior CS Fred Matiang'i pegged at December 31, 2022.
The change was prompted by EAC Council of Minister's meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania.
"Pursuant to the decision by EAC Council of Minister's meeting held in Arusha from November 22 to November 29, 2021, the deadline for phasing out of the old generation passport for all EAC member States is November 2022.
"In line with this decision, the Directorate of Immigration Services wishes to inform the general public that Kenya is bound to migrate fully to the new East African Community biometric e-passport by 30th November 2022. Kenyans are therefore hereby advised to acquire the new Biometric e-passport to avoid any inconveniences," read the statement in part.
The new change is aimed at phasing out the old EAC passport and replace it with a new biometric e-passport version in a bid to boost free movement of people across the EAC region.
The decision was first made in 2015 and official launch of the roll-out made in December 2016 but it has since suffered delays and postponements.
How to Apply
To apply for the new document, interested applicants are advised to visit the e-Citizen platform and complete Form 19 online.
They will then be required to pay the requisite passport fees for the type of passport ranging from Ksh4,550 and Ksh12,050.
There are six types of applications starting with Ordinary “A” Series at Ksh 4,550, Ordinary “B” Series (Ksh 6,050), Ordinary “C” Series (Ksh 7,550), Diplomatic Passport (Ksh 7,550), Mutilated Passport (Ksh 10,050) and Lost Passport (Ksh 12,050).
After the applications, the applicants must download and print the application form and three copies of the receipt.
The applicant should then personally submit the application form to the Immigration offices in Nairobi, Mombasa or Kisumu.
They must also physically appear for the biometric roll out, present original birth certificate and one photocopy, possess an original National ID Card and one photocopy, three current passport size photos and a copy of recommender’s ID card.
Other requirements include the old passport for replacement plus photocopies of its last three pages, photocopies of parents’ National ID cards (if available) or Death Certificates (if deceased), a sworn affidavit, a police abstract and an explanation letter are required for lost passport as well as an explanation letter for mutilated passports.
