eCitizen is Kenya’s main government portal where you can access over 5,000 services online without visiting physical offices. This guide shows you how to register and use it.
What is eCitizen?
eCitizen is the official government website where you pay for and access services like passport applications, business permits, police clearance certificates, land searches, and much more. You need an account to use any service.
What You Need Before Starting
Valid email address that you can access. Working phone number registered in your name. National ID number. Internet connection. Payment method—Mpesa, credit card, or bank account.
Step 1: Go to the Website
Open your web browser. Type www.ecitizen.go.ke in the address bar. Press Enter to load the page. You’ll see the eCitizen homepage with a green and white design. Look for the “Sign Up” button at the top right corner.
Example: If you’re using Chrome, type the website address and wait for the page to load completely before clicking anything.
Step 2: Click Sign Up
Find the red “Sign Up” button on the top right. Click it once. A new page will open with a registration form. The form has several blank boxes you need to fill.
Example: The Sign Up button is clearly visible—don’t click “Login” as that’s for existing users only.
Step 3: Enter Your Full Name
In the “Full Name” box, type your complete name exactly as shown on your ID. Use capital letters for first letters. Example: Jane Wanjiru Kamau not jane kamau. Don’t use nicknames or abbreviations.
Example: If your ID says “MARY NJOKI MWANGI”, type “Mary Njoki Mwangi” in the name box.
Step 4: Enter Your ID Number
Find the box labeled “ID Number”. Type your national ID number carefully. Use only numbers—no spaces, dashes, or letters. Check it twice to make sure it’s correct.
Example: If your ID number is 12345678, just type 12345678.
Step 5: Enter Your Phone Number
Type your phone number starting with country code. For Kenya, start with 254 then add your number without the zero. Format: 254712345678 or 254722345678.
Example: If your number is 0712345678, enter 254712345678.
Step 6: Create Email and Password
In the “Email” box, type your email address carefully. The email must be real because you’ll get a confirmation message. In the “Password” box, create a strong password with at least 8 characters. Use a mix of capital letters, small letters, and numbers.
Example: Good password: Nairobi2026! Bad password: password123
Step 7: Confirm Your Password
In the “Confirm Password” box, type the exact same password again. Make sure every letter and number matches the first password. If they don’t match, you’ll get an error message.
Step 8: Agree to Terms
Scroll down to find a small square box. Click it to tick the box. This means you agree to eCitizen’s terms and conditions. You must tick this box to continue.
Step 9: Complete Security Check
You’ll see a security check called CAPTCHA. It might show letters and numbers you need to type. Or it might ask you to tick a box saying “I’m not a robot”. Complete whatever security check appears.
Example: If you see “5GH3K”, type exactly that in the box provided.
Step 10: Submit Registration
Click the blue “Submit” button at the bottom. Wait a few seconds—don’t click again. The page will show a message saying registration is successful. Check your email for a confirmation message from eCitizen.
Step 11: Verify Your Email
Open your email inbox. Look for an email from eCitizen or notifications@ecitizen.go.ke. If you don’t see it, check your spam folder. Open the email and click the verification link inside. This activates your account.
Example: The email subject might say “eCitizen Account Verification”. Click the blue link that says “Verify Account”.
Step 12: Log In to Your Account
Go back to www.ecitizen.go.ke. Click “Login” button. Enter the email and password you created. Click “Sign In”. You’re now inside your eCitizen account.
How to Use eCitizen After Registration
Once logged in, you’ll see your dashboard. On the left side, there’s a menu of services. Click any service you need—like “Immigration Services” for passport. Follow the instructions for that specific service. Most services require payment via Mpesa. You’ll get receipts by email for all payments.
Example: To apply for a police clearance certificate, click “Department of Immigration” then “Police Clearance Certificate” and follow the steps shown.
Common Problems and Solutions
Email not arriving: Check spam folder or wait 10 minutes. Try registering with a different email if needed.
ID number rejected: Make sure you’re using your correct national ID number without spaces.
Phone number error: Remember to use 254 format without the starting zero.
Password not accepted: Make sure it has at least 8 characters with capital letters and numbers.
Payment failed: Check your Mpesa balance or try a different payment method.
Important Tips
Save your password somewhere safe—write it in a notebook. Use the same email you registered with when logging in. Keep your phone number active as you receive important notifications. Log out after using eCitizen on public computers. Check your email regularly for updates on applications. Each service has different requirements—read instructions carefully.
Cost of Services
eCitizen registration is completely free. You only pay when applying for specific services. Each service has its own fee. Passport application costs KES 4,550 for adults. Good conduct certificate costs KES 1,000. Business name search costs KES 100. Payments are made through the portal directly.
eCitizen makes government services much easier and faster. You can apply for most things from home without standing in long queues. Always keep your login details safe and never share them with anyone.