Kenyans seeking new passports are now being directed to pay Sh12,500 after the government removed the lower-cost 34-page and 50-page options from the eCitizen portal, leaving only the 66-page ordinary “C” booklet available.
A check of the application portal shows that while the smaller 34-page “A” and 50-page “B” series still appear listed, attempting to select them automatically switches the choice to the 66-page passport. This effectively forces first-time applicants to pay the highest standard fee, even if they do not require extra pages.
Previously, applicants had several options: the 34-page ordinary “A” series at Sh7,500, the 50-page ordinary “B” series at Sh9,500, and the 66-page ordinary “C” series at Sh12,500. Other categories included the 50-page diplomatic passport at Sh15,000 and replacement passports for lost or damaged booklets at Sh20,000 each.
As of February 4, 2026, only the 66-page passport can be applied for via eCitizen, marking the removal of cheaper alternatives from the system. This follows an earlier move in July 2025, when the government withdrew the 34-page booklet, the most affordable option at the time. Officials said operational and supply challenges had forced the decision, but a long-term plan was not shared.
Former Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok previously detailed the supply situation, saying the country had received an additional 112,700 passport booklets, including 92,400 50-page and 20,300 66-page booklets, in addition to 50,000 50-page booklets delivered earlier.
“The issuance of passports will be prioritised on a first-in-first-out basis. Applicants with pending 34-page passports who urgently need to travel are advised to upgrade their applications to the 50-page booklet via the eCitizen portal. No physical visit to Immigration offices is necessary to apply for the upgrade,” Bitok said.
For many applicants, particularly those looking for jobs abroad, the passport fee is just one of several expenses. Additional costs include medical examinations, visa fees, police clearance certificates, and air travel, making the higher passport fee a significant extra burden. Experts warn that rising costs could discourage legal migration and limit economic opportunities.
Applicants must appear in person for biometric enrolment and submit a printed eCitizen passport application form, accompanied by one government copy and one customer copy of the payment receipt. They are also required to provide their original birth certificate and national ID, each with a photocopy, and three recent passport-size photographs.
A photocopy of a recommender’s national ID must also be submitted. Applicants replacing old passports must present the previous booklet along with photocopies of the last three pages. Where necessary, photocopies of parents’ national ID cards or death certificates should be included.
Those reporting lost passports must provide an affidavit, a police abstract, and a written explanation. Applicants replacing mutilated passports must submit a detailed account of how the damage occurred.
