Citizenship by registration - marriage (Form 8) and lawful residence
Form 10 · Official name: Registration as a citizen of Kenya (Article 15, Constitution of Kenya; Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011)
Foreign nationals can register as Kenyan citizens. A spouse of a Kenyan citizen married for at least 7 years applies on Form 8; a person who has lived lawfully in Kenya for a continuous period of at least 7 years applies on Form 10. Other forms cover widows and widowers, children and dependants, stateless persons and migrants. Applications go through the eFNS portal. Processing is KSh 20,000; issuance is KSh 100,000 by marriage (KSh 50,000 for East Africans) and KSh 1,000,000 for lawful residents. The charter timeline is 6 months.
1 entry rule for Kenya based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 1 year and over arriving from a yellow fever risk country must present a valid yellow fever certificate. Without one: may not be allowed into the country (Kenya Airports Authority).
Ministry of Health Kenya: Incoming Travellers Kenya Airports Authority: Port Health WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Kenya
Finance
3
Currency
Kenyan Shilling
KES
Kenyan Shilling
Cost of living
35
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
10–35%
Income tax (national)
VAT 16%
35% applies to income above KES 800,000 per month (KES 9.6m per year).
Living
1
Happiness
#108 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Premium
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Dual citizenship for you Premium
Whether this country allows dual citizenship, and what it means for your own passports
Who it’s for
Long-term lawful residents of Kenya and spouses of Kenyan citizens.
Eligibility
By marriage (Form 8)Spouse of a citizen
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need to have been married to a Kenyan citizen for at least 7 years under a recognised system of law.
- Minimum marriage length: 7 years
Official wording
Married to a Kenyan citizen for not less than 7 years, under a recognised system of law.
Lawful residence (Form 10)Lawful resident
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need to have lived lawfully in Kenya for a continuous period of at least 7 years.
- Applies to foreign nationals
- Residence must be continuous
- Include a letter showing your contribution to national development
Official wording
A foreign national who has been a lawful resident of Kenya for a continuous period of at least 7 years. Applicants also provide a letter showing their contribution to national development.
Other registration routes
Sign in to check this route against your profileOther registration routes each use their own form, such as Forms 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15.
- Widows and widowers: Form 9
- Children and dependants of citizens: Form 11
- Stateless persons: Form 13
- Migrants: Form 14; their descendants: Form 15
Official wording
Widows and widowers (Form 9), children and dependants of citizens (Form 11), stateless persons (Form 13), migrants (Form 14) and their descendants (Form 15).
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklist
- Fees
- Steps to apply
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 6 documents
- 6 fees
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Want a licensed advisor to check your case?
Connect with a licensed legal advisor for Kenya. They set their own price and you pay them directly.
Before you pay anyone, check their licencePlaces to visit in Kenya
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
