The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has urged students seeking financial assistance for the upcoming academic year to prepare the required application documents in advance as it gears up to open the student loan application portal.
In a notice issued on June 17, 2026, the board outlined a comprehensive list of requirements that applicants must have ready to ensure a smooth and timely application process.
Key Personal Information Required
According to HELB, applicants must provide a valid email address and an active mobile phone number. Students will also be required to submit their KCPE and KCSE index numbers, together with the years they sat for the examinations.
Additionally, applicants must upload a recent passport-size photograph in either JPEG, JPG, or PNG format. The board noted that accurate personal information is critical in facilitating the verification and processing of applications.
Students will also need a copy of their National Identity Card or Maisha Card, showing both the front and back sides.
Banking and Payment Details Mandatory
To facilitate future disbursements, HELB requires applicants to provide valid bank account details or an M-Pesa number registered under their own national identification document.
The board emphasized that payment information must belong to the applicant to avoid delays in processing and receiving funds.
For students who are minors, a birth certificate in PDF format will be required as proof of identity.
Parents and Guarantors Must Be Included
HELB has also outlined requirements relating to parents and guarantors. Applicants must provide their parents’ national identification numbers and registered mobile phone numbers.
Where a parent is deceased, students will be required to upload a death certificate in PDF format.
In addition, every applicant must provide details of two guarantors, including their national ID numbers and registered mobile phone contacts. HELB noted that parents may serve as guarantors where applicable.
Additional Documents for Sponsored Students
Students who benefited from sponsorship programmes during their secondary education will be required to submit copies of their sponsorship letters.
The board said these supporting documents help verify educational backgrounds and financial circumstances during the loan assessment process.
Applicants have been encouraged to organize all required documents early to minimize last-minute challenges once the application portal becomes available.
Continuing Students Already Applying
The latest advisory comes just weeks after HELB opened the 2026/27 Subsequent Loan Application window for continuing students.
The board announced that students already in university can submit their applications through the USSD platform *642#. HELB has encouraged eligible learners to apply early to allow sufficient time for processing and disbursement before the start of the next academic year.
At the same time, the Universities Fund has opened scholarship applications for continuing students in their second, third, and fourth years under the Student-Centred Funding Model, offering additional financial support opportunities for learners across the country.
