Kenya Document Legalization
LegalizationUsing US documents in Kenya · Africa
Kenya is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so US documents need authentication plus embassy legalization. The chain: state or federal certification, then U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications authentication ($20/doc), then legalization at the Embassy of Kenya.
| Hague status | Not a member |
|---|---|
| Embassy legalization needed? | Yes |
| State documents go to | The issuing state's competent authority |
| Federal documents go to | U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications ($20/doc) |
| Embassy | Embassy of Kenya — 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 — verify current address on the embassy website · $50/doc |
Your exact steps for Kenya
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The full legalization chain, in order
- Get the correct base document (certified vital-records copy, or notarize the document)
- State authority certification — ask for an authentication for a non-Hague country, not an apostille (state documents only)
- U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications — $20 per document
- Embassy of Kenya, Washington D.C. — consular legalization
Embassy details & fees
Embassy of Kenya — 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 — verify current address on the embassy website. Consular legalization is about $50 per document. Embassy lists a $50.00 legalization fee (money order or cashier's check payable to the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya); a request letter and self-addressed prepaid return envelope are required. Confirm the current fee before mailing. Embassy website →
Timeline & cost, worked out
For a state document: the state fee (roughly $10 in many states) + $20 federal authentication + $50 embassy = about $80 in government fees. Budget several weeks — federal authentication alone runs about 5+ weeks by mail.
Which documents does Kenya usually ask for
- FBI background check (Identity History Summary) (federal)
- Birth certificate (state example: California)
- Single status affidavit (state example: California)
- Diploma / degree certificate (state example: California)
State documents vs federal documents
The routing never depends on Kenya — it depends on who issued your document. A birth certificate, diploma, or notarized paper is a state document, apostilled or certified by the issuing state. An FBI background check, IRS letter, or naturalization certificate is federal and goes only to the U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications.
Frequently asked questions
＋Does Kenya accept a US apostille?
No. Kenya is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, so an apostille is not accepted. US documents need authentication by the US Department of State and legalization at the Kenya embassy.
＋What is the order of steps for Kenya?
Get the correct base document, obtain the state or federal certification, have the US Department of State authenticate it, then legalize it at the Embassy of Kenya.
＋How much does legalization for Kenya cost?
The US Department of State charges $20 per document, plus the state fee for state documents. The Embassy of Kenya charges about $50 per document.
＋How long does the Kenya legalization chain take?
Plan for several weeks. The federal authentication step alone runs about 5+ weeks by mail, and the embassy step adds more. Start early, especially for visa deadlines.
More country requirements
Sources
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor
Last verified: July 13, 2026 against the HCCH status table and the Embassy of Kenya(official page). See how we verify and how often on ourmethodology page.
This is informational, not legal advice. The receiving authority sets the final requirements — confirm with them and the office named above before you send anything.