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Kenyans without the new e-passport will not be able to access the Schengen visas granted for free-pass in European Union nations.
The Schengen visa grants businesspeople and tourists access to 26 nations within the passport-free zone in Europe for 90 days.
"The Schengen member states therefore wish to inform the Kenyan public that from June 1, 2019, ONLY the new East African Community biometric e-passport would be accepted for Schengen visa applications," a circular at the Hungarian Embassy read in part.
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September 2 deadline to get the e-passport
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier announced that all Kenyan passport holders need to have switched form the machine-read version.
Application for the new generation passport will be done through the e-citizen portal after which the applicant is required to take copies of authentication documents to the immigration offices.
Some of the documents required are original and photocopies of birth certificates and ID, copy of previous passport if any, parents’ national ID or death certificate where applicable, children’s birth certificate (if any), copy of recommender’s ID card and three passport-size photographs.
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Immigration PS Gordon Kihalang'wa had earlier warned all those who have not registered for the Huduma Namba that passport applications would prove difficult.
"If you are not in NIIMS and you are applying for a passport, we will know very well that you are not a Kenyan," he stated.