Applying for a Kenyan passport has now been made easier following the introduction of an electronic system by the immigration department, which will allow citizens to make their applications and payments online.

The eCitizen, platform will replace the traditional lengthy and hectic process of queuing at the immigration office. The online passport application platform allows citizens to make payments via Visa or Mpesa.

Tomorrow is expected to be the deadline for the manual applications as stated by the ministry.

“PLEASE NOTE; Manual passport applications will not be accepted as from 30th April 2015. A new queuing system has also been introduced. “The immigration department tweeted.

HOW DOES THE ONLINE PASSPORT APPLICATION WORK?

In order to apply for your passport online, you will follow this link https://immigration.ecitizen.go.ke/index.php. Once you have filled everything online, you will also be required to make the payments online as well. Once you have done all that, then you can now go the immigration office and head straight to the e-citizen teller where the remaining bit will be finalized in just five minutes. You will then get live updates of your application progress via SMS and Email.

KENYA TO INTRODUCE E-PASSPORT

The immigration department has also announced that a new E-passport, which will contain a chip that has every detail of an individual, will be announced by November this year.

DON’T BE DUPED

The PS has cautioned Kenyans to beware of crooks who might be out to con them. It has used Twitter to issue a warning against sending money to individuals.

“DON’T give/send money to other individuals/entities when doing an application at our offices, EXCEPT at the cashier’s then get a receipt,” the PS tweeted.