Updated: 31 May 2026
Biz Brokers Kenya assists eligible applicants with Kenyan citizenship assessment, document review, eFNS application preparation, supporting affidavits, follow-up and presentation of the application file to the Department of Immigration Services.
Kenyan citizenship is governed by the Constitution of Kenya, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, and official directives issued by the Department of Immigration Services. This page is a hub. It gives a practical overview and then directs applicants to the correct detailed route so that the main citizenship page does not duplicate the full content of each specific application category.
Send us your current immigration status, passport nationality, years lived in Kenya, marriage details if applicable, and copies of any permits or passes held. We will confirm the most suitable citizenship pathway and the file gaps to correct before applying.
Kenyan citizenship may be acquired by birth or by registration. The correct route depends on whether the applicant is a Kenyan by parentage, a spouse of a Kenyan citizen, a long-term lawful resident, a child/dependant of a Kenyan citizen, a former Kenyan citizen, or a person falling within another statutory category.
A person is generally a Kenyan citizen by birth if, at the date of birth, either the mother or father is or was a Kenyan citizen, whether the person was born in Kenya or outside Kenya.
Best for: applicants claiming citizenship through Kenyan parentage, birth records, identity documentation or passport processing.
A foreign spouse may apply for registration as a Kenyan citizen after at least seven years of marriage to a Kenyan citizen, subject to proof that the marriage is legally recognized, genuine and still subsisting.
Best for: spouses holding a dependant pass, permanent residence or other lawful immigration status in Kenya.
A foreign national who has been lawfully resident in Kenya for a continuous period of at least seven years may apply for registration, provided they satisfy the residence, language, good character and national contribution requirements.
Best for: long-term work permit, investor permit, missionary permit or other lawful permit holders.
Children or dependants of Kenyan citizens may apply under the relevant registration category where they meet the prescribed requirements and provide proof of parentage, dependency, lawful status and identity documents.
Best for: children born outside Kenya, adopted children, dependants and family regularisation matters.
Former Kenyan citizens who acquired citizenship of another country and lost or renounced Kenyan citizenship may apply to regain Kenyan citizenship where the legal conditions are met.
Typical documents: Kenyan ID/passport copies, foreign passport, foreign citizenship certificate, birth certificate and police clearance documentation.
Kenyan citizens who also hold another citizenship may be required to make the appropriate declaration and provide Kenyan identity documents, the other country’s passport and citizenship certificate.
Important: confirm whether declaration, endorsement, regaining or passport processing is the correct service before filing.
The table below summarises key official fees published by the Department of Immigration Services. Government fees can change, and the final eFNS invoice should always be checked before payment.
| Citizenship service | Application / processing fee | Issuance fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by marriage - Form 8 | KSh 20,000 | East Africans: KSh 50,000 Non-East Africans: KSh 100,000 |
For eligible spouses married to Kenyan citizens for at least seven years. |
| Citizenship by lawful residence - Form 10 | KSh 20,000 | KSh 1,000,000 | For eligible foreign nationals with at least seven continuous years of lawful residence. |
| Children and dependants - Form 11 | KSh 20,000 | KSh 100,000 | Applies to the relevant child/dependant registration category. |
| Regaining citizenship - Form 1 | KSh 20,000 | KSh 50,000 | For eligible former Kenyan citizens. |
| Declaration of dual citizenship - Form 3 | KSh 20,000 | KSh 10,000 | For Kenyan citizens required to declare another citizenship. |
Professional fees for file review, affidavits, documentation support and follow-up are quoted after assessing the citizenship route, urgency, document gaps and interview risk.
For a fixed quotation, send your passport bio page, current Kenyan immigration status, years of residence in Kenya, marriage certificate if applying by marriage, and copies of permits held.
The exact checklist depends on the category. However, most Kenyan citizenship applications require careful preparation of identity, residence, relationship and character documents.
Citizenship applications are verification-heavy. Timelines vary depending on the category, completeness of documents, interview scheduling, security checks, committee review and whether Immigration requests further evidence. Applicants should avoid assuming that citizenship will be processed like a standard permit or pass.
Not always. Kenyan citizenship by birth depends primarily on whether either parent is or was a Kenyan citizen at the date of birth. A person may be Kenyan by birth even if born outside Kenya where the parentage requirement is met.
No. A foreign spouse must apply for registration and satisfy the legal requirements. The marriage must generally have lasted at least seven years, be legally recognized and be subsisting at the time of application.
Possibly. A work permit holder may qualify through the lawful residence route if they have been lawfully resident in Kenya for a continuous period of at least seven years and meet the additional statutory requirements.
No. Permanent residence allows a foreign national to reside in Kenya under the applicable PR category, while citizenship confers Kenyan nationality and the rights and duties of a Kenyan citizen. The correct route should be assessed before applying.
Yes. Most citizenship applications are started through eFNS. The applicant completes the online form, prints the application, pays the relevant invoice and presents the file with supporting documents as directed.
This page has been aligned with publicly available guidance from the Department of Immigration Services and eFNS as at 31 May 2026. Applicants should confirm the current eFNS checklist and invoice before filing.