Passport applicants are now required to book an appointment through the eCitizen portal for passport collection.
This was announced by the Department of Immigration on August 29, 2019 through a notice informing the public that they can only collect the passports from where their biometrics were taken, after making an appointment.
This is in a bid to reduce congestion and improve service delivery at the passport centers.
“With the booking system, you will not have to queue for hours to collect your passport,” read the statement.
Applicants seeking to collect already processed passports are required to carry an appointment slip, original Identification Card and the expired or old passport for those making replacements.
Earlier in the week, the immigration department introduced the appointment system for e-Passports.
The notice to the public stated that only those with appointments will be allowed to make passport applications and take biometrics at the passport processing centers.
“You will henceforth be required to book an appointment in the eCitizen portal. Specify the date, time and station of your convenience,” the notice read.
Those who have already made applications for passports will also be required to revisit the portal and book appointments indicating time, date and station.
However, sick people with urgent appointments to travel out of the country for medical reasons will be exempted from making an appointment.
Other people exempted from making appointments include students on scholarships that require immediate travel, public servants on urgent assignments and business executives on urgent official business.
People seeking exemption will have to produce evidence to prove their urgency.
The 35th East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers issued a directive requiring all member states to begin the issuance of the new East Africa e-Passport by January 31, 2018.
This saw massive congestion at passport centers as Kenyans strived to beat the August 31, 2019. The deadline was nevertheless extended to March 1, 2020 allowing Kenyans to use their old passports until then.
