Kenya
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in Kenya,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a Kenya Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your Kenya police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) — Criminal Records Office, Nairobi (via the nearest Kenyan Embassy/High Commission) currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a Kenya PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in Kenya for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from Kenya as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including Kenya.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in Kenya.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in Kenya may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside Kenya, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) — Criminal Records Office, Nairobi (via the nearest Kenyan Embassy/High Commission) accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact Kenya’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) — Criminal Records Office, Nairobi (via the nearest Kenyan Embassy/High Commission) — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a Kenya PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to Kenya
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) — Criminal Records Office, Nairobi (via the nearest Kenyan Embassy/High Commission). Use a tracked courier for original documents.
If you live outside Kenya: send an application letter to your nearest Kenyan Embassy/High Commission with your contact details and reason for the request, the completed Police Clearance Certificate application form, a full set of rolled and plain fingerprints and palm prints taken by a police official at your local police station bearing an official stamp (confirm whether an RCMP-accredited fingerprinting agency such as Surrey Fingerprint Company is accepted as equivalent — some missions specify "police station" strictly), a certified copy of your passport, proof you resided in Kenya for 3+ months, and the applicable fee. Fingerprints not taken on the prescribed form with a police endorsement seal/stamp are not accepted for processing.
Mailing address:
Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Criminal Records Office, Mazingira House, Kiambu Road, P.O. Box 30460-00100, Nairobi (via the nearest Kenyan Embassy/High Commission)
Receive your Kenya PCC
Processing time is At least two months — confirm current timelines with the Kenyan Embassy/High Commission. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for Kenya. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
Kenya Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) — Criminal Records Office, Nairobi (via the nearest Kenyan Embassy/High Commission) before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a Kenya PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for Kenya applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from Kenya while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: At least two months — confirm current timelines with the Kenyan Embassy/High Commission. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on Kenya's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to Kenya for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your Kenya PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for Kenya.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com