A TSC number application is completed online through the Teachers Service Commission registration portal. Before you begin, prepare clear scans of your identification, KRA PIN, academic and professional certificates, transcript, GP 69 medical letter, certificate of good conduct, passport photo and any supporting affidavit. The live Kenyan-citizen form currently shows a non-refundable registration fee of KSh 1,050, paid within the process through approved eCitizen payment methods. Start only from the official TSC link below.
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Official TSC number application link
Kenyan citizens should open the official TSC new teacher registration form. The page is labelled New Registration for Kenyan Citizens and asks for your ID number, surname, phone number, email address, KRA PIN, teacher category, training status, teaching-practice status, examination mean grade and year of sitting.
Non-citizens should not use the citizen form. Begin from the official Teachers Online service page and select the non-citizen registration option shown there. This article focuses on the Kenyan-citizen process because that is the route linked in the TSC-08 brief.
Fresh portal check: On 27 July 2026, the live citizen form showed a KSh 1,050 fee paid during the application through eCitizen government payment methods. Older TSC manual screenshots still display legacy bank and paybill instructions. Follow the live form, not an old screenshot or forwarded payment message.
Who should use this registration route?
This route is for a first-time applicant seeking registration as a teacher and a TSC number. The first page asks whether you are a trained teacher and whether you completed teaching practice. It also requires you to select the appropriate category, such as ECDE, Primary or Post Primary.
Do not start a fresh TSC number application when you already have a TSC number. A registered teacher who has lost a certificate or needs particulars changed should use the duplicate-certificate route shown on Teachers Online. A person who has already submitted a new application should use the status checker rather than paying and applying again.
| Your situation | Correct next action | Do not use |
|---|---|---|
| First-time trained teacher | New registration for citizens or non-citizens | Duplicate-certificate form |
| Application already submitted | Check registration status using ID or passport number | A second new application |
| Certificate lost or particulars need changing | Duplicate-certificate application | New registration form |
| Looking for a teaching vacancy | Complete registration first, then use the recruitment portal | Registration-status checker for job applications |
TSC number application requirements
Use this TSC number application checklist to prepare your files before opening the form. The official registration manual separates educational certificates from other supporting documents. The live portal may adjust the exact upload fields according to your category and qualifications, so treat the checklist below as preparation guidance and follow any additional field shown on your screen.
Personal details needed on the first page
- National ID number for a Kenyan citizen, or the relevant passport details for a non-citizen route.
- Surname exactly as it appears on your identification and certificates.
- Personal mobile number and an email address you can access.
- KRA PIN.
- Correct teacher category: ECDE, Primary or Post Primary, as applicable.
- KCSE, KCE, KACE, EACE or EAACE mean grade and year of sitting, as requested.
- Accurate answers on teacher training and teaching practice.
Academic and professional records
- Primary, secondary and tertiary certificates, or the equivalents requested for your route.
- Professional teacher-training certificate or degree details.
- Academic transcripts combined in one readable PDF where the portal requests one file.
- Institution names, dates attended, certificate numbers, completion years and specialisation details.
- Main and other teaching-subject details, grades and training hours where applicable.
Supporting documents to scan
- ID or passport.
- KRA PIN certificate.
- GP 69 medical letter.
- Certificate of good conduct.
- Recent passport photo.
- Payment evidence or payment reference generated through the approved process.
- Affidavit where names differ or a name is missing across documents.
- Disability certificate where applicable.
- Any qualification-recognition or higher-education clearance document specifically requested by the portal for your case.
TSC tells applicants to scan and upload original documents. Do not upload another person’s documents, altered certificates or unclear photographs. Keep each file readable, correctly oriented and complete. Where several pages must be submitted as one PDF, combine them in the correct order before upload.
Honest limitation: The official manual includes a higher-education clearance item but does not explain on the public first page when it applies. Do not buy or upload an unrelated clearance document merely because it appears on a general checklist. Follow the field generated for your category or contact TSC registration support for your specific qualification.
Current TSC registration fee and payment
The live Kenyan-citizen registration page showed a non-refundable KSh 1,050 fee when checked on 27 July 2026. It states that payment is made during the process through eCitizen government methods, including M-Pesa, Airtel Money, KCB Cash, Equity Cash and E-Agent. It also refers applicants to government Paybill 222222 or approved government methods.
For safety, begin your TSC number application on the official form and follow the payment prompt generated there. Do not send money to a personal number, an agent’s till, a paybill copied from an old screenshot or an account shared in a WhatsApp group. Confirm the applicant name, service and amount before authorising payment, then retain the receipt or reference.
The duplicate-certificate fee is a different service and should not be confused with a first registration. This guide does not quote it as part of the new-registration total.
How to complete a TSC number application step by step
- Open the official form. Use the TSC citizen-registration URL above. Check that the domain ends in
tsc.go.kebefore entering personal information. - Enter the first-page details. Type your ID number, surname, phone, email and KRA PIN carefully. Select the correct category and provide the requested examination and training information.
- Complete your basic profile. Fill every mandatory field, including personal and address details. Use an address you can rely on because the official manual links it to certificate communication and delivery.
- Add educational qualifications. Enter each institution and qualification, upload the matching certificate, then save the document before moving to the next record.
- Upload supporting documents. Choose the correct document type for each file. After saving, use the portal’s view option to confirm that the right document opens and is readable.
- Complete subject and payment details. Enter the main and other teaching-subject information requested for your category. Make the KSh 1,050 payment through the approved prompt and record the reference accurately.
- Review before finalising. Check names, numbers, dates, institutions, certificate details, subject entries and uploaded files. Correct any mistake while the portal still allows you to go back.
- Save and finalise. Submit only when the summary is correct. Print the summary or save a PDF for your records. Keep the payment confirmation and registration tracker details private.
The portal states that you can save part of the form and complete it later. Even so, finish file preparation before you start so that an expired session or weak connection does not force repeated uploads.
What happens after you submit?
A complete TSC number application enters the official review process after final submission. The official registration manual says applications are processed within 30 days from submission. Treat this as the Commission’s stated processing period, not a guarantee that every case will be completed on the thirtieth day. Verification questions, missing documents or qualification checks may require further action.
Use the official TSC registration-status checker with your ID or passport number. For a plain-language explanation of the result and the correct next action, see our guide to checking and interpreting TSC registration status. That page owns status meanings; this page remains focused on the application itself.
The manual uses postal-delivery wording for the registration certificate, while portal processes can change. Follow the delivery or access instruction attached to your approved record instead of assuming that a download button or physical collection method will always be available. If the status is unclear after the stated processing period, contact TSC before starting another application.
Common problems and how to recover
| Problem | Likely cause | Recovery action |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot move to the next page | A mandatory field, certificate or document is missing | Review the page from top to bottom and save every uploaded record |
| Upload appears blank or wrong | Wrong file selected, damaged PDF or upload not saved | Delete the incorrect entry, upload again and use the view icon to verify |
| Names do not match | Different names or ordering across ID, certificates and transcript | Use an affidavit where required and keep spelling consistent with official documents |
| Payment not reflected | Reference entered incorrectly or transaction still processing | Keep the official receipt, recheck the reference and contact TSC before paying again |
| Status does not appear | Wrong ID/passport entry or application not yet available in the checker | Confirm the identifier, wait for processing and contact registration support if unresolved |
| Portal is slow or times out | Heavy traffic, weak connection or large files | Save completed sections, reduce file size without making text unreadable and retry later |
An incomplete, inconsistent or unreadable submission can delay your TSC number application. The live form also warns that knowingly giving false information is a serious offence. Review the entire summary rather than relying on the portal to identify every factual error.
Official help route
The current TSC online service page lists 020-2892351 for teacher-registration enquiries and teacherregistration@tsc.go.ke for registration support. When contacting TSC, describe the stage and error without sending your password, OTP, full payment credentials or unnecessary copies of sensitive documents.
Security precautions during registration
- Use only a portal on the official
tsc.go.kedomain. - Do not proceed through a browser warning or a copied login page.
- Never share an OTP, password, full ID scan or payment confirmation in a public group.
- Avoid cybercafé devices where files, browser history and passwords may remain accessible.
- Log out after saving or submitting, especially on a shared computer.
- Store the application summary and receipt in a private folder, not an open WhatsApp chat.
Before starting or revisiting a TSC number application, confirm that you are on an official domain. For a directory of verified teacher-service links, use our TSC Online Services portal guide. It helps you distinguish registration from recruitment, T-Pay, transfers and appraisal systems.
Next steps after receiving your TSC number
Registration does not automatically place you in a teaching job. When TSC advertises vacancies for which you qualify, use the TSC recruitment portal guide to follow the correct vacancy and application route. After employment and payroll activation, T-Pay is a separate service; our TSC T-Pay payslip guide explains that later process.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a TSC number application?
The live citizen-registration form showed a non-refundable fee of KSh 1,050 on 27 July 2026. Pay only through the approved method generated during the official application process.
Can I complete a TSC number application using my phone?
You can open the web form on a capable smartphone, but uploading several certificates and checking multi-page PDFs may be easier on a private computer with a stable connection. Whichever device you use, verify every file before finalising.
Do I take paper forms to TSC?
The official registration page states that TSC does not accept paper applications for this process. Complete the online form and retain your digital or printed summary for your own records.
Which documents must be certified?
The public first page instructs applicants to scan and attach original documents. Because upload labels and verification requirements may differ by applicant category, follow the wording shown beside each portal field rather than relying on an unofficial blanket certification rule.
How long does TSC registration take?
The official manual states that applications are processed within 30 days from submission. Check your status with the official checker and use TSC registration support where a case remains unresolved.
Can I edit an application after submission?
The manual shows that you can go back and correct details before selecting Save and Finalize. It does not provide a general public promise that every field remains editable afterwards. Contact TSC if you discover a material error after final submission.
Is a TSC number the same as a recruitment application?
No. Teacher registration establishes your TSC registration record. Recruitment is a separate process tied to an advertised vacancy, eligibility rules and its own portal workflow.
Official sources checked
- New Registration for Kenyan Citizens — Teachers Service Commission, live form, checked 27 July 2026.
- Teacher Registration User Manual — Teachers Service Commission, publication date not stated in the PDF, checked 27 July 2026.
- Teachers Online Service — Teachers Service Commission, checked 27 July 2026.
- Check Registration Status — Teachers Service Commission, checked 27 July 2026.
