Kenya is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille will not be accepted there. A U.S. document going to Kenya needs legalization instead: certification by the state that issued it, authentication by the U.S. Department of State, and then legalization by Kenya’s embassy or a consulate in the U.S.
All U.S. documents for Kenya are legalized at the Embassy of Kenya in Washington, D.C., whichever state they come from.
At a glance
Which mission takes your document
| Mission | States it covers |
|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. Embassy of Kenya |
Every U.S. state and federal documents |
Checked October 2026. Where a mission does not publish its district, we confirm before submitting. Federal documents such as an FBI check go to the embassy in Washington.
Documents we legalize most for Kenya
| Document | Usually for |
|---|---|
| FBI background check | Work permits and NGO registration |
| Diploma and transcripts | Employment and professional registration |
| Company documents | Registering a branch or NGO |
Things worth knowing
- The embassy in Washington covers the whole U.S. for document authentication.
- Most requests are for NGO and employment work, often with an FBI background check.
How it works
Step 1
Notarize if needed
Private documents only. Vital records and court records skip this.
Step 2
State certification
By the Secretary of State of the issuing state. Federal documents skip this.
Step 3
U.S. Department of State
Federal authentication in Washington, D.C.
Step 4
Kenya embassy or consulate
The mission in Washington, D.C..
Kenya Embassy Legalization: common questions
Can I get an apostille for Kenya instead?
No. Kenya is not in the Apostille Convention, so it needs the legalization chain ending at its embassy or consulate.
Does it matter which consulate I use?
No. There is one mission for the whole U.S.
How long does it take?
The state and federal stages take one to three weeks together, and the embassy stage adds its own time, which varies. Plan for several weeks in total, and longer around holidays.
Official sources
Requirements, fees and processing times are set by the authorities below and can change without notice. Verify anything time-critical directly with them.
Kenya mission in the U.S.
Ready to get started?
Tell us the document and its state, and we will run the whole chain to the right Kenya mission.
Related: Embassy legalization · Non-Hague countries · Country checker · Translation requirements