Both the Kenyan authorities and the authorities of other countries need to be certain about the status of each other’s documents. Legalization confirms that a document was issued by someone with the proper authority and that the signatures it bears are genuine.

Currently, Authentication of Kenyan Documents such as Academic Certificates and Driving Licenses is not done at the Embassy, but by the Legal Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi. You will be issued with an Authentication letter, which will then be presented to the Embassy for endorsement. It takes 24hrs for the Embassy to issue a forwarding letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ethiopia.

Kenyan Nationals visiting for extended stays in Ethiopia are therefore advised to have these documents authenticated before arrival in Ethiopia.