Kenya Alien Card Photo (Foreign Nationals Certificate, two white-background prints): size and requirements
The Kenya Alien Card Photo size is 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches). Two colored current passport photographs (white background); head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height. Last verified 2026-10-09 against Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya), 'Issuance of Foreign Nationals Certificate (Alien Card)' page, with ICAO Doc 9303.
For the two printed photographs attached to an application for the Kenyan Foreign Nationals Certificate (Alien Card) that every foreigner residing in Kenya for more than 90 days must obtain, filed online on fns.immigration.go.ke (form 50) and submitted at an appointment where facial features and fingerprints are also captured. Not for a Kenyan passport, the eTA or a work permit.
Requirements at a glance
- Size
- 35 x 45 mm (1.38 x 1.77 inches)
- Head height
- Head 70 to 80 percent of the photo height (Two colored current passport photographs (white background) (no size or head rule is published; ICAO Doc 9303 35 x 45 mm and crown-to-chin 70 to 80 per cent applied))
- Background
- Two colored current passport photographs (white background)
- Expression
- Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, looking at the camera
- Glasses
- Allowed without glare or tint
- Head covering
- Only for religious or medical reasons; full face visible
- Prints needed
- 2
- We deliver
- 827 x 1063 px (600 DPI), plus a 4 x 6 inch print sheet
What trips people up
- CheckTwo colour prints on white: 'Two colored current passport photographs (white background)'. No size is published; 35 x 45 mm with a 70 to 80 per cent head is the ICAO frame we apply.
- CheckYour face is also captured at the appointment: the registration process includes 'Capture of biometrics attributes (facial features & Finger prints)', so the prints go on file while the card image may come from the capture.
- CheckFile online first on fns.immigration.go.ke, print form 50 and the payment acknowledgment, then book the submission appointment; the card is produced centrally by the National Registration Bureau and 'takes several weeks'.
- CheckWho must register: 'The law requires that all foreigners residing within Kenya for a period exceeding 90 days be registered.' Exemptions include diplomats and their families, registered refugees and visitors under three months on a visitor's or special pass.
- CheckRenewals attach a copy of the previous card; the fee is KES 1 000 per year or part of a year.
Good to know before you pay
If you already have two identical colour passport prints on a white background from a studio, they meet the only published rule.
Source and verification
No national rule published; ICAO 9303 standard applies. Last checked 2026-10-09 (archived copy dated 2024-09-12) at Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya), 'Issuance of Foreign Nationals Certificate (Alien Card)' page, with ICAO Doc 9303.
Two colored current passport photographs (white background)
The law requires that all foreigners residing within Kenya for a period exceeding 90 days be registered.
Capture of biometrics attributes (facial features & Finger prints)
Copy of previous alien card (renewal cases)
Submitted portraits should be 45.0 mm x 35.0 mm (1.77 in x 1.38 in) in dimension.
The crown-to-chin portion of the facial image shall be 70 to 80 per cent of the longest dimension defined for Zone V, maintaining the aspect ratio between the crown-to-chin and ear-to-ear details of the face of the holder.
Quotes 1-4 are from the Alien Card page at source.url (sources/ke/dis-alien-card.txt, read via r.jina.ai on 2026-10-09). Quotes 5-6 are ICAO Doc 9303 Part 3 (sources/icao/, Wayback 2024-09-12) and supply the 35 x 45 mm size and head band because the DIS publishes none; archiveSnapshot is that excerpt's date, not source.url's. printsRequired 2 and background 'white' from quote 1; dpi 600 is our print choice; glasses and headCovering are defaults; maxPhotoAgeMonths undefined ('current' only). 'yes' rests on the prints being a listed requirement with no photographer rule, even though facial features are also captured at the appointment (quote 3).
We are an independent service, not a government website. Applying for a passport or visa is done with your government; we only prepare the photo.
Frequently asked questions
