How to Apply For HELB Loan For First Time Applicants

This guide will help you apply for HELB Loan for Undergraduate and TVET applicants with ease. Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) was introduced to finance Kenyan students pursuing higher education locally.

This is achieved by providing affordable loans, scholarships, and bursaries to Kenyan students pursuing higher education. There are several loan packages available for those who wish to apply.

Creating account for HELB loan application.
Creating a HELB Account

You cannot download fill-able HELB forms rather you fill them online. And once you have completed you can then print the filled forms and take them to your bank or drop them at HELB main offices at Anniversary Towers. You can also drop them at any HUDUMA Center. If you do not have a Pin, make sure you apply for the KRA Pin as it is a requirement.

HELB first time registration form
HELB First Time Registration Form

Uses of HELB Loan

  1. Tuition
  2. Books and stationery
  3. Accommodation and subsistence.
How to activate HELB email
HELB Email Activation

To Create a New Account, You Will Be Required to Have:-

  1. National ID number
  2. A working email address
  3. Access to phone
HELB phone activation
HELB Phone Activation

How to Create a HELB Account and Apply for HELB Loan

a) Access HELB website via www.helb.co.ke.

b) On the user registration tab, select applicant registration.

c) Enter your ID number and your first name as it appears on your ID. Click on validate.

d) If you have filled the correct details, a new page will open with a registration form. Fill all the required fields on the form. Make sure you can access the email that you provide. Also, note the password you use as you will be using it to log into the HELB Portal. Click on sign up.

e) Once successful you will get a message that you have created an account on the HELB Portal. Next step is to check your email address so as to activate your account.

f) Click on the activate link and proceed to log in using the email and password you used.

Check Your Phone for Verification Code

1. The next stage is to verify your phone. If you do not see the code on your phone, click resend phone activation. Enter the code you will get from your phone to proceed.

2. The HELB portal will open and the next thing is to confirm if the loan product you want to apply for is open. The ones that are open are in green highlight.

3. For the first time undergraduate, click on the link to proceed with the application.

4. The next page that opens alerts you that you have to go through the HELB Financial Literacy Campaign. This program is for empowering you when making financial related decisions. Select your current year of study to continue.

Read through the contents and make sure you understand them as you will have to go through an assessment test to proceed with the HELB application. If you do not want to watch the videos provided, download a summarized PDF document at the bottom of the page. It will help you answer the questions.

5. If you pass the assessment, click on continue to proceed. It is time to fill the form.

HELB Loan products
HELB Loan Products

Higher Education Loans Board Supported Banks

Before you apply for the HELB loan, make sure you have opened a bank account. Do this at any of the following banks:

(a) Equity Bank
(b) Kenya Commercial Bank
(c) Cooperative Bank of Kenya
(d) National Bank of Kenya
(e) Kenya Post Office Savings Bank (Postbank)

Application Categories or Loan Products for the Unemployed

  1. Undergraduate Loan Forms – these forms are for first time applicants, second, and subsequent applicants. Undergraduates can also access loan review forms.
  2. Tvet Loan / Bursary First Time For Tertiary Institutions – this comprises of Tivet Bursary and Tertiary institutions loans
  3. Post graduate Scholarship application

HELB Loan Products for the Employed

  1. Civil Servant Training Revolving Fund
  2. Post Graduate Scholarship Application
  3. Jielimishe Loan-undergraduate (salaried Students)
  4. Jielimishe Loan-postgraduate (salaried Students): Postgraduate-diploma, Masters, Phd & Professional Courses
  5. Kra Staff Training Revolving Fund

How to Fill the HELB Loan Form

First-time applicants should select the option of undergraduate loan forms. The following stages must be filled out correctly when you apply for HELB loan.

1) Personal Details – These are the applicant details. You will fill the following sub-categories;

a) Step 1: Applicant’s personal details – In this section, an applicant is required to fill out their personal information. These are items such as Names, Email, Phone Number, ID Number, Sub-location, Division, location, county, among others. You should fill this information as per your National Identification Card.

b) Step 2: Applicant’s residence details – In this section, an applicant is required to fill out their current place of residence information. Here you will fill items such as nearest public school, Sub-location, Division, location, constituency among others.

Education Details Section

2) Education details – For this section fill your education details on the form capturing primary, secondary school and any other enrollment done after that. You will be required to provide the following; Institution Name, School Type whether private or Public, Country, start Year, End Year, Index number, Grade, and Points acquired.

3) Institution Details – in this part, enter the details of the institution where you have been admitted. You will also enter the annual fees and how much you are applying for. Applicant’s University and loan details – In this section, an applicant is required to fill out their university and loan details. Specify how much loan you require and in case you need bursary there is a section to tick.

Parent Details Section

4) Parents’ details – you will fill the following subcategories:-

a) Step1: Parents/Guardian details – Parents Marital Status – In this section, an applicant is required to fill out parents’ marital information. Remember to specify whether you are an orphan or from a single parent. If either parent is deceased you will be required to provide details of their death certificates and attach copies of the same.

b) Step 2: Father and mother details – you will fill this information if you have indicated that your parents are alive. Once you enter the ID number and first name of your parent, the information will be verified against the one held in the database. If correct, a form will open where you will key in the rest of the details.

Step 3: in this stage, indicate all your family expenses. If there are other siblings applying for HELB, you are supposed to indicate too.

HELB ID Validating

4) Guarantor details – For this section you will fill your Guarantor details on the form capturing all their required details. After enter the ID number and first name, the rest of the form opens. It is compulsory to fill in two guarantors failure to do this will lead to automatic disqualification.

5) Bank details – This section requires you to fill your Bank details on the form capturing all details as instructed.

Submitting Your HELB Form

Upon completion of filling the form, it should be printed and delivered to the board but it must go through your bank. Forms submitted after the deadline are not processed. Ensure everything is alright before submitting because the form can not be edited afterward.

Once you print the form, you will see a checklist; follow it to make sure you have all the required documents. Make sure all those entitled to sign the form have signed it.

Submit your fully filled and signed application to HELB offices at Anniversary towers, or you can also drop your application at select Huduma centers.

First Time Undergraduate HELB Loan Application

How to Update Kra Pin on Itax Portal

This article will help you update your KRA Pin on the iTax portal. The taxman issues KRA pins to individuals and companies in Kenya. The main reason for issuing the KRA pin is for tax purposes.

With the advent of changing technologies, most government institutions have digitized their operations. This has eradicated most manual transactions. To enjoy online services, older pins must be updated on iTax. This portal is for all transactions relating to KRA pins of individuals and companies.

Many people have complied with the directive to update their KRA pin on the iTax portal. However, some are yet to update theirs. After updating you will be able to file your returns and access other features such as reprinting your pin certificate. This information here will help you update the KRA pin on iTax.

Click on the human hand shown to start the process of updating KRA pin
How to Update Kra Pin to iTax

What You Need to Update Kra Pin on Itax

1. KRA PIN. You only need the number but not the printout itself. If you do not have the number, then you can go to any Huduma centre with your original ID. They will retrieve the pin for you. An alternative method is to scan both sides of your original ID and email it to callcentre@kra.go.ke requesting them to check and email you your KRA pin.

There is a simple method you can still use and get your pin without visiting the Huduma centre. Check out this article on how to retrieve your KRA pin with ID number only.

2. ID Number – you will need your ID number.

3. Date of birth – this must be the date of birth as it appears on your identification document.

4. An accessible email – You will receive an OTP code and your updated KRA pin.

Select your citizenship and enter your ID number and date of birth
Updating Kra Pin

To Update Kra Pin on Itax Portal

a) Go to the iTax portal and enter your KRA pin and click on continue.

b) The next screen will have a message ‘You have not updated your details in iTax.’ Click on the icon written ‘Click Here to Update’.

c) The next step is to select the taxpayer type which is either individual or non-individual. The non-individual option is for companies, churches, NGOs among others.

d) In the same stage select the citizenship. This will either be Kenyan, Non-Kenyan Resident, or Non-Kenyan Non-Resident.

e) For residents, once you click on Kenyan, the next stage is to enter your national identification number and date of birth as it appears on your ID. Perform the arithmetic calculation provided and click next.

If on your ID there is no exact date of birth and month, then you should input 01/07/ and then your year of birth. If this does not work, then you will have to go to the Huduma centre or any KRA station for help.

Fill all Parts With an Asterisk

f) On the next screen that appears, most of your data will be auto-populated relating to what you had filled when applying for the pin. However, you will have to fill the Employee’s Profession. Select the major group before going to the subgroup. Finally, select what is most close to your profession in the ‘minor’ group.

g) Down where it is written the pin will be issued with your name, tick on the radial button for yes if your name is okay.

h) Enter your desired physical address and make sure all blank spaces with an asterisk are filled. For the areas with a drop-down, you have to make a selection.

i) Fill in your principal postal address.

j) For contact details, enter your mobile number and email address. After typing the email address, you will get a message that the email address must be verified. Click on okay and then click send OTP so that the code can be sent to the specified email.

k) Log in to your email and check the mail from admin.itax2. Get the code which is a four-digit number, go back to the portal and type it where it is written One Time Password.

l) Fill the rest of the details and click on next.

KRA Pin Obligation Details

i) In the next window for obligation details, the income tax resident option will be checked. Here you cannot change any details. If any other obligation is selected, then there is a problem and you should not continue updating your pin. You should go to any KRA centre and seek help for the removal of the unwanted obligation. Click next.

ii) The next window is for the source of income. For those employed, select employment and indicate your employer pin. Then click on add to save the employer details. If it is business, select business and be ready to declare your business details. The same case will apply to the rental option. If none applies to you, select ‘NO’ for the three options. To proceed click next.

iii) The next tab is for agents and you do not have to enter any information unless you have an agent who can transact on your behalf. Click on next.

iv) On the remarks tab, there is nothing to fill. Click on submit. If all the details you have entered are correct, the form will be submitted and a pin generated automatically. Download the pin for your use and note that you can also get the pin from your email.

Fill all the field with an asterisk in this KRA pin update form
How to Update Kra Pin

Itax First Time Login and Filing Returns

After a successful update, the next thing should be to log in to your iTax portal. Check your email and you will get an email with your pin and password. Use these credentials to log in and then file your income tax returns.

Reprint KRA Pin Certificate

After logging in, you can reprint your pin certificate.

  • Click on registration tab and select reprint pin certificate option.
  • Applicant type select tax payer and submit.
  • Clink on the link generated to download your pin.
How to Update Kra Pin to iTax
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