- Do You Need Visa to Visit Kenya?
- Visa Types
-
FAQ
- Is a yellow fever vaccine required for Kenya? - Do I get my fee refunded in case of my Kenya visa refusal? - I received my Kenya e-visa, do I need to do anything else? - What information and documents do I need to bring along with me to Kenya? - Do children also need a Kenya visa? - If I acquired a new passport, do I need to apply for a new Kenya visa as well? - Can I extend my stay in Kenya? - When will my Kenya e-Visa expire? - How long does it take to get an e-Visa for Kenya? - Do I have to pay a departure tax at the airport?
- Blogs About Kenya That Might Inspire You to Visit
Do You Need Visa to Visit Kenya?
Visa is required
e-Visa
Visa is free
Do You Need Visa to Visit Kenya? Check It Out!
Visa Types
Visa Types & Categories to Apply for Kenya
There are different types of visas available for Kenya. You will be required a visa even if you are transiting through Kenya unless you are from a visa-exempt group.
There are the following ways of obtaining a Kenya visa:
E-Visa Online Procedure
- It is the simplest and fastest way to get your visa. Citizens of the eligible nationalities (see below) can, within a few minutes, complete their application and pay their visa fees on the dedicated website. Only standard single-entry visas, transit visas, and courtesy visas are eligible for e-visa. With your scanned photo, your passport, and your credit card, you can obtain your visa.
Visa On Arrival
- If you have not had the time or opportunity to obtain your visa online, you can complete these formalities upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Travelers’ attention is drawn to the fact that the E-visa allows border checks to be passed more quickly.
Standard Procedure in Embassies
- If you are not eligible for the e-Visa or if the type of visa you wish cannot be obtained through the e-Visa procedure, you can go to the nearest Kenya Embassy with the required documents you are required to bring.
Kenya E-visa Eligible Countries:
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Albania |
Greenland |
Nicaragua |
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Algeria |
Guatemala |
Niger |
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Andorra |
Guinea |
Nigeria |
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Angola |
Guinea-Bissau |
Norway |
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Antigua and Bermuda |
Guyana |
Oman |
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Argentina |
Haiti |
Pacific Isles |
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Australia |
Honduras |
Pakistan |
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Austria |
Hong Kong {SAR} |
Palau |
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Bahrain |
Hungary |
Panama |
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Bangladesh |
Iceland |
Paraguay |
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Belarus |
India |
Peru |
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Belgium |
Indonesia |
Philippines |
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Benin |
Iran |
Poland |
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Bhutan |
Ireland {Republic} |
Portugal |
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Bolivia |
Israel |
Qatar |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Italy |
Reunion |
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Brazil |
Ivory Coast |
Romania |
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Bulgaria |
Japan |
Russian Federation |
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Burkina Faso |
Jordan |
Saint Christopher Cape |
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Cambodia |
Kampuchea |
Salvador |
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Canada |
Kazakhstan |
Sao Tome & Principe |
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Cape Verde |
Kirghizstan |
Saudi Arabia |
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Central African Rep |
Korea South |
Serbia |
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Chad |
Kuwait |
Serbia |
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Chile |
Laos |
Slovakia |
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China {P.R} |
Latvia |
Slovenia |
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Colombia |
Liberia |
South Sudan |
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Comoros |
Liechtenstein |
Spain |
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Congo {Brazzaville} |
Lithuania |
Sri Lanka |
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Congo {Democratic Rep} |
Luxembourg |
Sudan |
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Costa Rica |
Macau {SAR} |
Suriname |
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Croatia |
Macedonia |
Sweden |
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Cuba |
Madagascar |
Switzerland |
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Czech Republic |
Malagasy |
Taiwan |
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Denmark |
Malta |
Thailand |
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Djibouti |
Marshall Islands |
Togo |
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Dominican Republic |
Mauritania |
Tunisia |
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East Timor |
Mexico |
Turkey |
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Ecuador |
Micronesia |
Turkmenistan |
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Egypt |
Moldova |
Ukraine |
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El Salvador |
Monaco |
United Arab Emirates |
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Equatorial Guinea |
Mongolia |
United Kingdom |
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Estonia |
Montenegro |
United States |
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Finland |
Morocco |
Uruguay |
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France |
Mozambique |
Uzbekistan |
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Gabon |
Myanmar {Burma} |
Vatican City |
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Georgia |
Nepal |
Venezuela |
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Germany |
Netherlands |
Vietnam |
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Greece |
New Zealand |
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Kenya Short-term Visa
Kenya Short-term Visa
You can apply for short-term visas for realizing your temporary travel to Kenya. Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, short-term education, exchange programs, short-term work, and many other non-permanent nuances. You can check all the required documents for each type of visa application, visa fees, processing time, and where to apply for a visa below.
Kenya East Africa Tourist Visa
Kenya East Africa Tourist Visa is a joint tourist visa that allows holders to travel to and within the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, and the Republic of Uganda for the purpose of tourism.
Required Documents for Kenya East Africa Tourist Visa
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. A Clear Photograph
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
Processing Time for Kenya East Africa Tourist Visa
The average processing time for a Kenya East Africa Tourist visa is 3-14 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Kenya East Africa Tourist Visa Fee
Kenya East Africa Tourist visa fee is 100 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
Where to Apply for Kenya East Africa Tourist Visa?
You will apply for the Kenya East Africa Tourist visa in Kenya visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location or apply for a Kenya visa online by clicking here.
Notes to consider
Tourist Visa issued by the Kenyan Embassy must enter through Kenya and move to Uganda and/or Rwanda.
Kenya Single-entry Journey Visa
Kenya single-entry journey visa is the standard visa to go to Kenya solely for tourism, professional, or family visit. This visa permits you to enter the country for a maximum duration of 90 days and only for one time. The date of your trip must start no more than three months after the issuance of your visa.
Required Documents for Kenya Single-entry Journey Visa
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. A Clear Photograph
In case of a paper-based visa application:
- Two photographs in the size of 5x5 must be presented along with other documents.
4. In the case of Tourism
- Travel itinerary (Details about places to visit if going as a tourist)
- Hotel bookings
5. In the case of a Business Visit
- Invitation Letters from company / Invitation letter for business visits
- Copies of registration of the company
6. In case of the Family Visit
- Invitation Letters from family
- Identity card / Passport / Alien card / Entry permit of the host
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
Processing Time for Kenya Single-entry Journey Visa
The average processing time for a Kenya Single-entry Journey visa is 3-14 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Kenya Single-entry Journey Visa Fee
Kenya Single-entry Journey visa fee is 51 USD. It is possible to get Kenya multiple entry visa with a fee of 101 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
Where to Apply for Kenya Single-entry Journey Visa?
You will apply for the Kenya Single-entry Journey visa in Kenya visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Kenya Transit Visa
Kenya Transit Visa granted to foreign nationals connecting through Kenya to other destinations for a period not exceeding 72 hours. Those connecting flights directly without leaving the airport don't need to apply for Transit visas.
Required Documents for Kenya Transit Visa
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. A Clear Photograph
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
Processing Time for Kenya Transit Visa
The average processing time for a Kenya Transit visa is 3-14 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Kenya Transit Visa Fee
Kenya Transit visa fee is 21 USD. The fee may vary depending on your nationality or your country of submission.
Where to Apply for Kenya Transit Visa?
You will apply for the Kenya Transit visa in Kenya visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Notes to Consider
Before you travel ensure that you are in possession of the following:
- Valid travel document not less than six months.
- At least One Blank page in the holder’s passport.
- An onward ticket.
Kenya Courtesy Visa
Kenya Courtesy Visa is granted to Diplomatic, Official, and Service passport holders coming into the country on official duties, or transiting through Kenya to a third country for official business or duties
Required Documents for Kenya Courtesy Visa
1. Application Form
2. Passport
3. A Clear Photograph
*Additional documents may be required by the embassy
Processing Time for Kenya Courtesy Visa
The average processing time for a Kenya Courtesy visa is 3-14 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.
Kenya Courtesy Visa Fee
Kenya Courtesy Visa is issued free of charge/gratis.
Where to Apply for Kenya Courtesy Visa?
You will apply for the Kenya Courtesy visa in Kenya visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Notes to Consider
Before you travel ensure that you are in possession of the following:
- Valid travel document not less than six months.
- Must be a holder of service, official and diplomatic passport
- Must hold an official letter from the country of origin/ organization/ foreign affairs.
- At least One Blank page in the holder’s passport.
- Spouses and children accompanying Diplomatic, Service or Official passport holders on duty, but traveling on ordinary passports do not qualify for courtesy visa whether on transit, business, or holiday.
- An onward ticket or a boarding pass for passengers on transit.
- In cases of applicants who fall under category 3 of the Visa regime / Regulations, the Kenyan visa regulations must apply whether on transit or official business.
EMBASSY INFORMATION AND LOCATION
FAQ
Is a yellow fever vaccine required for Kenya?
Yellow fever is a risk in certain parts of Kenya, so it is always recommendable to get the yellow fever vaccine if you plan to travel to Kenya.
Do I get my fee refunded in case of my Kenya visa refusal?
No. Kenya application fee covers the handling of the application, regardless of the result.
I received my Kenya e-visa, do I need to do anything else?
Each traveler needs to take a printed visa for Kenya with them on their trip. Right after granting the visa, an e-mail is sent with a confirmation of this. It is a link with the website which the visa can be downloaded and printed. Keep it with the passport so that it can be handed over at the passport check after arrival in Kenya.
What information and documents do I need to bring along with me to Kenya?
To make it past the passport check in Kenya without trouble, it is important to carry at least the following documents. These need to be physically handed over, so not on the screen of a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop.
Required documents:
- The visa for Kenya (each traveler their own printed visa)
- The passport with which the visa was applied for (passport number must match)
- A print from at least one booked overnight stay
- A print of the return flight or transit flight
Do children also need a Kenya visa?
Children up to and including 15 years of age do not need a visa. However, they do need to possess their own passport, which needs to be valid for at least six more months from the moment of arrival. All persons 16 years and older need a visa for Kenya to enter the country.
If I acquired a new passport, do I need to apply for a new Kenya visa as well?
Yes. The visa is inseparably linked to the passport and passport number, which was used when applying for the visa for Kenya. When a new passport is taken into use, a new visa needs to be applied for as well.
Can I extend my stay in Kenya?
After the initial days allocated by the immigration control at the port of entry have elapsed, you renew your visa at the immigration headquarters in Nairobi. The maximum number of days a visitor may stay in Kenya is six months.
When will my Kenya e-Visa expire?
Once Kenya e-Visa issued, it is valid for three months before you travel. Once you present yourself to immigration control at the port of entry, you may be issued with a stay period not exceeding 90 days, which may be renewed for an additional 90 days at the immigration headquarters. The maximum number of days a visitor may stay in Kenya is six months.
How long does it take to get an e-Visa for Kenya?
The processing time is 2 business days.
Do I have to pay a departure tax at the airport?
Like most international destinations, Kenya and countries in the region charge an airport departure tax for all international flights. The tax may be included in the airline ticket price. If it is not included, visitors must pay the tax in cash at the airport upon arrival. Departure taxes can be paid in local currency or U.S. Dollars.
Blogs About Kenya That Might Inspire You to Visit
