Kenya Slashes Passport Processing Time to 3 Days for Overseas Workers

The Kenyan government is set to implement a new directive allowing citizens seeking overseas employment to obtain their passports within three days.

This initiative, announced by the State Department of Immigration Services, is part of a broader labour migration strategy aimed at expediting passport issuance for aspiring workers. The expedited process follows a recently established agreement between Kenya and Qatar, which facilitated the dispatch of the first group of Kenyan workers to the Gulf nation.

Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok commented on the development, underscoring the government’s dedication to creating a seamless experience for those wishing to work abroad. President William Ruto has been a prominent supporter of the labour export program, advocating for its importance amid public criticism.

The initiative aims to send one million skilled and semi-skilled workers to various countries, thus broadening employment opportunities and enhancing diaspora remittances. However, some critics raise concerns regarding the potential for exploitation, harassment, and poor working conditions faced by Kenyan workers abroad.

Since the launch of the program in July 2023, the government has successfully facilitated employment for over 105,000 Kenyans in diverse roles such as nursing, teaching, and culinary services. The National Employment Authority (NEA) has identified more than 560,000 job openings globally. In September 2024, a pivotal agreement between Kenya and Germany was signed, allowing skilled workers to pursue opportunities in Europe’s largest economy.

On December 11, 2024, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua oversaw the departure of the first batch of 290 workers under the Qatar-Kenya job export program. This significant milestone aims to employ nearly 8,000 Kenyans, with groups set to depart for Qatar on a rolling basis following the initial send-off.