An official website of the United States government
An official website of the United States government
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
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
International Parental Child Abduction
International parental child abduction is the removal or retention of a child outside their country of habitual residence in breach of another parent or guardian’s custody rights.
One of the highest priorities of the Department of State and U.S. embassies and consulates abroad is to provide assistance to U.S. citizens incarcerated abroad. The Department of State is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international, domestic, and foreign law.
When an U.S. citizen dies abroad, the Bureau of Consular Affairs assists the family and friends. The Bureau of Consular Affairs attempts to locate and inform the next-of-kin of the U.S. citizen’s death. The Bureau of Consular Affairs provides information on how to make arrangements for local burial or return of the remains to the United States. The disposition of remains is subject to U.S. and local (foreign) law, U.S. and foreign customs requirements, and the foreign country facilities, which are often vastly different from those in the United States.
When a U.S. citizen is the victim of a crime overseas, he or she may suffer from physical, emotional or financial injuries. It can be more difficult because the victim may be in unfamiliar surroundings, and may not know the local language or customs.
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.
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 reside in Kenya and have questions regarding services provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA), you must contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) located in the United Kingdom. For comprehensive information on SSA’s services abroad, please visit SSA’s webpage Service Around the World. If you are already receiving SSA benefits payments, there will be no change in the method of distribution of those payments.
Service members, Veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits services on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website at www.va.gov. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) can also be of assistance if Veterans and beneficiaries have questions about benefits and services.
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. government employee working overseas, you cannot claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. For additional information, visit the IRS website.
U.S. embassies and consulates overseas assist the Selective Service System with its registration program abroad.
Now all U.S. citizens can receive their blank ballots electronically. Depending on the state in which you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, go to www.FVAP.gov to complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), print and sign the form then return it to your local election office in the United States. We recommend overseas U.S. citizens get in the habit of completing FPCAs each January. You should include your email address on the form so it’s easier for your election officials to reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, be sure to include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you’ll 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.
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 in foreign countries. Depending on the law of the foreign country, local civil or religious officials generally perform marriages. Marriages performed overseas are considered valid in the country where they take place if they are entered into in accordance with local law. Recognition of the validity of marriages performed abroad depends on the laws of the place in which the marriage is to be recognized.
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
Outside of Office Hours, contact: +254 20 363 6000
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
