How to Apply for a TSC Transfer or Swap
Here’s how to apply for a TSC swap or transfer online: log in, select Transfer & Swap from the sidebar, and complete a four-step form — Profile, LOS, Reason, and Transfer To — before submitting. There is no separate application for a “transfer” versus a “swap”: you submit one request, and if you’re open to a mutual swap, the system automatically shows you matching opportunities to consent to.
Before you start
You’ll need to be logged in to the teacher portal already — see our guide to the TSC swap portal login if you haven’t got that far yet. It also helps to check TSC swap requirements first, since your reason category needs to match what TSC accepts, and there’s no separate downloadable form to fill in beforehand — everything happens inside the portal, as covered in TSC swap application form: is there a PDF?
The 4-step application, in detail
Step 1: Profile
Shows your current institution, institution code, county, and sub-county. This is pulled automatically from your TSC record and can’t be edited here.
Step 2: LOS (Length of Stay)
Shows your years in your current sub-county and years in your current school, also auto-populated and locked.
Step 3: Reason
Select your reason for transfer — common categories include aging parents, spousal reasons, medical grounds, or other. Choose the one that genuinely reflects your situation.
Step 4: Transfer To
Enter your preferred county or sub-county. You can list more than one, which widens the pool of swap matches the system can show you.
Once all four steps are complete, click Submit. Your request then appears in your Transfers list with a live status.
How swap matching works
If you’re open to a mutual swap rather than a straight transfer, you don’t need to find a partner yourself first. After you submit, the system automatically checks your subject combination and school category against other teachers who are looking to move, and surfaces mutual opportunities under the Swaps tab — for example, a Biology/Chemistry Senior Secondary teacher will only be matched against other Senior Secondary opportunities in that combination, not against JSS or Primary requests.
Some teachers also look for potential partners informally while waiting for a system match — see TSC swap WhatsApp groups for how that typically works and what to watch out for.
After you submit
Your request moves first to your Head of Institution, then through the relevant Secretariat level for final approval. For what each status on your dashboard actually means, and what happens once you’re approved, see TSC swap letter and approval process.
FAQ: Applying for a TSC Transfer or Swap
How do I apply for a TSC transfer online?
Log in to portal.tsc.go.ke, select Transfer & Swap in the sidebar, click Request Transfer, and complete the four steps: Profile, LOS, Reason, and Transfer To, then submit.
Can I edit my Profile and LOS when applying?
No. Your Profile and Length of Stay (LOS) fields are populated automatically by the system from your TSC record and cannot be edited. Only your reason and preferred destination are entered by you.
How does TSC match me for a swap?
Once you submit a request, the system automatically matches your subject combination and school category against other teachers looking to move, and shows you swap opportunities you can view and consent to.
What happens after I submit my application?
Your request moves to your Head of Institution for a recommendation, then to the relevant Secretariat level (SCD, CD, RD, or HQ) for final approval. You can track the status from your dashboard at any time.
Is the application process different for secondary school teachers?
The steps are the same for all teachers, but swap matching is filtered by school category, so a Senior Secondary teacher is only matched against other Senior Secondary opportunities, and a JSS teacher against JSS opportunities.
