How to Apply for a Kenyan Diplomatic Passport

The Kenyan passport is issued to Kenyan citizens in accordance with the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and as provided for in the Kenya Citizens and Immigration Act that commenced on 30 August 2011. In addition issuance process is regulated by Legal Notice No. 64 (the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012). If eligible, an individual can apply for a New Passport, Renewal Passport and Replacement Passport. Passports are issued by the Department of Immigration. The department is under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. Kenyan passports are usually used as a form of ID as well and would be rated as second to The Kenyan national ID card. In this article we are going to learn How to Apply for a Kenyan Diplomatic Passport

Application for Diplomatic passports

The applicant shall submit in addition to the requirements of ordinary passport a letter from the chief of protocol from the Ministry of foreign Affairs.

Procedure full guide for Kenyan Diplomatic Passport

‘Apply In-Person:

1. Applications can only be done in-person. The first step is to have the Chief of protocol from the Ministry of foreign Affairs stating that you meet the criteria set out in the third schedule of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations.
2. Visit the immigration offices to make the application. Here you are required to present the letter from Chief of protocol to the immigration officer.
3. The immigration officer will provide you with an application for Kenya passport application Form 19 Kenya passport application Form 19 to fill.
4. You should check the diplomatic passport option in your application form and complete the correctly.
5. You should then attach the following documents to the application form before submission.
   • Letter showing that the person meets the criteria set out in the third schedule of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 Legal Notice No.64.
   • Old Passport or original Birth Certificate and National Identity Card together with their respective photocopies
   • Certified copy of the recommender’s National Identity Card
   • Three coloured Passport size photographs of the applicant with one of photos duly certified as true likeness of the applicant by the recommender
   • Proof of payment receipt
   • Parents National ID cards copies or Death Certificate if deceased.
   • For applicants who are below the age of eighteen years, the parents or legal guardian’s written consent must be provided. The consent letter can be downloaded through the following link .Consent Letter
   • For applicants who are adopted, the original adoption certificate, clearance letter from the children’s department, and or, the Court ruling or award.
6. After lodging the application the diplomatic passport will be ready for collection after review at the immigration office after 5 working days.
7. You are required to bring proof of identification when collecting the passport.
8. You will be contacted through text and/or email when to collect your passport.

Required Documents for Kenyan Diplomatic Passport

1. Duly completed Passport application Form 19 Passport application Form 19
2. Letter showing that the person meets the criteria set out in the third schedule of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 Legal Notice No.64.
3. Old Passport or original Birth Certificate and National Identity Card together with their respective photocopies.
4. Certified copy of the recommender’s National Identity Card
5. Three coloured Passport size photographs of the applicant with one of photos duly certified as true likeness of the applicant by the recommender.
6. Proof of payment receipt
7. Parents National ID cards copies or Death Certificate if deceased.
8. For applicants who are below the age of eighteen years, the parents or legal guardian’s written consent must be provided. The consent letter can be downloaded through the following link Consent Letter
9. For applicants who are adopted, the original adoption certificate, clearance letter from the children’s department, and or, the Court ruling or award.

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Immigration Services

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: dis@immigration.go.ke

Website: Immigration Kenya

Mombasa-Immigration Department Office

PC’s Office Building

Tel: +254-41-2222676

Kisumu-Immigration Department Office

New Provincial Headquarters

Tel: +254-057-2024935/2025438/0700596071

Eligibility

• One need to be an Kenyan citizen.
• The child needs to be born of Kenyan parents.
  

Fees

• Diplomatic passport (48 page) – Ksh. 7,550
• Diplomatic passport (32 pages)- KSh 6,040
  

Validity for Kenyan Diplomatic Passport

• Kenyan passports are valid for ten (10) years after date of issuance.

Documents to Use

• Form-19-Application for Kenya Passport: Form-19-Application for Kenya Passport
• Consent Letter : Consent Letter

Processing Time

• The processing time is 5 days.

Instructions

• The applicant shall submit in addition to the requirements of ordinary passport a letter from the chief of protocol from the Ministry of foreign Affairs.
  
• Kindly ensure photos attached on passport application forms are as follows:

a) Clear photos – they should not be blurred nor have a dark hue, all facial features should be clearly outlined.
b) Photos with full face and both ears showing.
c) Photos taken against a white background.
d) The size of the face should be 3.5cm x 4.5cm.
e) Weaves and hair should not cover the forehead or the rest of the face.
f) Decent photos- ladies should not be wearing strappy or strapless tops.
g) Attach at least 3 photos.
h) Photos should be without shadows in the background.
i) Photos should be taken without spectacles.

Required Information

1. Full name
2. Valid identity proof
3. Date of birth
4. Place of birth
5. Birth certificate number
6. Address
7. Occupation
8. Citizenship
9. Telephone number
10. Referee full names
11. Referee ID number
12. Maiden names for married women
13. Husbands full name in case of married women
14. Date of married
15. Place of marriage

Need for the Document

• The diplomatic passport – Issued to citizens who are travelling abroad on diplomatic missions, and to Kenyan diplomats and their dependents.
• This allows for easy passage at borders, special lines at customs and baggage inviolability are just a few.
• The diplomatic passport is advantageous while traveling to conflict zones and protecting your safety and privacy.
  

Information which might help

• The applicant must be Bona Fide Kenya citizen.
• Immediately upon collection of a new Passport, it is important that one reads through the notes, appends his/her signature and notes the Immigration Reference Number(R. No).
• Applicants under 18 years of age must have one of the Parents’/Guardians’ consent letter and a copy of the National Identity Card.
• All applicants are advised not to use third parties to follow up on their applications, but to consult directly with the Immigration Officers dealing with services being sought who are in official uniforms. Applicant’s copy of National Identity Card is MANDATORY for every application.
• Please note that, applicants MUST come in-person.
  

Disqualification of Application for Passports :
A Passport Control Officer shall disqualify the application of any person: –
i. Who is not a citizen of Kenya
ii. Who gives false information for the purpose of obtaining a passport
iii. Submits incomplete forms
iv. In respect of whom there is evidence of involvement in passport fraud, passport forgery or international crime(s).

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Some benefits of having a diplomatic passport are:

• No tax liability on several income sources
• Easier visa restrictions
• Use of CC or CD or Consul license plates on cars
• Access to salon d’honneur government lounges
• Instant door opener in political or business environments
• Meeting top ranking government officials in any country
• Sovereign inviolable status of your home and residence
• Free visas to any country and visa free travel in many cases
• Never pay airport departure tax
• Travel upgrades on airlines and hotels.

External Links

Kenya Passports: Kenya Passports

Others

‘Persons entitled to diplomatic passport in Kenya

1. President and immediate family members
2. Prime Minister and immediate family members
3. Vice President/Deputy president and immediate family members
4. Cabinet Secretary and spouse(s)
5. Secretary to the Cabinet and spouse(s)
6. Principal Secretaries and spouse(s)
7. Speakers of National Assembly and the Senate and spouse(s)
8. Chief Justice and spouse(s)
9. Deputy Chief Justice and spouse(s)
10. Justices of Supreme Court and spouse(s)
11. Justices of Court of Appeal and spouse(s)
12. Attorney General and spouse(s)
13. Director of Public Prosecutions and spouse(s)
14. Solicitor General and spouse(s)
15. Controller of Budget and spouse(s)
16. Auditor General and spouse(s)
17. Governor of the Central Bank and spouse(s)
18. Clerk of the National Assembly and spouse(s)
19. Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces and spouse(s)
20. Service Commanders of the Kenya Defence Forces and spouse(s)
21. Director-General of the National Intelligence Service and spouse(s)
22. Inspector General of the National Police Service and spouse(s)
23. County Governor and spouse(s)
24. Aide-De-Camp to the President
25. Former Presidents and spouse(s)
26. Former Prime Minister and spouse(s)
27. Former Vice Presidents and spouse(s)
28. Foreign Service Officer, spouse and dependent children below the age of 19 years
29. Country governors and spouse (s)