Apply Online

1. Create an eCitizen Account eCitizen
2. For Kenyan citizens click on the tab written Kenyan Citizen to register. This account is for Kenyan citizens only. You will need your National ID number and your first name to register.
3. For Kenyan citizens click on the tab written Foreign Residents to register. This account is for foreigners residing in Kenya. You will need your foreigner certificate and your first name to register.
4. Once logged in navigate to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Tab and click “Get Service Now’’ to access the online application form.
5. CLick on the Police Clearance Certificate [Link] and choose the ownership of the Police Clearance Certificate
6. Follow to instructions and requirements carefully (also mentioned in the “Required Documents ” section of this page)to apply for an adult or child under 18 years and click next button to proceed to the next.
7. Select tyour preferred Finger Print Area and Finger Print Locations, then click on submit
8. Fill out the details you are being request on the application form and their after click on the CONTINUE button below the form.
9. Review your application details before submission. Click on SUBMIT.
10. Upon clicking submit, the screen will now display the various available payments methods. Select the mode of payment and pay for the Police Clearance. The cost is Kshs. 1,050.
11. Once you have made your payment and received confirmation SMS from MPESA of the same on your mobile phone, you can now click on ‘Complete’.
12. Once your payment has been confirmed by e-Citizen you will now be able to download the C24 form (finger printing form) and the Receipt saying PAID. You will present the documents for processing at the centre you specified to be finger printed. Download and print two (2) copies of your invoice, and one copy of your C24 (fingerprint form) on both sides of an A4 paper.
13. Present the C24 and invoices with an original National ID for adults and Original Birth Certificate for minors, to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters or any other location shown in eCitizen for fingerprint processing (there are several locations available).

    • During the application, you will be able to select the date when you want your fingerprints taken. In Nairobi, CID Headquarters is located on Kiambu road just after Muthaiga Golf Club on your right.
    • Once the applicant is finger printed and the application has undergone the verification and checked for any criminal record on the DCI database, the application is approved and a POLICE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE is generated online.

14. The applicant will then get an SMS notification to login to your e-citizen account and download the E-police clearance certificate and print it on A4 paper back to back.

    • To download it, log into your eCitizen account and click the Get Service button inside the Directorate of Criminal Investigations option.
    • On the DCI page, you’ll see a history of your application(s). Click the link of the Ref No of your police clearance application.
    • In the next page, click the Downloads button and you should find an option to download your police clearance certificate.
    • The certificate will be in PDF so all that will be left for you is to just print it.

15. The e-police clearance certificate can be verified by sending the word DCI to 21546. Then after successful registration, dial *512# and follow the prompts.

Applying from abroad

1. Visit the Kenyan embassy abroad to begin the application process.
2. Here your finger prints will be taken using Police Elimination Finger and Palm Print Form C24 Police Elimination Finger and Palm Print Form C24
3. You should provide the following original documents, so that duly certified copies can be produced:

   a) if the applicant is over 18 years old:

   i. Second generation Kenyan ID card (please note Kenyan passports are not accepted);

   ii. If the applicant was never issued with an ID card, he/she must provide proof of having left Kenya before reaching the age of 18, and must present his/her birth certificate (original or certified copy) and Kenyan passport.

   b) if the applicant is younger than 18:

   i. Birth certificate and/or Kenyan passport.

   c) Application letter.

   d) Duly completed “biographic details” form (website or obtained at the Embassy):the form can be downloaded through this link Elimination Finger and Palm Print

   e) A fee of Ksh 1,000 or its equivalent in the country of residence and obtain the official Receipt from the nearest Kenyan mission/embassy or submit a cheque payable to “Director of Criminal investigation” at Nairobi, Kenya.

   f) A self-addressed return envelope

4. The application consisting of the original payment receipt cheque, clear copy of Kenyan Identity Card (or certified copies by competent authorities of both passport and birth certificate where applicable) and fingerprints must be forwarded officially with a covering letter to CID Headquarters-Nairobi through post or runner.

   The postal address for ordinary mail is:

   Directorate of Criminal Investigation,

   P.O. Box 30036 – 00100 Nairobi,

   Kenya.

   For courier use:

   Directorate of Criminal Investigation,

   Kiambu Road,

   Opposite Forestry Department Headquarters, Karura.

   Nairobi, Kenya.

5. Once the applicant is finger printed and the application has undergone the verification and checked for any criminal record on the DCI database, the application is approved and a POLICE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATE is generated and sent via post/ courier.

Required Documents

Kenyan Citizens applying from Kenya

i. A person who is 18 years of age requires a second generation national ID.

ii. A child or a person below 18 years of age must have an original birth certificate.

iii. Printed two (2) copies of payment invoice.

iv. One copy of your C24 printed on both sides On an A4 paper.

v. Must allow his/her fingerprints and palm prints to be recorded on a prescribed finger print form C24.

Kenyan Citizens applying from abroad

i. A complete set of rolled and plain fingerprints taken at a local police station bearing an official stamp or taken before an attorney and certified not photocopy or prints used in previous years.

ii. Photocopy of Kenyan 2nd generation identity card, if applicant is over 18 years of age.

iii. If applicant is below 18 years old a certified copy of Birth Certificate.

iv. An application letter.

v. Two passport size pictures (full face showing both ears). (NB: Computer generated pictures are not acceptable).

vi. Money order/cashier’s check for $50.00 payable to Embassy of The Republic of Kenya.

vii. Self-addressed certified stamped envelope with enough postage-FedEx, Express mail, Certified Mail, Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. (NB: UPS, Metered stamps and Regular mail are not acceptable)

Non Kenyan Citizens applying from abroad

i. A complete set of rolled and plain fingerprints which should be taken by local police official bearing an official stamp or before an attorney and certified not photocopy or prints used in previous years.

ii. Certified copy of passport.

iii. Proof of legal stay in Kenya.

iv. An application letter.

v. Two passport size pictures (full face showing both ears). (NB: Computer generated pictures are not acceptable).

vi. Money order/cashier’s check for $50.00 payable to Embassy of The Republic of Kenya.

vii. Self-addressed certified stamped envelope with enough postage-FedEx, Express mail, Certified mail, priority mail with delivery confirmation. NB. UPS, Metered stamps and Regular mail are not acceptable. (NB: UPS, Metered stamps and Regular mail are not acceptable)

Office Locations & Contacts

Directorate of Criminal Investigations

P.O. Box 30036 – 00100 Nairobi

Mazingira Hse, Kiambu Road.

Opp. Forestry Department Headquarters, Karura

Tel +254 020 3343312.

Website: Directorate of Criminal Investigations

Kenya Police Headquarters

Vigilance House, Harambee Avenue,

PO BOX 30083,

Nairobi, Kenya.

Telephone: (020) 341411/6/8

Website: Kenya Police

Eligibility

• In Kenya, a certificate of conduct is issued to Kenyans residing in the country, Kenyans residing in foreign countries, foreign citizens (who are not aliens or refugees in Kenya) and foreign citizens (who are aliens and refugees in Kenya)
• A person who is above 18 years of age and the person must have a second generation national
• A child or a person below 18 years of age must have an original birth certificate and a clear copy of the birth certificate.

Fees

• A fee of Ksh 1050 is charged for the certificate.

Validity

• There’s is no fixed period for the validity of the good conduct certificate. The validity itself is dependent on whoever is requesting the certificate and so technically the certificate cannot expire. How recent the certificate is will be determined using the date of issuance that is printed on the certificate.
• Generally speaking, most employers require the certificate to be not more than 1 to 3 years old. There are some cases however where the employer may require shorter periods such as 6 months.

Documents to Use

• Police Elimination Finger and Palm Print Form C24 :Police Elimination Finger and Palm Print Form C24

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.

Processing Time

A certificate of good conduct in all parts of Kenya takes one to two weeks to be provided to a person who has applied.

Kenya – Obtain Police Clearance Certificate (Certificate of Good Conduct) – English

Instructions

The following are the prerequisites for applications for certificates of good conduct:

KENYAN CITIZEN (within the country)

a) Must present him/herself with original second-generation national identification card and a clear photocopy (Kenyan passports not accepted).

b) Must pay Kshs.1, 000.00 or its equivalent and obtain the official receipt from our nearest foreign mission or submit the cheque payable to Director of Criminal Investigation at Nairobi Kenya.

c) Must allow his/her fingerprints and palm prints to be recorded on a prescribed form at the nearest Police Station in the country of stay.

d) If not registered and issued with a Kenyan ID card as per Cap. 107 Laws of Kenya must prove that he/she attained the age of 18 years while outside the country and is yet to return. A letter from our foreign mission, certified copy of birth certificate and passport are relevant in this case.

e) The application consisting of original payment receipt/cheque, clear copy of ID card and fingerprints must be forwarded officially with a covering letter to CID Headquarters – Nairobi through post or runner

FOREIGN CITIZEN (not refugee or alien)

a) Must present him/herself with a certified copy of his country’s passport with documentary prove that he/she ever resided in Kenya for 6 months or more

b) Must pay Kshs.1, 000.00 or its equivalent and obtain the official receipt from our nearest foreign mission or submit the cheque payable to Director of Criminal Investigation at Nairobi Kenya.

c) Must allow his/her fingerprints and palm prints to be recorded on a prescribed form at the nearest Police Station in the present country of residence.

d) The application consisting of original payment receipt or cheque, certified copy of passport , document of prove of resident in Kenya and fingerprints must be forwarded officially with a covering letter from the official fingerprinting agency or Kenyan mission to CID Headquarters Nairobi –Kenya through post or runner.

FOREIGN CITIZEN (legal alien in Kenya)

a) Must present him/herself with original and copy of his country’s passport with documentary prove that he/she has been resident in Kenya for 6 months or more. Document from his/her employer or training institution in case of expatriate or student respectively is relevant.

b) Must pay Kshs.1, 000.00 and obtain the official receipt from the cashier at CID Headquarters in case of Nairobi residents or at Divisional CID offices in other geographical areas within Kenya.

c) Must allow his fingerprints and palm prints to be recorded on a prescribed form (C24 or P20) at the CID Headquarters Nairobi (for all Nairobi residents) or Divisional CID offices in other districts.

d) The application consisting of original payment receipt, copies of passport/other documents and fingerprints must be forwarded officially with a covering letter from Divisional CID office to CID Headquarters through post or runner.

e) Alien ID cards must be verified by the issuing authority (Immigration Department) before processing of the application is allowed.

NOTE

• The applicant’s fingerprints must be recorded on a prescribed form by an authorized person who must enter all the clerical details.
• The original cash or cheque payment receipt must be attached to the applicant’s fingerprints.
• Residents of Nairobi must apply for certificates at CID Headquarters along KIAMBU road. Applicants in other areas must apply at Divisional CID offices.

Required Information

1. Full name and alias(es),
2. Date of birth,
3. present address and telephone number
4. present employment
5. Place(s) of residence,
6. Purpose of the request
7. Passport number( for foreigners)
8. Date of residence in Kenya (for foreigners)
9. Full address when in Kenya (for foreigners)
10. Marital status.
11. Father’s name, address & occupation
12. Date(s) of arrival in/departure from Kenya (for non-nationals)
13. A full set of fingerprints taken by a recognised police authority.
14. The application should also include any periods of time spent outside Kenya, if the period is six months or longer (for nationals).
15. Female applicants must include maiden names and surname(s) from previous marriage(s).

Need for the Document

• The Police Clearance Certificate certifies that the applicant has never partaken in any criminal activity that led to the involvement of the Kenyan Police Force.
• A certificate of good conduct means that the particular Kenyan holder has been searched in the criminal records of Kenya, and no criminal record has been traced. The validity of a certificate of good conduct is based on the information provided as from the date of issuance of the certificate.

The certificate of good conduct is issued from the Criminal Investigation Department in Kenya.

• For dwellers of Nairobi, the certificate of conduct is obtained from the CID headquarters. The location of Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Nairobi is along Kiambu Road in Muthaiga area.
• For other persons in other parts of Kenya, outside Nairobi can obtain their certificate of conduct from the Divisional CID offices in various regions. The official receipt paid in the Divisional CID offices, the clear photocopy of the national ID, the prints taken, and a cover letter are usually forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters.
• To check the authenticity of a good conduct certificate can be verified by sending DCI to 21546.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

1. An employer in Kenya will require you to provide a valid certificate of good conduct or one that was taken at least three years ago. The certificate of good conduct in Kenya shows that a job candidate is of good morals, behaviours and obeys the law.
2. This clearance is needed by those who want to change country of residence.
3. You may also need a police clearance certificate, if you are to proceed on a post graduate programme in foreign institutions.
4. Even as a tourist to another country, you will need police clearance certificate to show that you don’t have outstanding criminal record back home, and ensure that you won’t be a threat to your host country.
5. The Police Clearance Certificate is also required when a person applies for an immigration status to other countries.

Others

• The certificate of good conduct is issued from the Criminal Investigation Department in Kenya.
• For dwellers of Nairobi, the certificate of conduct is obtained from the CID headquarters. The location of Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Nairobi is along Kiambu Road in Muthaiga area.
• For other persons in other parts of Kenya, outside Nairobi can obtain their certificate of conduct from the Divisional CID offices in various regions. The official receipt paid in the Divisional CID offices, the clear photocopy of the national ID, the prints taken, and a cover letter are usually forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters.