Kenyans have been experiencing issues with their passports over the last couple of years. The immigration department has not been forthcoming about the delays experienced by thousands of Kenyans, who continue to complain that the state is taking too long to process this important document.
Some people have missed important, life-changing trips because their passports were not ready. Others claim to use insiders to accelerate production, and that usually comes at a cost. Ordinary applicants who cannot afford that route have been forced to wait, but there might be some light at the end of the tunnel.
Amid promises from senior officials, the production of passports may be faster this time around. However, people are still skeptical because this has been promised before with no success.
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Faster Tracking via SMS
Nonetheless, to alleviate applicants’ anxiety, there is a new and faster method to track the stage of your passport production process besides using the eCitizen platform.
All you need now is to send an SMS with your eCitizen application reference code (not the tracking number) to 22222.
The SMS is processed immediately with details about the stage at which your passport is being processed.
Passport Stages
If your passport is ‘processing‘, then the team at the immigration department is assessing your personal details and biometrics, assuming they have captured them.
Once that is done, the next stage is ‘production‘, meaning they are in the process of printing the passport.
Once that is done, it will be in the ‘receiving‘ stage, meaning it is ready for collection.
How to Collect Your Passport
The immigration department no longer works with the Postal Corporation of Kenya, meaning you have to collect the document personally. T
his can be done via various immigration offices across the country, including Nairobi’s Nyayo House, Embu, Nakuru, Kisii, or Kisumu.
However, you have to make an appointment for collection, the same way a booking appointment is made when going for biometrics.
Passport Charges
As you might be aware, passport application fees are now higher and cost as follows:
KES 7,500 for the 34-page passport
KES 9,500 for the 50-page passport
KES 12,500 for the 66-page passport.
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