Kenyans Now Have Until November 30, 2022 To Replace Their Old Passports – Immigration

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept, 22 – The country’s immigration department has urged Kenyans to replace their old passports with the new e-passport ahead of a November 30, 2022 deadline that will now see them being phased out completely.

Director General of Immigration services Alexander Muteshi revealed the news saying that the move has been postponed several times since 2019.

However, the directive also comes amid a decision by the East Africa Community Council of ministers during a meeting held on November 22 and 29, 2021 that advised the phasing out of the old passports for EAC member states.

“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,” said Muteshi in a statement.

In order to avoid being inconvenienced Kenyans have been advised to rush against time in order to acquire the new passport.

“Kenyans are therefore hereby advised to acquire the new Biometric e-passport to avoid any inconveniences,” 

During the process of rationalizing the issuance of the new generation passport, the immigration department revealed that an estimated 1,8 million Kenyans especially in those in the diaspora were using the old (dark blue) passport.

Immigration centers have been set up across the globe including three in the European cities of, Berlin, Paris, and London.

Kenyans in the USA can access services in the country’s capital Washington DC while other centers have been ESTABLISHED in Johannesburg, South Africa, as well as Dubai in the U.A.E.

Locally, meanwhile, Passport control centers are situated in Nakuru, Kisii, Eldoret, and Embu.

The immigration department will try to achieve same-day issuance of the documents.

In August 2017, Kenya began issuing single electronic East African Community (EAC) passports, replacing the readable East African and ordinary passports issued by the member states. The EAC later issued a directive to commence the issuance of the new passports by January 31, 2018.

According to the immigration department, the new e-passport has been fitted with several security features that not only protect your information but also heighten the value of the document in international travels.

Enhanced with an Automated Fingerprint Verification System to minimize fraud, identity theft, forgery, and passport skimming thus easing Kenyans’ travel experience, especially through the use of automated border clearances or e-gates, automated issuance of the boarding passes, and faster travel arrangements with airlines.