New fees for government services in Kenya are now in effect as of March 1, 2024. This follows a public engagement exercise and gazette notification.
“You may recall that the effective date for the implementation of these charges was January 1 2024. However, the said charges were to be subject to public participation before coming into effect,” said a memo from the Ministry of Home Affairs director.
Here’s a breakdown of the key changes:
- Passports: Costs increased significantly. A standard 34-page passport now costs Sh7,500 (up from Sh4,500), a 50-page passport is Sh9,500 (up from Sh6,000), and a 66-page passport is Sh12,500 (up from Sh7,500). Replacing a lost passport is Sh20,000 (up from Sh12,000).
- IDs: Replacing a lost ID card is now Sh1,000 (up from Sh100).
- Birth and Death Certificates: Issuing a new birth or death certificate is Sh200 (up from Sh50). Late registration and amendments for both certificates also increased.
- Work Permits: Legal residents with spouses and children applying for permanent permits will pay Sh800,000. Foreign spouses of Kenyans will pay Sh50,000 for permanent residency.
- Citizenship: Processing fees for citizenship are now Sh20,000. Obtaining citizenship for East Africans is Sh50,000 (up from Sh5,000) and Sh100,000 for non-East Africans.
