Anyone wishing to enter the country of Kenya must be in possession of a valid, unexpired passport. Passports serve the purpose of establishing an individual's identity and country of citizenship while indicating that the individual has a right to return to their home country. They are acquired by applying directly to the country's appropriate immigration department. For example, in the United States, U.S. citizens are to apply directly to the Department of State at an approved passport acceptance facility for a passport. When applying you must submit proof of eligibility by establishing your identity and citizenship. As proof of citizenship, submit a birth certificate or Certificate of Naturalization. To establish identity, a government-issued photo I.D. such as a driver's license or military I.D. is required.
It is important that travelers in possession of a passport that is soon facing expiration have it renewed before traveling to Kenya, as the Kenyan government requires that passports be valid a full six months beyond the conclusion of the traveler's intended visit. For example, a U.S. citizen with plans to visit Nairobi on March 1 with a return day of March 10, must make sure that their passport does not expire until at least Sept. 11.
Travelers who are in possession of a damaged passport, or one without several blank pages, should be sure to remedy this situation well in advance of their travel date. Specifically, travelers are warned to ensure their passport contains sufficient blank pages for visas and immigration stamps. Typically, two blank pages should be sufficient, however four is playing it safe. In fact, many airlines don't allow travelers to board an aircraft who have less than four blank pages in their passport. U.S. citizens who need additional pages for their passport can complete Form DS-4085 online to remedy this predicament.
