Kenya Visa Requirements

Kenya Visa Requirements

Visitors to Kenya require a Kenyan visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. All visitors whether going on a Kenya safari or business or just visiting must hold a passport valid for 6 months.

Visitors to Kenya require a Kenyan visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries. All visitors whether going on a Kenya safari or business or just visiting must hold a passport valid for 6 months. It is good to understand the Kenyan visa requirements in case you are traveling to Kenya.

Visa to Travel to Kenya

The authorities in the country or territory you’re travelling to are responsible for setting and enforcing the rules for entry. If you’re unclear about any aspect of the entry requirements, or you need further reassurance, you’ll need to contact the Kenyan embassy, high commission or consulate.

You should also consider checking with your transport provider or travel company to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.

Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Kenya?

Not everyone need a passport or a Kenyan Visa to travel to Kenya. The citizens of the East African Communities are exempted from using passport to travel to Kenya. There are other countries that are allowed to use passport to travel to Kenya but not visa. This are mainly members of the commonwealth countries and some African countries.

Do you need a passport to travel to Kenya?

While passport is a necessary document for cross border travel. There are exemptions due to common trade areas. However, there are identification documents or other travel documents like temporary permit that will allow one to cross over to Kenya. Citizens from the following countries do not need a passport to travel to Kenya

  • Burundi
  • Rwanda
  • South Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda

Which countries require a visa for Kenya?

There other countries whose citizens will require a passport but not a Kenyan visa to travel to Kenya. If you’re a passport holder or national of the countries in the list below, you don’t need to apply for visa before you can enter Kenya. This means you can stay in Kenya for a period of 3 months (unless stated otherwise on the list). your passport will be stamped at the point of entry, as long as the purpose of your visit meets the immigration rules.

  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brunei
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Ethiopia
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Jamaica
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia (30 days)
  • Maldives
  • Mauritius
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Samoa
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • San Marino
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • Swaziland
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

However, if you are not among the above two categories, you do need a passport with at least two blank pages, six months’ validity. You also must have a visa are required to enter Kenya.

How do I get a visa for Kenya?

All visa applications be submitted online as from 1st September 2015. This was reviewed and decided that both the manual and online visa processing systems will run concurrently. Visa processing takes 3 working days. It is important to note that the visa processing fees are nonrefundable and non-transferable

There are 3 places to obtain visas by applying;

  1. Online through e-visa website ( Single Entry, Transit and Courtesy Only)
  2. At the Kenya High Commission
  3. At Ports of Entry on arrival in Kenya

The following categories of visas are issued at the Mission;

  1. Single Entry (Tourists/Visitor/Business)
  2. Diplomatic Visa
  3. Transit Visa
  4. Multiple entry Visa
  5. East Africa Tourist Visa

How to apply for a Single-Entry Kenyan Visa

Single-entry visas are available upon arrival at Kenyan airports. It is however important to note that the Kenyan Immigration plans to end visas upon arrival in the near future. Multiple-entry visas must be applied for prior to traveling to Kenya. For those planning on a safari in Kenya download your duly filled application form here. The process of application for an eVisa is below:

  • Click on Create an account.
  • Select Register as a Visitor.
  • Once Logged in, Select Department of Immigration services.
  • Select Submit Application.
  • Select Kenyan Visa.
  • Select the type of Visa and read the Instructions Carefully.
  • Fill in the application form.
  • Pay Using visa card, Mastercard and other debit cards.
  • Await approval via email, then download and print the eVisa from your eCitizen account.
  • Present your printed eVisa to the immigration officer at the port of entry.

How much is the visa for Kenya?

Some people prefer to buy the Kenyan Visa in advance or get them at the point of arrival Tere are extra costs associated with getting the Kenyan visa in advance including photos, secure postage, and in the UK the High Commission doesn’t accept personal cheques so you have to pay for a postal order unless you have access to Building Society cheques, plus many people don’t like trusting their passport to the postal service. However, the general price tag for the visa are below depending on the type of visa.

Visa Type Cost
Single entry visa (Business or Tourism) $51
Transit visa $21
East Africa Tourist Visa $101
Courtesy Visa FREE

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