Kenyans Set For New, Easier Passport Application Rules
The Department of Immigration Services (DIS) has updated its passport application standards, with one significant change already perplexing Kenyans seeking the travel document.
For years, many applicants struggled to find a suitable recommending officer, with some turning to strangers, unsuitable individuals, or even paying for signatures to finish the application process.
That restriction has now been lifted, as the government stated that the “Recommending Officer” portion on the passport application form is no longer required for approval.
The government confirmed the changes on Friday, amid rising concerns about the revised passport application process on the eCitizen platform.
According to the DIS, many applicants relied on recommenders whose identities could not be verified, weakening the credibility of the passport application process.
The department explained that the biometrics stage now provides direct identity verification through fingerprints, national identity cards and passport photographs matched against government databases, making third-party endorsements largely unnecessary.
Previously, passport applicants were required to provide a recommending officer to vouch for their character, certify that the submitted photographs were a true likeness and endorse the authenticity of the application.
The eligibility criteria were also strict. Recommending officers had to hold a valid Kenyan passport or national identity card, could not be related to the applicant by blood or marriage, and were typically expected to be professionals such as doctors, lawyers, bankers, civil servants or clergy.
ALSO READ:
- Kenyans Set For New, Easier Passport Application Rules
- “After 2027 Elections, Let’s Remain Brothers And Sisters!” – Kindiki Tells Politicians
- President’s Official Website Restored After Saturday’s Cyberattack
- CS Ogamba Speaks On Illegal School Fees & Levies, Warns Principals
- Ex-BBC Journalist Reports Death Threats Over Dangote Lamu Refinery
DIS stressed that the recommending officer section should never be a barrier to obtaining a passport, noting that the application process now relies on more reliable and verifiable identity data.
The department said the change is also intended to curb fraud linked to forged signatures and fake endorsements by so-called recommending officers, a loophole officials say had undermined confidence in the system.
With biometrics now central to verification, cross-checking fingerprints and passport photographs against existing databases makes a third party’s opinion largely unnecessary for confirming who someone really is.
The shift is expected to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, especially the informal demands for money that some officers made in exchange for their signatures.
Instead of relying on personal recommendations, the department is now placing greater weight on documents Kenyans already submit, including birth certificates and national identification cards.
Kenyans Set For New, Easier Passport Application Rules
