The Kenyan government announced major fee increases Wednesday for immigration services like visas, work permits and citizenship applications.
The Cabinet Secretary for Interior Kithure Kindiki said the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services is now authorized to raise fees up to ten-fold on some services like alien cards and citizenship by registration.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that pursuant to Regulation 60 of the Public Finance Management (National Government) Regulations, 2015, the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning has granted to the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration the authority for the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services to revise charges and levies on its services,” the gazette notice stated.
Kindiki justified the changes as necessary to improve services.
Passport application fees saw significant increases. The cost of a standard 34-page passport rose to KES 7,500 from KES 4,500 previously. A 50-page passport now costs KES 9,500, up from KES 6,500, while the 66-page version increased to KES 12,000 from KES 7,500.
Lost passport replacement fees also jumped. Kenyans now must pay KES 20,000 versus KES 12,000 before. Replacing a mutilated passport now costs KES 20,000, up from KES 10,000. The express passport option is KES 30,000.
National identification card fees changed too. New registrations remain KES 1,000, but replacing a lost ID card now costs KES 2,000, increased from KES 100.
Other nationality and immigration fees were also revised. Dual citizenship declaration is now KES 10,000 shillings. Declaring Kenyan citizenship by marriage rose to KES 100,000 from KES 30,000. Business visit visas increased to $1,000. Children of Kenyan citizens’ visa fees are now $200.
Foreigners residing in Kenya for over three continuous months must now pay KES 10,000 for an alien card, up from KES 2,000 previously.
Birth and death registrations increased to KES 200 from KES 50.
The fee hikes have stirred debate among Kenyans, with some worrying about the added financial burden for critical services. But the government defends the moves as necessary to boost resources for more efficient passport and immigration administration.
| Service | Current Fee | New Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 34-page passport | 4,500 KES | 7,500 KES |
| 50-page passport | 6,500 KES | 9,500 KES |
| 66-page passport | 7,500 KES | 12,000 KES |
| Lost passport replacement | 12,000 KES | 20,000 KES |
| Mutilated passport replacement | 10,000 KES | 20,000 KES |
| Express passport | n/a | 30,000 KES |
| National ID replacement | 100 KES | 2,000 KES |
| Dual citizenship declaration | n/a | 10,000 KES |
| Citizenship by marriage | 30,000 KES | 100,000 KES |
| Business visa | n/a | USD 1,000 |
| Children’s visa | n/a | USD 200 |
| Alien card | 2,000 KES | 10,000 KES |
| Birth/death registration | 50 KES | 200 KES |
