Kenyans abroadCitizenship
Dual citizenship & nationality
Apply to regain or hold dual citizenship and resolve nationality matters from abroad.
Service standard: Subject to Immigration processing timesLast updated: April 2026Available in: EN · SW
Who this is for
Kenyans who have acquired another nationality and wish to declare or regain Kenyan citizenship, people of Kenyan descent claiming citizenship, and families resolving a child's nationality.
Applications are made on eCitizen under the Immigration directorate, with supporting documents verified at your mission.
At a glance
- Who can apply
- A Kenyan who holds or has acquired another citizenship, or a person who qualifies for Kenyan citizenship by birth or descent.
- What to bring
- Your eCitizen application, both passports where applicable, birth certificate, parents' documents proving descent, and passport photos.
- Cost
- A fee applies, paid on eCitizen. The amount depends on the category of application.
- How long it takes
- Processing varies with the Immigration directorate. Declarations are usually faster than restoration or descent claims.
- Where
- Lodged online on eCitizen; documents verified at your mission.
What happens after you apply
The step most sites skip - so you know what to expect and don't need to call.
- Complete the relevant citizenship application on eCitizen and pay the fee.
- Present your supporting documents at your mission for verification.
- The mission forwards the verified file to the Immigration directorate.
- The outcome is communicated and any certificate or endorsement issued.
If something goes wrong, or you need help
If you are detained, hospitalised, or in immediate danger, do not wait for the form - call the consular emergency line. For questions about an application already submitted, contact the mission directly.
One template, every missionThis page runs on a single service spine - who it's for, what to bring, cost, time, where, what happens next. Nairobi and all 60+ missions fill the same fields with their local facts (fee, address, hours, emergency number). Fix the spine once and every mission improves; only the local data changes.