Kenya Civil Documents · Updated August 2026
The Civil Documents You Need From Kenya for a U.S. Marriage Green Card
A practical guide to the birth, police, and marriage documents Kenyan applicants need for a U.S. marriage green card, where to get each one, and what USCIS actually expects.
Quick answer
For a U.S. marriage green card, the Kenyan spouse generally needs the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, and Marriage Certificate. Kenya is not an apostille country, and USCIS generally does not require legalization anyway. The documents are in English, so nothing needs translating.
- 3 core documents
- Birth Certificate
- Police Certificate
- Marriage Certificate
- No apostille needed
For a filing inside the U.S., USCIS accepts a certified copy of the record as issued.
- Documents are in English
Kenya issues these records in English, so there is nothing to translate.
The documents you actually need
Start with these core records in order. Each one lists who issues it, what it costs, how long it takes, and exactly what USCIS wants.
Birth Certificate
What USCIS needs: USCIS wants the actual long-form Birth Certificate issued by Civil Registration Services, not the Notification of Birth (the hospital or acknowledgement slip). The Notification of Birth is not an acceptable civil document.
How to get it: Apply through the eCitizen portal (Civil Registration Services) or at a Civil Registration office or Huduma Centre. You upload the birth notification, parents' IDs, and supporting documents. As of 2026 the finished certificate can be downloaded from eCitizen.
- Issued by
- Civil Registration Services
- Cost
- Approx KES 200 (about USD 1.50) for a standard certificate; late registration approx KES 500 (about USD 4)
- Timing
- About 2 weeks for a standard new registration; late or adult registrations can take one to three months (up to six months for adult applications) because of extra verification.
Police Certificate
What USCIS needs: Required for consular processing at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi if you are 16 or older. If you are already in the U.S. and adjusting status (AOS), USCIS does not ask for a Kenyan police certificate; the FBI fingerprint check at your biometrics appointment covers it.
How to get it: Apply online via eCitizen (dci.ecitizen.go.ke), then attend an in-person fingerprinting appointment at a DCI-approved centre. Applicants abroad can be fingerprinted at a Kenyan mission and mail the prints to the DCI.
- Issued by
- Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)
- Cost
- Approx KES 1,050 (about USD 8), paid by M-Pesa or card
- Timing
- About 2 to 6 weeks after fingerprints are submitted; the certificate is generally valid for one year.
Marriage Certificate
What USCIS needs: If you are marrying inside the U.S. or already married, you submit your U.S. or Kenyan marriage certificate. If you are unmarried and this is a fiance or future spouse case, an unmarried applicant provides a single-status (sworn) affidavit rather than a marriage certificate.
How to get it: For a statutory (civil) marriage, the Registrar of Marriages solemnizes and registers it and issues the certificate, now handled through eCitizen. Customary, Christian, Hindu, and Islamic marriages must also be registered with the Registrar to produce an official certificate; a certified copy is obtained through eCitizen or the Attorney General's office.
- Issued by
- Registrar of Marriages / Civil Registration
- Cost
- Approx KES 1,100 (about USD 8.50) for a certified copy; original registration fees range roughly KES 600 to 3,900 depending on marriage type
- Timing
- A certified copy is typically issued within days to a couple of weeks once the marriage is on the register.
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At a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Apostille status | Kenya is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (it does not appear among the 130 contracting parties listed by the HCCH as of June 2026), so Kenyan documents cannot be apostilled. Where authentication is needed, documents are legalized by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and then the relevant consulate. For a U.S. marriage green card, USCIS generally does not require an apostille or legalization on foreign civil documents; you submit a clear copy of the original with a certified English translation if it is not in English. |
| How records are kept | Civil records are held by Civil Registration Services (births, deaths, marriages) with most services now on the eCitizen platform. Late registration is common, especially for older applicants, and triggers extra evidence and verification. |
| Typical time to gather | Roughly 2 weeks for a standard birth certificate, 2 to 6 weeks for the police Certificate of Good Conduct, and days to a couple of weeks for a certified marriage copy. Late birth registrations can take one to three months. |
| Translation | English is an official language of Kenya and most civil documents are issued in English, so no translation is needed. If a document is in Kiswahili or another language, provide a certified English translation. |
Source: U.S. State Dept Reciprocity Schedule: Kenya. Verified August 2026. Need to translate a document? See our certified translation guide.
What officers watch for
Full document reference
Every civil record from Kenya that can come up in a marriage green card case, with the issuing authority, cost, and how to obtain it.
| Document | Issuing authority | Cost | How to obtain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Civil Registration Services | Approx KES 200 (about USD 1.50); late registration approx KES 500 | eCitizen (Civil Registration Services) or a Civil Registration office / Huduma Centre |
| Marriage Certificate | Registrar of Marriages / Civil Registration | Approx KES 1,100 (about USD 8.50) for a certified copy | eCitizen or the Attorney General's Registrar of Marriages |
| Divorce Certificate / Decree | Kenyan courts (High Court / Magistrate's Court) | Court copy fees vary (approx KES 500 and up) | Certified copy of the decree absolute from the court that granted the divorce |
| Death Certificate | Civil Registration Services | Approx KES 200 (about USD 1.50) | eCitizen (Civil Registration Services) or a Civil Registration office / Huduma Centre |
| Police Certificate | Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) | Approx KES 1,050 (about USD 8) | eCitizen (dci.ecitizen.go.ke) plus in-person fingerprinting at a DCI centre |
What applicants report
“Kenyan applicants consistently report that the birth certificate is the pinch point, not the police or marriage document. If you were never registered as a child, start the late-registration process months ahead because affidavits and verification stretch the timeline. Filers also note that the Certificate of Good Conduct is only needed for consular cases in Nairobi and that its one-year validity means you should request it late in the process, not early.”
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See how it worksFrequently asked questions
Is the Notification of Birth enough, or do I need the full birth certificate?
You need the full Birth Certificate issued by Civil Registration Services. The Notification of Birth (the slip issued at the hospital or on acknowledgement) is not accepted as a civil document by USCIS or the consulate.
Do I need a police Certificate of Good Conduct if I am adjusting status inside the U.S.?
No. A Kenyan police certificate is required for consular processing at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. If you are already in the U.S. and filing for adjustment of status, the FBI background check run at your biometrics appointment replaces it.
Do my Kenyan documents need an apostille?
No. Kenya is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so Kenyan documents cannot be apostilled. For a marriage green card, USCIS generally does not require an apostille or legalization; you submit a clear copy of the original with a certified English translation only if the document is not in English.
My marriage was customary or Islamic. Is that certificate valid?
Yes, if it is registered. Customary, Christian, Hindu, and Islamic marriages are recognized under the Marriage Act, but the marriage must be registered with the Registrar so you can obtain an official, certified marriage certificate to submit.
Do my Kenyan documents need to be translated into English?
Usually not. English is an official language of Kenya and most civil documents are issued in English. If a document is in Kiswahili or another language, include a certified English translation.
Key takeaways
- ✓
The core documents most Kenyan applicants need are the Birth Certificate, Police Certificate, Marriage Certificate.
- ✓
Kenya is not an Apostille Convention member, and USCIS generally does not require an apostille or legalization for its filings anyway.
- ✓
Kenya documents are issued in English, so there is nothing to translate for USCIS.
- ✓
A home-country police certificate is generally needed only for consular processing abroad, not for adjustment of status inside the U.S.
- ✓
Order fresh certified copies directly from the official issuer and keep the originals; documents from Kenya draw closer scrutiny.
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