eCitizen Birth Certificate Price: Official Fees & How to Pay
The eCitizen birth certificate price depends on which service you need — a current certificate, a late registration, a replacement for a lost copy, or a correction to existing details all carry different gazette fees. This page sets out the officially published amounts for each service type, explains what the eCitizen platform adds at checkout, and walks through the payment options available.
Fee figures below are sourced from a Kenya Gazette revision that took effect in November 2024 and remain in force. Where any fee is under discussion by government, that is stated separately and clearly.
Official Gazette Fees by Service Type
Civil Registration Services fees are set by the Registrar-General under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, Cap 149, and published in the Kenya Gazette. The table below reflects the November 2024 gazette revision.
| Service | Gazette Fee | Who It Applies To |
|---|---|---|
|
Current Birth Certificate Application for Child’s Current Birth Certificate | KES 200 Previously KES 50 | Standard |
|
Late Registration Birth not registered within 6 months | KES 500 Previously KES 150 | Late |
|
Replacement Certificate Lost, destroyed, or damaged original | KES 1,000 Previously KES 90 | Replacement |
|
Amendment / Correction Changing name, date, or other registered details | KES 1,000 Previously KES 130 | Amendment |
eCitizen platform charge: In addition to the gazette government fee, eCitizen applies a variable convenience charge at the payment step. This amount is not a fixed published figure — the exact total will be displayed on your checkout screen before you confirm payment. Budget slightly above the gazette fee to account for it.
In June, the Interior Principal Secretary signalled that the KES 200 standard certificate fee is under active discussion for removal, as part of broader government fee reforms tied to identity documents. This has not yet appeared in a Kenya Gazette notice and is not yet in effect.
Until a formal gazette notice is published, the KES 200 fee remains payable. Check this page for updates, or verify directly at crs.ecitizen.go.ke before applying.
How to Pay on eCitizen
Payment happens inside the eCitizen application flow — you are taken to a payment screen after completing the application form for your chosen service. The system generates a reference number; you then pay using one of the methods below.
Fill in all required details for the birth certificate service you need. Review carefully — fees are generally not refunded once an application is submitted.
The checkout screen shows the gazette fee plus the eCitizen platform charge. This is the total you must pay — not just the gazette fee alone.
eCitizen accepts M-Pesa (via the paybill number and reference generated for your application) and debit or credit card. Select your preferred method and follow the prompts.
Once payment is confirmed, eCitizen records it against your application. Keep the M-Pesa confirmation message or card receipt as proof in case of any follow-up queries.
Paying via M-Pesa
When you choose M-Pesa at checkout, eCitizen provides a paybill number and a unique reference number tied to your application. Go to M-Pesa → Lipa na M-Pesa → Pay Bill, enter the paybill number, enter your reference number as the account number, and enter the exact amount shown. Using the wrong reference number will prevent your payment from being matched to your application.
Why the Fees Increased in 2024
The November 2024 gazette revision significantly raised all Civil Registration Service fees. The standard certificate went from KES 50 to KES 200; replacement and amendment fees jumped from under KES 200 to KES 1,000 each. This was part of a broad government-wide fee rationalisation across multiple agencies — the previous fees had not been revised for many years.
The legal authority for setting these fees sits with the Registrar-General under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, Cap 149 (most recently amended by Act No. 2 of 2026). Any future changes must also be published in the Kenya Gazette before taking effect.
✓ Source note: The fees in the table above reflect the November 2024 Kenya Gazette revision. If you applied before that revision was published and paid the older amounts, your certificate is still valid — the revision does not retroactively affect completed applications.
What Happens If You Can’t Pay Online?
eCitizen is designed as the primary channel and does not offer an alternative cash payment route through the portal. If you are unable to complete the online payment — for example, because of a failed M-Pesa transaction or a card that is not accepted — the options are:
- Try a different M-Pesa-enabled line or a different card.
- Ask someone with a working payment method to pay on your behalf using your application reference number.
- Contact Civil Registration Services directly (see contact below) to ask about alternative arrangements — though online payment is the standard route.
| Department | Contact |
|---|---|
| Civil Registration Services (CRS) | +254 (0) 1100 333 232 / +254 710 200 232 info@crs.go.ke |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a birth certificate cost on eCitizen?
The gazette fee for a standard current birth certificate is KES 200. Late registration (birth not registered within 6 months) costs KES 500. A replacement for a lost or damaged certificate is KES 1,000. An amendment or correction to existing details is also KES 1,000. A variable eCitizen platform charge applies on top of the gazette fee — the exact total is shown at checkout.
Can I pay using M-Pesa?
Yes. eCitizen accepts M-Pesa via the paybill and reference number generated during your application’s payment step. You can also pay by debit or credit card.
Is the KES 200 fee being removed?
As of June, the Interior PS signalled it is under discussion for removal as part of broader government fee reforms. It has not yet been gazetted. The KES 200 fee remains the currently payable amount until a formal gazette notice states otherwise.
What is the eCitizen platform charge?
eCitizen applies a variable convenience charge at payment in addition to the gazette government fee. This is not a published fixed figure — check the total shown on your checkout screen before confirming payment.
Do I get a refund if my application is rejected?
Government gazette fees are generally non-refundable once an application is submitted. Confirm your Notification Number and all details are correct before proceeding to the payment step.
The fee I paid in 2023 was different — is my certificate still valid?
Yes. The November 2024 gazette revision changed the fee schedule going forward. Certificates issued before that revision remain valid — the fee increase does not affect previously issued documents.
Use the buttons at the top of the page to reach us on WhatsApp. We’ll guide you through the application and payment steps, or handle it for you. This is optional, paid assistance — you can always apply directly through eCitizen at no charge.
Disclaimer: MyCyber Kenya is an independent assisted-services provider and is not affiliated with the Ministry of Interior, Civil Registration Services, or eCitizen. Fee information is drawn from the Kenya Gazette (November 2024 revision) and is provided for general reference only. Always confirm the current fee at the point of application on the official portal. Legal basis: Births and Deaths Registration Act, Cap 149, Laws of Kenya.
