CR12 Search Kenya: Essential Guide to the Official Company Search on eCitizen, the KSh 650 Fee and When You Need One

Updated 8 November 2026

Before you sign a big contract, lend money to a company, buy shares or bid for a tender, you will often hear one request: “send us your CR12”. A CR12 search Kenya request is an official search of the Companies Registry at the Business Registration Service (BRS). It confirms who a company’s directors and shareholders are, according to the Registrar’s records. This guide explains what the CR12 is, what it costs, how to apply on eCitizen, and the related searches and inspection fees.

Source: BRS Fee Schedule – Companies Registry and Document Inspection / Obtaining Copies of Documents, read on 8 November 2026. Fees can change, so confirm on eCitizen before paying.

CR12 search Kenya: key facts

What a CR12 search Kenya document is

The CR12 is the document the Registrar of Companies issues in response to an official search of a company. It is commonly used to confirm a company’s directors and shareholders, its shareholding and its registered office as recorded at the Registry. Because it comes from the Registry itself, it is more reliable than a company profile or a letterhead.

A CR12 is specific to companies. For a business name (a sole proprietorship or partnership registered under the Registration of Business Names Act), the equivalent search document is the CR13, at KSh 250.

When you need a CR12 search in Kenya

• Opening a business bank account or applying for a loan. Banks use it to confirm who owns and controls the company.
• Tenders and supplier registration. Procuring entities often ask for a recent CR12 to confirm the bidder’s ownership.
• Buying shares or a business. Confirm the seller really owns the shares being sold.
• Signing a large contract. Confirm that the person signing is a director.
• Checking your own company. Confirm that changes you filed, such as a new director or share transfer, now appear in the records.

Many institutions specify how recent a CR12 must be. Ask them, and order a fresh one if yours is old. A CR12 search Kenya result only reflects the records at the date of search.

How to apply for a CR12 search in Kenya

BRS says company registration processes are now online on eCitizen, with payment by mobile money, credit or debit card. A typical flow is:

1. Log in to your eCitizen account and open the Business Registration Service.
2. Choose the option for an official search of a company.
3. Enter the company’s registration number or name.
4. Pay the KSh 650 fee electronically.
5. Download the CR12 when it is issued. BRS lists it as instant for verified companies and 3-5 days for non-verified ones.

The eCitizen menus change from time to time. If you cannot find the search option, use the BRS help channels rather than paying an agent who claims special access.

Related BRS fees for company records

A CR12 search Kenya request is not the only way to see company information. The BRS document inspection page lists these fees for rights under the Companies Act, 2015:

The companies fee schedule also lists other filings that affect what a later CR12 shows. Registration of debentures or charges costs KSh 2,000 to 14,000, and a discharge of a charge costs KSh 2,000.

How to read a CR12 search Kenya result

• Check that the company name and registration number match the contract or invoice exactly.
• Compare the listed directors with the person you are dealing with.
• Look at shareholding: who actually owns the company, and in what proportions.
• Note the date of the search. Older CR12s may not show recent changes.

CR12 search Kenya due diligence tips

• Get the CR12 yourself from eCitizen instead of accepting a scanned copy from the other party. Scans can be altered.
• Combine the CR12 with a search of the register of charges if you are lending, to see whether assets are already pledged.
• For land owned by the company, also do an official land search. See our Ardhisasa land search guide.
• If you are registering your own company, see our guide on registering a limited company with BRS.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a CR12 search in Kenya?

The BRS companies fee schedule lists an official search (companies) at KSh 650, with the CR12 issued instantly.

What is the difference between CR12 and CR13?

CR12 is for companies, at KSh 650. CR13 is the official search for business names, at KSh 250.

Can I get a CR12 for someone else’s company?

The official search is a public service on eCitizen, used routinely for due diligence on other companies.

How long does it take?

BRS lists it as instant for verified companies and 3-5 days for non-verified companies. (A later line of the same schedule also shows KSh 600 for an official search; the main table shows KSh 650, so check eCitizen before paying.)

Related guide: Trademark Registration in Kenya: KIPI Fees per Class and 6 Steps.