Are you looking to apply for a Certificate of Good Conduct in Kenya? If this is you, then don’t look any further. In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know.
A certificate of Good conduct is very important when applying for Jobs, Looking to work abroad, or for any other official purpose in Kenya, i.e., Police recruitment and more. A certificate of Good Confirms whether you have a clean criminal record and a track of good behavior. Its importance cannot be underestimated in Many functions. So, do you know how to apply for a Certificate of Good Conduct in Kenya, or have you even checked the status of your application?
What is a Certificate of Good Conduct in Kenya?
The Certificate of Good Conduct, a Police Clearance Certificate, is an official document issued by the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). It certifies that an individual has no criminal record in the country.
This certificate is crucial for proving your legal compliance and clean criminal history. It is often mandatory when applying for jobs, visas, or other official processes in Kenya and abroad.
The certificate remains valid for one year from the date of issuance. After expiry, you must renew it if needed for future use.
Types of Certificate of Good Conduct In Kenya
Did you know there are various Certificate of Good Conduct types in Kenya? There are two types, and they include:
Police Clearance Certificate
For those who may not be aware, the police clearance certificate is famously known as the good conduct certificate. This type of certificate is given to individuals who have criminal records recorded in the Directorate of Criminal Investigation database, but only after the DCI or police clear them. The police clearance certificate is mainly used for immigration processes, such as visa applications to various countries and sometimes for local employment.
Certificate for Non-Kenyan Residents
If you are a foreign national living in Kenya, you can also request a certificate of good conduct. This is best for those looking to work in Kenya and need to prove a record of good behavior while in the country.
What is required when applying for good conduct?
As mentioned before, the certificate of good conduct is not available to anyone for application or download. Before applying for the certificate, you must meet the requirements of Kenyan law. So, what are the requirements for a certificate of good conduct?
Here are the General requirements that you need to know:
- You Must be a Kenyan Citizen, or if you are a foreign resident, you must have lived in Kenya for at least three months
- The Following Documents are mandatory:
- Your national ID card
- Birth certificate if under the age of 18
- Proof of residency for non-Kenyan citizens
- Your fingerprints will needed for recording at DCI offices or Police stations near you.
Good Conduct Certificate Application Process
After meeting the requirements, you can begin the Good Conduct application process. There are two ways to apply for your certificate, and it’s up to you to choose the option that suits you best depending on your needs:
eCitizen application
The Kenyan government has done a good job consolidating its services under one portal. The eCitizen is a government of Kenya Portal that allows you to apply for all Key government services. Here’s how to proceed:
- Start by visiting the eCitizen website at https://accounts.ecitizen.go.ke/en
- Either login to the portal or proceed to create an active account if you don’t have one
- After logging in, on the main home page of the portal, type and search for “Police Clearance Certificate.” On the present list, make sure to select the first link, which is the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and open it.
- On the left bar, click on Proceed to Service to start the application process on the Portal on the Department of Criminal Investigations portal
- Next, proceed to fill out the online application form with your accurate personal details as per your ID and choose the area and location where you will carry out the fingerprint capture. The list is already there once you hover on the drop-down menu.
- The final stages in the portal involve paying the application fees. The current fee is Ksh 1,050.
- Attend the fingerprint capture appointment in person with your original ID. The officers will record your biometrics, and you will receive your reference number.
- You can use this reference number to track the status of your application on the eCitizen portal. You will also be notified once your certificate is read.
In-Person Application
Another alternative to applying for a certificate of good conduct in Kenya is to do your applications physically if you don’t want to go through the Online route. You can accomplish the same process by visiting the DCI headquarters, any DCI offices in the country, or any Huduma center near you.
However, when going through the Physical approach, you will be given a C24 application form that you must fill out accurately and submit where you are. Similarly, you must pay the fee, which is Ksh 1000 but remember to carry the documents that we discussed above. The whole process will take between two weeks and a month for you to get your certificate.
How to Check the Status of Your Application
Immediately after you apply for a certificate of good conduct, either through the online channel or by making physical applications, you will be given a reference number. You can use this number to track and follow up on the status of your application.
You can check our status through the Huduma Center, which is simple: walk to any nearest office, open a ticket the Huduma agents will assist you. However, if you want a quicker solution, using the eCitizen portal is the only way to go through it:
- Visit and log in to the eCitizen account and go to the Directorate of Criminate Investigation.
- Once on your Dashboard, go to Get Services and navigate to recent applications.
- Go to PCC on the new page. Here, you can see your reference number and application status.
- The status will be:
- Pending fingerprint capture
- Awaiting payment
- In processing
- Ready for download/collection
Another way to check your status of good conduct is by visiting DCI offices spread all over the country.
How to Download the Certificate Online
Once your Police clearance certificate is ready, you will be notified through the email or phone number you provided on your eCitizen Portal. You can also get your certificate through the same eCitizen Portal.
So visit the portal and go to the DCI section. Here, you can go to your recent applications and then go to the PCC section. Under Generate Certificate PN NIL, you will find a file that you can download on your computer or phone. You can then print the certificate in a cyber cafe.
The End
And there you have it. This article has walked you through the entire process of applying for a police clearance certificate in Kenya. You can apply online through the eCitzen program or by visiting DCI offices in the country. If you need to download your certificate, you can do it through the same eCitizen Portal.
