How to Get a TSC Duplicate Certificate of Registration in 2026: Requirements and Fee

Updated 21 October 2026

Quick answer: To replace a lost, destroyed or misplaced TSC Certificate of Registration, apply online on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) portal, upload an original police abstract, and pay a non-refundable fee of KSh 2,050 through eCitizen payment methods during the application. If you only need to change your name on the certificate, upload an affidavit or marriage certificate instead. TSC does not accept paper applications.

Everything below comes from TSC’s registration page, its online duplicate certificate form and its published “Requirements for Issuance of Duplicate Certificate of Registration”. Last checked October 2026.

Why the Certificate Matters

Article 237(2)(a) of the Constitution gives TSC the job of registering trained teachers, and the TSC Act 2012 requires every teacher to be registered before teaching in any public or private institution. The certificate carries your TSC number, which schools, boards of management and TSC itself use to confirm you are registered. You will be asked for it when applying for teaching posts, during recruitment vetting and when updating records. Teaching vacancies are posted on JobinKenya.

The legal basis for a replacement is regulation 32(1) and (2) of the Code of Regulations for Teachers (CORT) 2015. It says the Commission may, on application by a teacher, issue a duplicate certificate to a person whose certificate is lost, destroyed or misplaced, after payment of the fee set in the Fifth Schedule.

Requirements by Situation

Source: TSC, Requirements for Issuance of Duplicate Certificate of Registration, and the TSC duplicate certificate online form. TSC says only original documents should be scanned and uploaded, so a photocopy of a police abstract or a scan of a scan may be rejected.

The Fee: KSh 2,050, Paid During the Application

Older TSC documents still online say the fee is KSh 2,055, paid by bank deposit with the deposit slip uploaded. That changed. TSC’s current registration page and online form say the duplicate fee is KSh 2,050, paid during the process, and the form notes that from 1 July 2023 application fees are paid through government paybill business number 222222 or other approved government methods.

Do not pay into a bank account because an old PDF or a cyber cafe tells you to. Pay only inside the application, so the payment is linked to your request. For comparison, a first-time registration costs KSh 1,050.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply

1. Get your supporting document. For a lost or destroyed certificate, report the loss at a police station and get an original police abstract. Our guide explains how to get a police abstract. For a name change, swear an affidavit before a commissioner for oaths or have your marriage certificate ready.
2. Scan the originals. Scan the abstract, affidavit or marriage certificate in colour. Check TSC’s file size limits first, using our TSC upload size limits and compressor.
3. Open the TSC online registration portal (tsconline.tsc.go.ke) and choose the Duplicate Certificate application, not new registration.
4. Fill in Section A. The form asks for your TSC number, email address and identification details, and a declaration that your certificate is lost or destroyed, or that you wish to change your particulars. Tick the one that applies.
5. Complete every section. TSC says all sections must be filled in full. You can save part of the form and come back later.
6. Upload your documents in the attachments section.
7. Pay KSh 2,050 when the system prompts you, by M-Pesa, Airtel Money, KCB Cash, Equity Cash or an eCitizen agent. Keep the payment confirmation.
8. Submit and save or print the acknowledgement.

How Long It Takes

TSC says a teacher who meets the requirements for new registration gets a certificate within 30 days. It does not publish a separate processing time for duplicates, so plan for at least a month and follow up with TSC if you hear nothing. If you need proof of registration urgently for a job, ask the employer whether your TSC number and the application acknowledgement will do in the meantime.

Don’t Give False Information

The form warns that wilfully giving false information to TSC is an offence under section 44 of the TSC Act 2012, with a fine of up to KSh 100,000, up to 12 months’ imprisonment, or both. Report the loss honestly, and don’t apply for a duplicate to hand a certificate to someone else.

Common Mistakes That Delay Applications

• Applying under new registration. You already have a TSC number. Use the duplicate option.
• Paying the old KSh 2,055 to a bank. The current fee is KSh 2,050, paid inside the application.
• Uploading copies. TSC wants scans of original documents.
• Wrong document for the case. Lost or destroyed needs a police abstract. Name change needs an affidavit or marriage certificate.
• Using a cyber cafe email. Use your own email address so TSC’s messages reach you.
• Mismatched names. If your ID, academic certificates and TSC record spell your name differently, sort it out with an affidavit at the same time.

Keep Your Records in One Place

Once the duplicate arrives, scan it and keep a copy with your appointment letter, latest TSC payslip and TSC P9 form. Teachers checking pay can use our TSC salary calculator, and our TSC teachers hub links to other TSC services.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a TSC duplicate certificate?

KSh 2,050, non-refundable, paid through eCitizen methods during the online application.

What do I need if I lost my TSC certificate?

An original police abstract, uploaded with your online duplicate application.

Can I change my name on my TSC certificate?

Yes. Apply for a duplicate, choose the change of particulars option and upload an affidavit or marriage certificate.

Does TSC accept paper applications for a duplicate certificate?

No. TSC says it does not accept paper applications. Apply online.

Is my TSC number the same on the duplicate?

The duplicate replaces your existing certificate of registration and you apply using your current TSC number, so you are not registered afresh.