Date of publication:
04/07/2025
Kenya
Do domestic laws and policies impose fees for the issuance of a travel document?
Assessment by population
Analysis
According to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011, article 25(1) (h) travel documents issued to refugees is considered as one of the types of travel documents issued under the Act. Further, article 27 provides that an application for issuance of travel documents should be accompanied with the prescribed fee to access the service. The Directorate of Immigration Services that is mandated to provide passports and other travel documents in its website provide the prescribed fee to access travel documents. Also, as stated under article 8(1) (i) of the Refugees Act, the Commissioner for Refugee Affairs (DRS) will facilitate the issuance of travel documents and Department of Immigration will issue the document. Therefore, the law does not require refugees to pay charges for issuance of travel document higher than that imposed on nationals for the issuance of a travel document. In practice, refugees acquire travel documents free of charge and UNHCR covers the cost for CTD booklets.
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
The Refugee Act
- Year: 2021
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum, Education, Freedom of movement, Health, Liberty & security of person, Social protection, Work & Workplace rights, Family life, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2021/en/124231?prevDestination=search&prevPath=/search?keywords=refugee+act&order=desc&sm_country_name%5B%5D=Kenya&sort=score&result=result-124231-en
Legal provision
Article 8(1) (i) Commissioner for Refugee Affairs
There shall be a Commissioner for Refugee Affairs whose office shall be an office in the Public Service and who shall be the head of the Department in liaison with Director of Immigration, process and issue conventional travel documents.
Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act
- Year: 2011
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Liberty & security of person, Nationality & facilitated naturalization, Work & Workplace rights, Documentation
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/2011/en/123212
Legal provision
Article 25(1)(h) Inspections
The following types of passports and travel documents may be issued under this Act—Travel Document issued subject to the provisions of the Refugee Act, 2006 (No. 13 of 2006), and any other Humanitarian Convention.
Article 27(1) and (3) Application for a pass
(1) An application for issuance or replacement of a passport or other travel document shall be in the prescribed form. (3) An application made under subsection (1) shall be accompanied by—(g) the prescribed fee.