Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has announced a significant rise in fees for obtaining passports and other essential documents, just a few months after the High Court suspended the implementation of new charges in November last year.
As of March 1, individuals applying for an ordinary 34-page passport will now face a fee of Ksh7,500, a significant rise from the previous Ksh4,500. Meanwhile, the cost of a 50-page passport has increased to Ksh9,500 from the prior Ksh6,000.
A memorandum from the Ministry of Interior, dated February 29 and addressed to regional coordinators, outlined the updated charges. Notably, the fee for a 66-page passport has surged from Ksh7,500 to Ksh12,500.
Simultaneously, Kenya has revised visa fees, with the cost of a single-entry visa doubling to $100 from the previous $50. The fee for a multiple-entry visa has increased to $500 from $100, while transit visas now cost $50, up from $20.
Furthermore, parents applying for permanent residence for their children born outside Kenya will now be required to pay Ksh750,000, up from the previous Ksh500,000.
Similarly, spouses of Kenyan citizens seeking permanent residence will see an increase to Ksh150,000 from the prior Ksh50,000.
This move comes after Prof Kindiki, in November, revoked the gazette notice for the upward revision of charges, fees, and levies related to services provided by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services.
The revocation aimed to allow more public participation, responding to legal challenges against the initial increment.
Prof Kindiki had directed the State Department for Immigration to conduct public participation on the matter by December 10, 2023 before the new changes are effected.
Source: Business Day Africa.
