Foreign National Certificate / Alien Card Application in Kenya

Quick answer: A foreign national who resides in Kenya for a continuous period exceeding three months is generally required to register with Immigration and obtain a Foreign National Certificate, commonly called an Alien Card, unless an exemption applies. The application is started online through eFNS using Form 50, followed by an in-person appointment for document verification and biometric capture.

Information checked: 29 September 2026. Reviewed against the Directorate of Immigration Services Alien Card guidance, the eFNS Foreign Nationals Certificate information pack, the 2025 Immigration Service Delivery Charter and section 56 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act. Professional review: Edward Omondi, Immigration and Business Registration Consultant, Business & Immigration East Africa.

Alien Card Kenya: Quick Facts

Official name Foreign National Certificate / Foreign National Registration Certificate, commonly called an Alien Card.
Who generally needs it? Foreign nationals residing in Kenya continuously for more than three months, unless an exemption applies.
Application form Form 50 through the Government of Kenya eFNS portal.
Published government fee KES 5,000 per year in the Directorate's 2025 Service Delivery Charter. A separate Directorate Alien Card webpage still displays KES 1,000 per year; confirm the final amount on the live eFNS invoice.
Official service target 6 weeks for Foreign Nationals Registration under the 2025 Service Delivery Charter. This is a service target, not a guaranteed completion date.
Biometrics required? Yes. The applicant must attend in person for document verification, facial capture and fingerprints.
Typical validity Up to two years, but the card expires earlier where the underlying permit or pass expires sooner. For permanent residence holders, eFNS states that the certificate may be issued for up to three years.

Who Needs an Alien Card in Kenya?

Section 56(2) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act requires a foreign national residing in Kenya for a continuous period exceeding three months to register with an immigration officer. In practice, Alien Card applications commonly arise after a foreign national has obtained or holds a valid immigration status such as a work or residence permit, permanent residence, dependant pass, student pass or another qualifying pass.

Long-stay visitors may also fall within the registration requirement once continuous residence exceeds three months. The eFNS information pack states that visitors presenting for registration should produce a valid visitor's pass.

Alien Card Requirements in Kenya

The current Directorate and eFNS guidance lists the following core requirements for a Foreign National Certificate / Alien Card application:

  • A duly completed and signed online Form 50, printed after the eFNS application is completed.
  • Copy of a valid passport to establish identity and nationality.
  • Two recent coloured passport-size photographs with a white background, taken not more than twelve months before the application date.
  • Proof of lawful residence or current immigration status. Depending on the applicant, this may be a valid work/residence permit, permanent residence, dependant pass, student pass or other valid pass.
  • Payment acknowledgement / receipt generated through the eFNS process.
  • Previous Alien Card for a renewal application.
  • Police abstract where the previous Alien Card has been lost.

The applicant must attend in person for registration and biometrics. Immigration may request additional particulars or supporting documents depending on the applicant's status and the circumstances of the file.

How to Apply for an Alien Card in Kenya

  1. Create or use your Government of Kenya Single Sign-On / eCitizen account and access the eFNS portal.
  2. Select Apply Now, open Submit Applications, and choose the Foreign National service.
  3. Complete the online Form 50 and submit the required information.
  4. Review the invoice generated in the eFNS dashboard and make payment using the available official payment channels.
  5. Print the completed Form 50 and payment acknowledgement.
  6. Book an appointment for document submission and biometric capture.
  7. Attend the Immigration appointment in person with the printed application and supporting documents.
  8. Immigration verifies the documents and captures facial features and fingerprints.
  9. A waiting slip is issued while the Foreign National Certificate is produced.
  10. Monitor the eFNS account / notification channel and collect the card when notified that it is ready.

How Much Does an Alien Card Cost in Kenya?

The Directorate of Immigration Services' 2025 Service Delivery Charter lists Foreign Nationals Registration at KES 5,000 per year. This is the strongest current published Directorate fee schedule we found for the service.

Important official-source discrepancy: the Directorate's dedicated Alien Card webpage still states a charge of KES 1,000 per year or part thereof. Because two official Directorate sources currently display different figures, applicants should treat the amount generated by the live eFNS invoice as the final government amount payable at the time of filing. BIEA professional assistance is separate from government charges and is quoted according to the scope of the file.

How Long Does an Alien Card Take in Kenya?

The Directorate's 2025 Service Delivery Charter gives an official service target of 6 weeks for Foreign Nationals Registration. The dedicated Alien Card page also states that card production takes several weeks because production is centralized and biometric details are checked against government databases.

The six-week period should therefore be treated as a published service target rather than a guaranteed collection date. Appointment availability, incomplete documents, biometric verification, queries and central card production may extend the end-to-end timeline.

Alien Card Validity and Renewal

The eFNS information pack states that a Foreign National Certificate may be issued for a period not exceeding two years in the first instance and may be renewed for further periods of up to two years. Where the applicant's underlying permit or pass expires earlier, the Alien Card expires on the same date as that permit or pass. For permanent residence holders, eFNS states that the certificate may be issued for up to three years.

For renewal, the applicant should present the previous Alien Card together with the current passport, photographs, valid immigration status, Form 50 and the other documents requested by the live eFNS process.

Lost Alien Card: What Is Required?

If an Alien Card has been lost, the current eFNS information pack requires a valid police abstract as evidence of the loss. The applicant should then follow the applicable eFNS replacement / registration process and comply with any further document or payment instructions generated by the portal.

Is an Alien Card the Same as a Work Permit?

No. A work permit, dependant pass, student pass or permanent residence status gives the underlying authority to reside, work, study or remain in Kenya for the approved purpose. The Alien Card is the separate foreign national registration certificate used to register qualifying foreign residents.

For example, a foreign employee may first obtain the appropriate Kenya work permit and then complete Foreign National Registration where the residence period triggers the registration requirement. Likewise, qualifying family members may first need a Kenya Dependant Pass.

Who Is Exempt from Foreign National Registration?

Current official guidance lists exemptions that include certain members of the armed forces, specified public / diplomatic categories and their eligible family members, persons exempted under the immigration framework, registered refugees, and persons whose continuous stay does not exceed three months while holding valid authority such as a visitor's pass or Special Pass.

Because the wording of the exemption lists differs slightly between the Directorate Alien Card page and the eFNS information pack, an applicant relying on an exemption should confirm that the exemption applies to their exact status before deciding not to register.

Common Reasons Alien Card Applications Are Delayed

  • The applicant's permit, pass or other immigration status is expired or close to expiry.
  • Form 50 details do not match the passport or permit details.
  • Passport photographs do not meet the current specification.
  • The applicant attends without the printed application, payment acknowledgement or required original documents.
  • A renewal is filed without the previous Alien Card.
  • A lost-card application is filed without a police abstract.
  • Biometric or central production checks take longer than the published service target.

Official Sources and Professional Review

Foreign national registration procedures, portal prompts and government charges can change. Before filing or paying, check the live official sources:

Professional review: Edward Omondi, Immigration and Business Registration Consultant, Business & Immigration East Africa. Last reviewed: 29 September 2026.

Need Help With an Alien Card Application in Kenya?

For an initial Alien Card file review, send your nationality, current Kenya immigration status, permit/pass type and expiry date, and whether the application is first-time, renewal or replacement. We can confirm the filing route, document checklist and appointment preparation before submission.

Call/WhatsApp: +254 700 176 096
Email: info@bieastafrica.com

Alien Card Kenya FAQs

Who needs an Alien Card in Kenya?

A foreign national residing in Kenya for a continuous period exceeding three months is generally required to register with Immigration unless an exemption applies.

How much does an Alien Card cost in Kenya?

The 2025 Immigration Service Delivery Charter lists Foreign Nationals Registration at KES 5,000 per year. The Directorate's separate Alien Card webpage still displays KES 1,000 per year, so confirm the amount generated on the live eFNS invoice before payment.

What is Form 50 in Kenya?

Form 50 is the online application form used for Foreign National Certificate / Alien Card registration. It is completed through eFNS and printed for presentation during the in-person registration process.

How long does an Alien Card take in Kenya?

The Directorate's 2025 Service Delivery Charter lists a six-week service target. Actual production may take longer where there are appointment, document, biometric or central production delays.

What documents do I need for an Alien Card?

The core documents are Form 50, a valid passport, two recent passport photographs with a white background, proof of valid immigration status and payment acknowledgement. Renewals require the previous card, while lost-card cases require a police abstract.

Can I apply for an Alien Card completely online?

No. The application begins online through eFNS, but the applicant must attend in person for document verification and biometric capture.

How long is an Alien Card valid?

eFNS states that the certificate is generally valid for up to two years, subject to the validity of the underlying permit or pass. Permanent residence holders may receive a certificate valid for up to three years.

Do I need an Alien Card if I already have a work permit?

A work permit and an Alien Card serve different purposes. If your residence in Kenya exceeds the statutory registration period and no exemption applies, foreign national registration is a separate compliance step.