Picture: Embassy of Kenya in Doha
Kenyan citizens in Qatar can now avail the e-passport service at the embassy after the country’s Director General at the Directorate of Immigration and Citizen Services, Alexander Muteshi, launched the service in Doha yesterday.
Accompanied by the Ambassador of Kenya to Qatar, H E Paddy C Ahenda, the Immigration Director handed over some printed e-passports to citizens. A live demonstration of the application process was demonstrated to the media.
The Kenyan Immigration Department announced the Kenyan East African Community e-Passports launch in 2017. The new e-passport contains a small embedded electronic microprocessor chip containing the passport holder’s biometric information, ensuring that the passport was not illegally replicated.
Last year the Kenyan envoy had disclosed plans to establish the e-passport centre in Doha. Now, Kenyans can acquire the EAC biometric e-passport at the embassy from Sunday to Thursday from 8 am to 3 pm. E-passports for children born in Qatar will also be provided. Applicants can apply on the eCitizen portal, pay the fees and take the invoice to the center to get their biometrics taken. They will get a Token Number to track their e-passports application.
Speaking to the media, Muteshi said the facility will be permanent at the embassy, adding, “We are happy to launch this passport center, and I urge Kenyans to take full advantage because the old passport will be phased out in November 2022.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador Ahenda said the facility would offer Kenyans renewal and new passport services.
“I appeal to all Kenyans that the e-passport machine is available and operational. This has reduced the delay experienced before. Anybody who wants to get the e-passport is now welcome, and the process is done online immediately. Parents with Kenyan children born in Doha can also apply for their kids,” Ahenda said.
Officials said the machines are connected to the main server in Nairobi. They noted that appointments aren’t needed for the service, and applicants can get all the approved pages of the passport depending on their preference. Prospective applicants have to upload their national identity card (both sides), last, second last, and fourth last pages of the passport, applicant’s photo, and signature.
