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Find important information regarding your appointment on our Consular Appointments, Office Hours, Location, and Fees page.
From routine citizenship and documentation questions to all manner of emergencies, the U.S. Embassy Nairobi is pleased to provide information and assistance for U.S. citizens in Kenya and Somalia!
To get started, please use the link below to the “navigator.” The navigator will ask a series of simple questions to direct you to online information on the most common topics, OR provide instructions on how to contact us by email for less common questions:
Notice:
Find important information regarding testing, vaccine information, entry and exit requirements, movement restrictions, quarantine information, and more on our COVID-19 Information page
The Department of State assists U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas and works to ensure their fair and humane treatment.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
International Parental Child Abduction
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
Emergency Financial Assistance
In most countries, the State Department strongly encourages Americans to use commercial services, such as credit card advances, ATMs, or Western Union to deal with financial emergencies. Americans have a number of available options in Kenya. See available options.
U.S. citizens in need of emergency financial assistance while abroad should first attempt to contact their family, friends, banking institution, or employer. Our American Citizen Services unit can assist in this effort, if necessary.
Use a commercial money transfer service, such as Western Union or MoneyGram., to wire money overseas. Money transfer cost comparison tools online can help you identify the best option. The person receiving the money will need to present proof of identity such as a passport.
Sending Money through the U.S. Department of State
When the commercial options listed above are not available or feasible, family or friends may send funds via the U.S. Department of State for delivery to a destitute U.S. citizen abroad at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Department of State assesses a $30 fee to establish an account and transfer funds.
Destitute U.S. citizens may be eligible for a loan from the U.S. government to travel to the United States. Repatriation loans must eventually be paid back to the U.S. government. Your U.S. passports will be limited at the time the loan is issued and in most cases you will not be issued a new passport until the loan is paid in full. Contact us for more information.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
If you live in Kenya and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in The United Kingdom.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal Assistance Medical Assistance Missing Person in Kenya Warden InformationAmerican Citizen Services (ACS) can help you locate an American citizen whom you believe to be missing in Kenya. Please visit our U.S. Citizen Services Navigator or by phone directly at 20-363-6451 within Kenya or +254-(0)20-363-6451 from the United States. The more information you are able to give us, the more easily we will be able to locate your friend or relative. Kenya is a large country and communications and infrastructure in many parts of the country are not highly developed. Hundreds of thousands of foreigners live in Kenya and millions more visit every year. It can be difficult and time consuming to find someone. Please note that ACS is constrained by the Privacy Act of 1974 and cannot share any information about an American citizen with another person without written permission from that citizen. If we are able to locate your friend or relative, we will ask that person to get in touch with you, or to complete a waiver of his or her privacy rights.
The warden system utilizes contacts throughout the expatriate community to keep in touch with Americans. Wardens are volunteers from among the local residents.
The Kenya government imposed moratorium on international and resident adoption on November 27, 2014. Since November 27, 2014 there is no international and resident adoption in Kenya and the moratorium is still in force indefinitely.
Births
A child born outside the United States to a U.S. citizen parent or parents may be eligible for U.S. citizenship if the parent(s) meets the requirements for transmitting U.S. citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act. U.S. citizens eligible to transmit citizenship are required to file for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA). When a biological relationship is the basis of transmitting U.S. citizenship or immigrating to the United States, genetic testing is a useful tool for verifying the relationship in the absence of sufficient other evidence. If DNA was recommended in your case, the DNA unit will contact you with information on how to proceed in due course. However, please be aware that we are unable to accept new kits at this time and are working through the backlog caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot provide an estimated timeframe for when you will be contacted. For more information, please contact our DNA unit at NairobiDNA@state.gov.
U.S. embassy and consulate personnel cannot perform marriages. Depending on the local law, civil or religious officials generally perform marriages. If your marriage overseas was performed in accordance with local law, it is valid in the country where it took place. Whether your marriage is recognized elsewhere depends on the laws of that place.
To submit a request for an emergency service, including CRBA services, visit our U.S. Citizen Services Navigator. Emergency services can include: a need for urgent travel; needing a new passport for foreign visa requirements; or other life-or-death situations. A travel itinerary will be required for emergency services.
Emergencies After Hours
For emergencies after hours involving American citizens, please call 020 363 6000.
Interpreters
The Embassy has Kiswahili translators available. Although the Embassy tries to have Somali translators available, they may not be available for your interview. For all applicants who do not speak English or Kiswahili, it is the responsibility of the applicants – not the Embassy – to bring translators. All translators must have government issued identification cards and must pass through security screening in order to enter the Embassy.
In accordance with United States Department of State worldwide regulations in place due to COVID-19 and in line with efforts by the Government of Kenya to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has temporarily restricted some routine consular processing.
All entrants to the U.S. Embassy must wear masks and are subject to body temperature screening and may be refused entry if displaying an elevated temperature.
No electronics are allowed in the U.S. Embassy.
For routine passport renewals and notarial services, please click here to make an appointment at U.S. Embassy Nairobi. Be sure to schedule a separate appointment for each individual applying.
To submit a request for an emergency service, including CRBA services, visit our U.S. Citizen Services Navigator. Emergency services can include: a need for urgent travel; needing a new passport for foreign visa requirements; or other life-or-death situations. A travel itinerary will be required for emergency services.
For emergencies after hours involving American citizens please call 020 363 6170.
Please call: 020 363 6451 or 254 70 963 6451
Outside of Office Hours, contact: 020 363 6451 or 254 70 963 6451
Outside of Kenya: +254 20 363 6451
Emergency Contact – All Locations Enroll in STEP International Parental Child Abduction Arrest of a U.S. Citizen Death of a U.S. Citizen Victims of Crime Emergency Financial Assistance
