What is a Travel
Visa?
A travel visa is a stamp or sticker placed in your passport
that allows entry into a particular country.The Laws of Kenya require foreigners
to obtain a Kenya visa inorder to gain entry into Kenya. The Kenya visa is an official
Kenya government document that temporarily authorizes you to be in Kenya.There are many types of Kenya
Visas; and unless you plan to seek employment, relocate, teach, or are a
journalist, you will most likely want to apply for a typical “tourist or travel
visa.”
Where to apply for a Kenya
visa
You can apply for a visa in one of two ways:
- You can apply for your Kenya visa online through the Kenya embassy website before you leave home.This will also require you to mail your passport to the Kenyan embassy.
- You can also apply in person by visiting the Kenyan embassy in your country and submit your application to them.
- Passport( Not photocopy ) which is valid for at least six(6) months -To be submitted along with the application form.
- Completed (Filled in) Application form duly signed.
- Copy of flight Itinerary / Letter from travel agent on company letterhead confirming booking.
- Two Passport size photos, 2 inches by 2 inches (NB: Computer generated pictures are not acceptable)
- Visa Fees: (Money order / Cashier's Cheque Only Payable to Embassy of The Republic of Kenya)
- US$50.00 For Single Entry (Tourist/Visitor/Business),
- US$100.00 For Multiple Entries (Tourist/Visitor/Business),
- US$20.00 For Single Transit of not more than 3 days for travelers on stopovers in Kenya while proceeding to other destinations
- Diplomatic, Official, Service and Courtesy visas will continue to be issued Gratis .
- A self-addressed stamped return courier envelope for Fedex, Express Mail, Certified Mail or Priority Mail with delivery confirmation (NB: UPS, Metered stamps and Regular mail envelopes are not acceptable).
N/B: To hasten your application process make sure you have
fulfilled all requirements because any incomplete applications are usually
returned.
Kenya Visa application form
You can apply for a visa online by visiting the Kenya embassy website or download the appropriate visa forms from the Kenya High Commission website of their country. You can also download the forms from the Kenya Airways website.
Kenya Visas are issued within 14 (Fourteen) business days
from date of receipt of the application being sent by mail and courier services.
NB: Processing your Kenya visa takes days, so plan well in
advance!
Can you make the
process faster?
If you are in a pinch of quickly getting your Kenyan visa,
there are various visa agencies that will fill out paperwork and secure a visa
for you at lightning speed- sometimes even overnight but at a fee.If you are in
a hustle or overwhelmed with documents,they may be worth it.
Kenya visa on arrival
Many foreigners get their visas in advance to avoid queuing at airports for
hours to get a visa on arrival (VOA). Kenya has three
international airports: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Moi
International Airport, Mombasa, Moi International Airport, Eldoret. In all
of these, the queues are not long and they move very quickly.Kenya visas can be
obtained on arrival at the airport in Nairobi or Mombasa, EXCEPT for citizens
of the following countries who DO need to have a visa prior to arrival in
Kenya:Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Senegal, Somalia, Iran,Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Nigeria, Yemen, Cameroon, Pakistan, Tazikstan, North Korea.
How much is a kenyan
visa at the airport?
Currently the single entry visa fee is US$50 or £30 or 40€ and Transit Visa
$20 or £10 or 15€. Please note that if you obtain the visa on arrival at the
airport, payment should be made in US$ cash banknotes and the immigration
officers do not accept credit cards or travellers' cheques, so you will need to
have the exact amount in cash.NB:Filling the Kenya visa application forms in advance and presenting them to the Immigration offices at the airport will save you time.
List of countries that
do not need visas to travel to Kenya: Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados,
Botswana, Brunei-Darussalam, Cyprus, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji Islands, Gambia,
The, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius,
Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,
Singapore, Solomon Islands, St Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines,
Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
Visas are temporary in nature and depending upon your
requirements, visas can be obtained with validity anywhere from the specific
dates of your trip up to 10 years.But in regard to Kenya Visas are usually valid for six months
from the issuance date
Please note that the possession of a Kenyan Visa is not
under Kenya laws the final authority to enter Kenya. The immigration officer at
the port of entry may deny entry if the visitor is unable to fulfill the
immigration requirements and if the entry and presence of such a person in
Kenya would be contrary to national interests, even if such a person is in
possession of a valid visa for Kenya.