article

How to Book Huduma Centre Appointment Online

9 min read

Huduma Centres now offer online appointment booking so you don’t have to wait in long queues. This guide shows you how to book your appointment easily from home.

Government service center concept

What is Huduma Kenya Portal?

Huduma Kenya is the online booking system for Huduma Centres. Book appointments for various government services. Choose specific date and time. Select your preferred Huduma Centre location. Get confirmation via SMS and email. Skip long physical queues at the center. Access the portal 24/7 from any device.

What Services Can You Book?

National ID collection or replacement. Passport application and collection. Birth and death certificate services. NSSF and NHIF services. KRA PIN and tax services. Business registration support. Land registry services. Marriage certificates. And many more government services.

What You Need Before Booking

Valid email address. Active phone number. National ID number. Internet connection. Device—phone, tablet, or computer. Know which service you need. Have required documents ready for your visit.

Appointment booking interface

Step 1: Visit Huduma Kenya Website

Open your web browser. Type www.hudumakenya.go.ke in the address bar. Press Enter to load the website. Wait for the homepage to appear. You’ll see green, red, and black colors—Kenya flag colors.

Example: Make sure you’re on the official Huduma Kenya website, not fake copycat sites.

Step 2: Find Booking Section

On the homepage, look for navigation menu. Find a button or link saying “Book Appointment”. It might also say “Online Booking” or “Schedule Visit”. Click on it to open the booking page.

Example: The booking link is usually prominently displayed on the homepage—look for bright buttons or top menu.

Step 3: Create Account or Log In

If you’re a new user, look for “Register” or “Sign Up” button. Click it to create your account. If you already have an account, click “Login” instead. Enter your existing username and password.

Example: Registration is one-time only. After that, just log in each visit.

Step 4: Fill Registration Form

On the registration page, enter your full name. Type your national ID number carefully. Enter your active mobile phone number. Format: 0712345678 or +254712345678. Provide your email address. Check for typos.

Example:

Step 5: Create Password

Think of a strong password you’ll remember. Type it in the “Password” box. Use at least 8 characters. Mix capital letters, small letters, and numbers. Type the same password in “Confirm Password” box.

Example: Good password: Huduma@26 Bad password: 12345678

Step 6: Complete Registration

Tick the checkbox to agree to terms. Complete any security check (CAPTCHA). Click “Submit” or “Register” button. Wait for confirmation message. Check your email or phone for verification code if required.

Example: You might receive SMS saying “Your verification code is 456789”. Enter this code to activate account.

Step 7: Log In After Registration

Go to the login page. Enter your email or username. Enter the password you created. Click “Login” or “Sign In” button. Your dashboard will load.

Step 8: Start New Booking

On your dashboard, look for “New Appointment” or “Book Appointment”. Click this button. A form will appear asking for booking details. This is where you’ll specify what you need.

Example: The dashboard might show previous bookings if you’ve used the system before.

Service selection menu

Step 9: Select Service Category

You’ll see a dropdown menu or list of services. Choose the general category first. Options might include: Immigration, Registration, Revenue, Social Security, etc. Click on the category that matches your need.

Example: For passport services, select “Immigration Services”. For ID collection, select “Registration Services”.

Step 10: Choose Specific Service

After selecting category, specific services appear. Click on the exact service you need. Examples: “ID Card Collection”, “Passport Application”, “Birth Certificate”, etc. Only select one service per booking.

Example: If collecting your ID, choose “National ID Collection”. If applying for new passport, choose “Passport Application—New”.

Step 11: Select Huduma Centre

A dropdown menu shows all Huduma Centres nationwide. Scroll through the list. Choose the center closest to you or most convenient. Centers are listed by location—counties and towns.

Example: Options include “Huduma Centre Nairobi GPO”, “Huduma Centre Mombasa”, “Huduma Centre Kisumu”, etc.

Step 12: Choose Date

A calendar will appear on screen. Dates available for booking are highlighted or clickable. Dates that are full or unavailable are grayed out. Click on your preferred date. Some centers are booked weeks ahead—plan accordingly.

Example: If today is January 2nd, you might book for January 10th or later depending on availability.

Step 13: Select Time Slot

After choosing date, available time slots appear. Times are usually in 30-minute or 1-hour blocks. Morning slots: 8:00 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, etc. Afternoon slots: 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, etc. Click on a time that works for you.

Example: Select 10:00 AM if you prefer morning appointments. Or 2:00 PM for afternoon.

Step 14: Confirm Your Details

The system shows a summary of your booking. Verify the service type is correct. Check the center location is right. Confirm date and time are accurate. Review your personal contact details. Make changes if anything is wrong.

Example: Summary might show:

  • Service: ID Collection
  • Center: Huduma Nairobi GPO
  • Date: January 15, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 AM

Step 15: Submit Booking

If all details are correct, look for “Confirm” or “Submit” button. Click it to finalize your booking. Wait for the system to process. Don’t click multiple times—be patient.

Example: You’ll see a message like “Booking successful” or “Your appointment has been confirmed”.

Step 16: Get Confirmation

After successful booking, note your reference number. You’ll receive SMS confirmation on your phone. Check your email for confirmation message. The message includes all appointment details. Save this information.

Example: SMS might say: “Appointment confirmed. Service: ID Collection, Date: 15/01/2026, Time: 10:00 AM, Center: Huduma Nairobi GPO, Ref: HK123456”.

Step 17: Prepare for Appointment

Save or print your confirmation. Note down the reference number. Gather all required documents for your service. Check document requirements on Huduma website. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your time slot.

Example: For ID collection, bring your ID collection slip and notification SMS or letter.

What to Do on Appointment Day

Arrive at Huduma Centre 15 minutes early. Go to the appointments desk, not regular queue. Show your confirmation SMS or email. Provide your reference number. Staff will direct you to the right counter. You’ll be served at your scheduled time. Bring all required documents for your service.

Example: At the center, tell staff “I have an appointment for 10 AM, reference number HK123456”.

How to Check Your Booking

Log into Huduma Kenya portal. Click on “My Appointments” or “View Bookings”. You’ll see all your bookings listed. Active, past, and cancelled appointments show. Click on a booking to see full details.

Example: The list shows date, time, service, and status for each booking.

How to Cancel or Reschedule

Log into your account. Go to “My Appointments”. Find the booking you want to change. Click “Cancel” or “Reschedule” button. If rescheduling, choose new date and time. Confirm the change. You’ll receive updated confirmation.

Example: Try to cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your appointment to be courteous.

Common Problems and Solutions

No available slots: Centers in busy areas fill up fast. Try booking at less popular times like mid-morning. Consider a center in a different location. Check daily as new slots open up.

Didn’t receive confirmation: Check phone signal and inbox. Look in spam folder for email. Wait 10-15 minutes and check again. Log into portal to verify booking was recorded.

Wrong service selected: Cancel the booking. Make a new booking with correct service. Or contact Huduma Centre directly to modify.

Can’t log in: Check your username and password. Remember passwords are case-sensitive. Use “Forgot Password” to reset if needed. Try a different browser.

Registration failing: Make sure ID number is correct. Use active phone number you can access. Try from computer if phone isn’t working. Clear browser cache and try again.

Important Tips

Book early—popular centers fill up weeks in advance. Arrive on time—late arrivals may lose their slot. Bring all required documents—check beforehand. Keep your reference number safe. Set a reminder for appointment day. Dress appropriately when visiting government offices. Turn off phone or put on silent at the center. Be patient—some services take time even with appointments.

Required Documents for Common Services

ID Collection: Collection slip, SMS notification, passport photo if required.

Passport Application: National ID, birth certificate, KES 4,550 payment receipt, two passport photos.

Birth Certificate: Parent’s IDs, hospital birth notification, marriage certificate if applicable.

NHIF/NSSF Services: National ID, membership number, any relevant forms.

Benefits of Booking Online

Save time—no waiting in long queues. Plan your day—know exact time to visit. Less crowding—better social distancing. Priority service—appointed customers served first. Flexibility—book from anywhere at any time. Confirmation—guaranteed service slot.

Huduma Centre Operating Hours

Most centers open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Monday to Friday for all centers. Some centers open on Saturdays 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Closed on Sundays and public holidays. Peak hours are mornings and lunch time. Late afternoon slots are often less busy.

Example: Book afternoon slots like 2:30 PM or 3:30 PM to avoid morning rush.

Contact Huduma Kenya for Help

If you have problems with booking, contact Huduma Kenya. Call toll-free: 0800-804-877 or 020-281-7141. Email: info@huduma.go.ke. Visit any Huduma Centre for in-person help. Social media: Check Huduma Kenya on Twitter or Facebook. Website: www.hudumakenya.go.ke has FAQs section.

Cost of Appointments

Booking appointments is completely free. You only pay for the actual government service. Each service has its own fee. Passport: KES 4,550. ID replacement: KES 300. Birth certificate: KES 50. Check specific fees on eCitizen or Huduma website.

The online appointment system makes accessing government services much easier. No more arriving at 6 AM to join long queues. Book online, arrive at your time, and get served efficiently. This is modern government service at your fingertips.