State acquires two new passport printing machines to reduce processing time to 14 days

The government has acquired two new passport printing machines to streamline the issuance of travel documents.

The State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services notes that these machines, along with updated service halls, have addressed previous challenges in the passport application and issuance process.

Principal Secretary of the Immigration Services Julius Bitok has assured Kenyans that all processes have been streamlined for faster passport production.

“We are now producing the passports very fast. We have two new machines and modern banking halls and we continue improving our systems,” Bitok said.

He noted that the new machines are capable of printing 600 passports per hour. According to Bitok, the upgrade means that Kenyans can expect to receive their travel documents within 14 working days.

Following the improvements, Bitok confirmed that hundreds of passports have been printed, clearing the backlog that had been a major concern. He urged all passport applicants to collect their documents promptly.

“Let us collect our passports from the Immigration offices. Over 110,000 passports have been printed and are ready for pickup. This is a huge number,” Bitok said.

Additional centres

He revealed that the government is expanding its services by establishing additional centres across the country to facilitate passport issuance.

“We have recently opened offices in Kericho and Bungoma, and we are now moving to Nyeri and Garissa. We are also considering opening an office in Machakos to bring these services closer to the people,” he said.

On July 31, the Immigration Department announced that it would dispose of all uncollected passports in six months from the date of notice. The department said it is holding 110,059 uncollected passports in its offices.

This action, according to the department, aligns with several laws and regulations, including Section 31 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act and Regulations, the Disposal of Uncollected Goods Act (CAP 38), and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations on the delivery of travel documents.

Bitok noted that the Department has set up dedicated Migrant Labour counters to fast-track passport applications, in line with the Presidential directive aimed at facilitating travel for Kenyans pursuing job opportunities abroad.

Applicants seeking the service have been advised to present their documentation, including proof of intent issued by the relevant institution.