Kenya Announces New Protocol of Issuing Passports

A photo of the Kenyan passport (left) and the East African Community (EAC) passport (left). FILE

Kenya Announces New Protocol of Issuing Passports

The government through the Immigration Department on Thursday, July 30, announced that those who had applied for passports could get the documents delivered directly to them.

In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Postal Corporation of Kenya, the two government bodies agreed to embark on an initiative to offer convenience to applicants.

Post Master General Dan Kagwe and Director General of the Immigration Department Alexander Muteshi stated that the new protocol would aid in preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

“Through the initiative, passport applicants will not have to visit our offices to pick ready passports,” Muteshi stated.

“This will significantly save time for applicants, reduce congestion in our offices, and help in the fight against the spread of Covid-19,” Muteshi further added.

The initiative will be fully operational from August 1, 2020, and is currently in the pilot stage.

Additionally, the Director-General encouraged online visa applications especially at this period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Directorate of Immigration Services would like to inform all those wishing to visit Kenya as tourists or for any other purpose and who require visas to enter Kenya that they can apply for the Kenya visa online,” he stated.

Operations at the Immigration Department have been scaled down in order to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic and to adhere to the safety guidelines by the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Scaled-down activities included the processing of all passports and other applications, processing of foreigner certificate (Alien card), collection of biometrics for all applications, collection and endorsement of permits, and collection of permanent residence certificates.

The processing and collecting of passports was in May 2020 restricted to medical emergency and urgent cases only.