US Embassy In Nairobi Issues New Requirements For Issuing Visa

The e-passports are designed to better protect national borders and identities of citizens. They have the latest security features and design techniques besides a new style polycarbonate bio-data page.

Kenya launched its e-passport programme in 2017, making it the first country in the East African Community (EAC) to do so. In a circular dated April 15 to government institutions, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua froze all foreign travels for public servants with old passports citing hitches in processing of visa and entry permits using the machine-readable ones, which are set to expire in September.

US embassy in Nairobi has also had to review its visa issuance policies saying only those with new passports will qualify to be issued with a visa.

Clarification: US visas & non-digital Kenyan passports: U.S. visa applicants may make an appointment using old Kenyan passport but must have new e-passport before the visa can be issued. Passports must be valid for 6 months upon entry & non-digital passports expire Aug 31, 2019.

— U.S. Embassy Nairobi (@USEmbassyKenya) April 30, 2019

Travelers with a valid U.S. visa may travel with their current visa in the old passport but must also have a new e-passport for entry. It is not necessary to apply for a new visa.

— U.S. Embassy Nairobi (@USEmbassyKenya) April 30, 2019

UPDATED:

The embassy has since revised their earlier announcements on visa issuance.

UPDATE: Visa applicants may apply for a US visa with a non-digital Kenyan passport. We will place a US visa in a non-digital passport until further notice. Holders of current US visas do not need to take any action.

— U.S. Embassy Nairobi (@USEmbassyKenya) May 1, 2019