The government has unveiled e-passports which will replace the current manual travel documents.
The new e-passports will bear the East African Community tag beside the Kenya government tag. They will have an electronic chip holding the same information as the old version, alongside a biometric identifier, digital photograph of the holder and security features to prevent unauthorised use and forgery.
The A, B, C series and diplomatic passports will cost Sh. 4,550, Sh. 6,050, Sh. 7,550 and Sh. 7,550.
Application can be done online through the e-citizen platform but applicants will be required to present themselves in person for biometric capture at the passport issuing offices in Kisumu, Mombasa and Nairobi.
You will then pay the application fee through a mobile phone pay bill number.
The government will produce at least 2,000 passports daily. This is an increase from the 800 passports which are produced per day.
If you own the old passport, you will be will be required to apply for a replacement passport and return the old one.
The current ordinary EAC passports will also be phased out but passports with visas will remain valid.
The Immigration Department will start processing and issuing the new passport, which also serves as the East African Community passport, starting September 1.
“The Immigration Department will no longer process and issue the current ordinary, diplomatic and East African passports,” Director of Immigration Gordon Kihalangwa said
The e-passports are expected to replace all oldones by the year 2019.