Have a valid ID? Use the standard SHA registration guide instead →

SHA Registration for Unidentified Persons: Who Qualifies and How It Works

Standard SHA registration assumes you can type in an ID number. Some people cannot, through no fault of their own: they are unconscious, unwell, too young to hold an ID, held in custody, or visiting from abroad. The Unidentified Person category exists so that a missing ID does not lock these people out of SHA. This page explains who it covers, how to tell whether it applies to you, and where to go. It is the main guide, and each group has its own page for the details.

Who Qualifies for SHA Registration as an Unidentified Person?

The Unidentified Person category covers five groups. Each has its own guide, so open the one that matches your situation.

Group	Why a standard ID is not available	Full guide
Mentally ill individuals	The person may be unable to give or prove their details, and may have no family nearby	SHA registration for mentally ill persons
Unconscious clients (patients)	The person arrives for care unable to speak and without documents	SHA registration for unconscious patients
Teenage mothers	Many are under 18 and do not yet hold an ID or a birth certificate	SHA registration for teenage mothers
Foreign nationals	The person has no standard Kenyan ID and no other recognised ID type	SHA registration for foreign nationals
Prisoners	The person is in custody and cannot go to a branch or use *147# freely	SHA registration for prisoners

How SHA Registration for Unidentified Persons Works

SHA has not published a single public step-by-step for this category, so the route below is the practical one. It follows SHA’s own registration channels: a SHA branch, a Huduma Centre, a Community Health Promoter, or the SHA customer care line.

What Replaces the ID in SHA Registration for Unidentified Persons?

SHA says registration in this category uses supporting information that fits the situation, not a standard ID. What counts differs by group. A hospital record can support an unconscious patient. It would mean nothing for a foreign national.

One group has been explained publicly. SHA officials have said teenage mothers are no longer registered under a parent’s ID. They are registered independently, through a hospital, under a special identification number. If they cannot afford the premium, a means test decides what they pay and the government may cover it. See SHA registration for teenage mothers.

SHA Registration for Unidentified Persons: The Five Groups

Mentally ill individuals

The person may not be able to give their details, and the relative who normally helps may not be nearby. The registration is usually started by a hospital, a relative or a community health worker acting for them. Read the full guide.

Unconscious clients (patients)

Kenya’s Constitution says no one may be denied emergency medical treatment. Treatment should not wait for registration. The registration is sorted out around the care. Read the full guide.

Teenage mothers

This is the best-documented group, with an independent registration and a special number issued at a hospital. Read the full guide.

Foreign nationals

SHA’s standard ID types include Foreign Resident, Refugee and Mandate Number. If you hold one, register the normal way with that ID type. The Unidentified Person category is for foreign nationals who hold none of them. Read the full guide.

Prisoners

A person in custody cannot walk into a branch or dial *147# freely, so someone else usually has to start the request, such as the prison health unit or a relative calling SHA. Read the full guide.

After Registration: Number, Cover and Premium

Registration is only the first step. Once the person is registered, these pages take you through the rest:

• How to get the SHA number (CR number), which hospitals use to find the record.
• SHA account and details, which covers the login, PIN, phone number and CR number.
• SHA eligibility check, to confirm the cover is active.
• SHA means test, which sets the premium for people who cannot pay a full contribution.

Where to Get Help With SHA Registration for Unidentified Persons

SHA Registration for Unidentified Persons FAQs

Who qualifies as an unidentified person for SHA?

SHA’s Unidentified Person category covers mentally ill individuals, unconscious clients, teenage mothers, foreign nationals and prisoners. These are people who cannot be registered through the standard ID process.

Can someone register for SHA without an ID?

Yes, in some situations. If the person falls into one of the five unidentified person groups, SHA registers them using supporting information instead of an ID. If they simply lost an ID, see SHA registration without a valid ID.

How do I register someone else for SHA?

For an unidentified person, registration is normally started through a SHA branch, a Huduma Centre or the treating hospital, not from your own account. Call 0800 720 601 first and say which group applies.

How do I check if someone is registered for SHA?

Use eligibility.sha.go.ke with their National ID or CR number. If the person has no ID, ask the facility or SHA office for the number they were registered under.

Is SHA registration for unidentified persons free?

Yes. SHA registration itself is free. The premium is separate, and a means test decides what a person who cannot pay a full contribution is asked to pay.

What if my situation is not one of the five groups?

Do not force it into the category. A lost ID, a missing record or a child on your cover each have their own fix. See the “Is this the right page?” table above, or call 0800 720 601.

Related Guides

Sources

• Ministry of Health: SHA registration guide (PDF)
• Digital Health Agency: Frequently Asked Questions
• Nation: How can I register without an ID? Teen mothers left behind
• Nation: Government hands teen mums their own health cards
• SHA Eligibility Check
• Social Health Authority