Kenya to Introduce Green Service Passport for Public Servants
The Kenyan government is preparing to introduce a new green-coloured service passport targeting public servants and state officers who travel abroad on official assignments but do not qualify for diplomatic passports.
Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services Belio Kipsang announced the development while appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Kipsang told lawmakers that the new travel documents had already been printed and would be issued once the necessary regulations are finalised.
The proposed passport will create an additional category of official travel document alongside Kenya’s existing ordinary and diplomatic passports.
The move is intended to provide eligible government officials with a recognised travel document when undertaking official assignments outside the country.
Who Will Qualify for the Green Passport?
The proposed green service passport will target public servants and state officers whose official responsibilities require international travel but whose positions do not qualify them for diplomatic passports.
Kipsang explained that service passports had previously been issued to members of the disciplined services, including police officers and military personnel travelling abroad on official duties.
The planned introduction is expected to provide a wider category of government officials with access to the document, although the final eligibility requirements will depend on the regulations currently being prepared.
Not every public servant will automatically qualify, as the government is expected to establish specific conditions governing its issuance and use.
Why the Government Is Introducing the New Passport
The announcement came as MPs examined concerns surrounding the existing regulations governing diplomatic passport issuance.
The National Assembly committee was considering a petition from the Commission on Administrative Justice, commonly known as the Office of the Ombudsman.
The commission had raised concerns about the exclusion of certain constitutional office holders and officials serving in independent commissions from the categories eligible for diplomatic passports.
During the session, lawmakers questioned whether the existing rules adequately reflected changes introduced by the 2010 Constitution.
In response, Kipsang indicated that the government was willing to review the regulations introduced in 2012 under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act to address the concerns.
The proposed service passport would provide another option for officials undertaking government assignments without necessarily expanding eligibility for diplomatic passports.
Difference Between Ordinary, Service and Diplomatic Passports
Kenya currently has ordinary and diplomatic passports, with the proposed green service passport expected to introduce another distinct category.
Ordinary passports are issued to Kenyan citizens for general international travel, including tourism, education, business and personal engagements.
Diplomatic passports are reserved for designated senior government officials and other individuals who qualify under the relevant regulations.
The green service passport, on the other hand, is intended for eligible public servants and state officers travelling abroad on authorised government assignments.
However, possessing a service or diplomatic passport does not automatically guarantee visa-free entry into another country. Travellers must still meet the immigration requirements of their destination.
Passport Regulations Await Finalisation
Although the government has confirmed that the green service passports have already been printed, their issuance remains dependent on the completion of the necessary regulations.
The regulations are expected to clarify eligibility, issuance procedures and the conditions under which the documents can be used.
The development forms part of wider discussions about improving Kenya’s passport administration and ensuring that official travel documents are issued according to clearly defined responsibilities.
As the government moves towards finalising the framework, public servants and state officers will be watching for further details on who qualifies and when the new passports will become available.
