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Types of Kenya Visa
The type of visas you must have is defined by the Kenyan and Visa Regulations, and relates to the purpose of your travel in Kenya.
- Single Entry Visa: Issued for Single or Multiple entries to persons whose nationalities require visas to enter Kenya.
- Transit Visa: Issued for periods not exceeding three days to persons whose nationalities require visas to enter Kenya and who intend to transit through Kenya to a different destination.
- Diplomatic Visa: Issued for Single or Multiple entries to holders of Diplomatic passports who are on official duty. Coming Soon
- Courtesy/ Official Visa: Issued to persons holding Official or Service passports on Official duty and to Ordinary passport holders who are not entitled to a Diplomatic visa; but where it is considered by the Director to be desirable on the grounds of international courtesy. Coming Soon
- East Africa Tourist Visa: This is a joint tourist visa that entitles holders to travel to and within the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda for the purpose of tourism. Validity of East Africa Tourist Visa: 90 (Ninety days) Multiple Entry. Coming Soon
Visa Type | Visa Type |
---|---|
Single entry visa (Business or Tourism) | $51 |
Transit visa | $21 |
East Africa Tourist Visa Coming Soon | $101 |
Courtesy Visa Coming Soon | N/A |
Related Post: All You Need To Know On Travel Passport
How do I Apply Kenya Visa Online – Guide
You need to:
- Register on www.ecitizen.go.ke
- Select Register as a Visitor or Foreigner
- Once Logged in, Select Department of Immigration services.
- Select submit Application.
- Select Kenyan Visa
- Then 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 e-Visa from your eCitizen account.
- Present your printed e-Visa to the immigration officer at the port of entry.
For Assistance/help contact +254 780 206 206 Email: support@ecitizen.go.ke
Disclaimer
- Visa processing fee is non refundable.
- Incomplete applications will be rejected.
- The possession of an e-Visa is not the final Authority to enter The Republic of Kenya.
- Engaging in any form of business or employment without a requisite permit or pass is an offence.
- A visa is required prior to entry into The Republic of Kenya.
- The e-Visa printout must be presented at the port of entry.
- It should take at least 2 working days to get your e-Visa.
- Each adult visitor to the Republic of Kenya is required to submit e-visa applications in their personal e-citizen account. Parents can apply for their children in the parents account.
Things to Note:
- E-Visa applications must be made through https://evisa.go.ke/evisa.htmlonly.
- Please note that visas once issued are not sent to your email addresses, they are only accessible via your e-citizen account.
- Visa applicants are required to have national passports/travel documents valid for at least 6 months from the date of intended entry into Kenya.
- Incomplete applications will NOT BE PROCESSED and WILL BE REJECTED.
- The possession of a visa for Kenya is not the final authority to enter Kenya. The Immigration Officer at the port of entry may refuse such a person permission to enter if he is satisfied that such a visitor is unable to fulfil the immigration requirements and that the entry and presence of such a visitor, in Kenya would be contrary to national interests even though such a person may be in possession of a valid visa for Kenya.
- Please ensure that all the information entered in the visa application form is correct before clicking submit.
- Please ensure that you have applied for the correct category of visa.
Before you Start – Kenya Visa For US Citizens
Transit Visa Requirements
- You require an onward Ticket to apply for a Transit Visa
Entry Requirements (On Arrival)
- Passport Valid for at least Six Months
- eVisa Printout from www.eCitizen.go.ke
- Travel itinerary
- Supporting letter e.g. letter from company or Invitation letter for business visits/family visits. or
- Hotel bookings/details about places to visit if going as tourist.
Photo requirements, during Registration
- The photograph must be in color.
- Have a white background.
- It should have a close up of your head and top of your shoulders so that your face takes up 70-80% of the photograph.
- It should be in sharp focus and clean.
- Should be of high quality with no ink marks and creases.
- The photograph must show you looking directly at the camera.
- Should be 5.5cm * 5.5cm (207px * 207px).
- show your skin tone naturally.
- It should have appropriate brightness and contrast.
- The photograph should be a recent one not more than 6 months old.
- It is to be taken without headgear.
- Photograph can be taken with headgear, after consideration on case to case basis if the applicant wears headgear on religious grounds. The main characteristics of the face must be apparent from the photograph. Chin, nose, eyes and eyebrows must not be covered, the forehead should be uncovered to the extent that the shape of the face is apparent.
- It should be without hat/cap.
- Should be with the applicant’s hair tucked behind his/her ears.
- The photograph should not have any staple marks.
- Scanned & color photocopies would NOT be accepted.
Kenya Work Visa Application / Permits and Residency
Applications can be submitted online but manual applications have to be sent at the same time. The processing and approval of the permit must take place while out of the country.
A special 3-month work permit is available that allows you to begin working while waiting for approval of your long-term work permit. It can be renewed for an additional 3 months if necessary.
The temporary permit takes three weeks to process. So the best approach is to send both applications simultaneously at least a month before the scheduled departure as the processing time for work visas can be lengthy.
- A new rule requires that for each holder of a work permit there is also a Kenyan understudy who must be trained to take the position held by the foreigner, except for senior management or skilled technical employees.
- There is no minimum salary for work permits.
- Once you have a work permit, you can apply for a residence permit or alien card. This process can take 2-4 months for approval.
- Work permits cost around US$3000, with an additional annual fee of US$2000.
More details are available here Kenya immigration authorities. Many individuals and companies prefer to use a dedicated lawyer. Or specialist to submit the application and help with the processing of work permits and visas.
Read More On other Kenya Visa Work Permits Here
Who Requires Kenya Visa to enter The Republic of Kenya?
A citizen of a foreign country, wishing to enter The Republic of Kenya. Generally must first obtain an e-visa via www.ecitizen.go.ke
Nationals of the Countries Listed Below may be issued with an eVisas Upon Application on www.ecitizen.go.ke (category 2 Countries)
Albania | Algeria | Andorra |
Angola | Antigua and Bermuda | Argentina |
Australia | Austria | Bahrain |
Bangladesh | Belarus | Belgium |
Benin | Bhutan | Bolivia |
Bosnia | Brazil | Bulgaria |
Burkina Faso | Cambodia | Canada |
Cape Verde | Central African Republic | Chad |
Chile (Nationalist) | China (China P.R.) | Columbia |
Comoros | Congo (Brazzaville) | Costa Rica |
Cote de voire | Croatia | Cuba |
Czech Republic | Denmark | Djibouti |
Dominican Republic | DRC | East Timor |
Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador |
Equatorial Guinea | Estonia | Finland |
France | French Guyana | Gabon |
Georgia | Germany | Greece |
Greenland | Guatemala | Guinea |
Guinea Bissau | Haiti | Herzegovina |
Honduras | Hong Kong (Holders of Hong Kong special administrative region) | Hungary |
Iceland | India | Indonesia |
Iran | Ireland | Israel |
Italy | Japan | Jordan |
Kazakhstan | Kirghizstan | Korea (South) |
Kuwait | Laos | Latvia |
Liberia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania |
Luxembourg | Macedonia | Madagascar |
Malta | Marshall Islands | Mauritania |
Mexico | Micronesia | Moldavia |
Monaco | Mongolia | Montenegro |
Morocco | Mozambique | Myanmar (Formerly Burma) |
Nepal | Netherlands | New Zealand |
Nicaragua | Niger | Nigeria |
Norway | Oman | Pakistan |
Palau Pacific Isles | Panama | Paraguay |
Peru | Philippines | Poland |
Portugal | Qatar | Romania |
Russia | Russia | Salvador |
Sao Tome and Principe | Saudi Arabia | Serbia |
Slovakia | Slovenia | Southern Sudan |
Spain | Sri Lanka | St. Christopher Cape |
Sudan | Suriname | Sweden |
Switzerland | Taiwan | Thailand |
Timor East | Togo | Tunisia |
Turkey | Turkmenistan | UAE |
Ukraine | United Kingdom | Uruguay |
USA | Uzbekistan | Vatican City |
Venezuela | Vietnam | Yemen |
Nationals Exempted From Obtaining Kenya Visa
Barbados | Malawi | St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
Belize | Malaysia (For less than 30 days stay) | St.Kitts and Nevis |
Botswana | Mauritius | St.Lucia |
Brunei | Namibia | Swaziland |
Burundi | Nauru | Tanzania |
Cyprus | New Guinea | The Bahamas |
Darussalam | Papua | Tobago |
Dominica | Rwanda | Tonga |
Fiji Island | Samoa | Trinidad |
Ghana | Seychelles | Tuvalu |
Grenada | Sierra Leone | Uganda |
Jamaica | Singapore | Vanuatu |
Kiribati | Solomon Islands | Zambia |
Lesotho | South Africa (For less than 30 days stay) | Zimbabwe |
The Following Persons Do Not Require Kenya Visa to The Republic
- Persons whose passports are endorsed with valid Kenya re-entry passes or any other written authority in lieu of a re-entry pass.
- All passengers arriving and leaving by the same ship, and who do not leave the ship.
- Passengers in transit through Kenya arriving and leaving by the same aircraft or transferring to another aircraft and who do not leave the international transit lounges at the International Airports in Kenya.
- Holders of United Nations Organization Laissez-Passers whilst on official UN Business.
- Any Holders of African Union Laissez-Passers whilst on official A.U. business.
- Holders of African Development Bank Laissez-Passers, whilst on official A.D.B. business
- Holders of Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa Laissez-Passers, whilst on official ABEDA business.
- An Holders of International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa Laissez-Passers, whilst on official I.R.L.C.O. business.
- Holders of Desert Locust Control Organization Laissez-Passers, whilst on official D.L.C.O. business.
- The Holders of COMESA Laissez-Passers, whilst on official COMESA business. xi. Holders of International Monetary Fund and World Bank Laissez – Passers whilst on official IMF/World Bank Business.
- Holders of Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Laissez- Passers whilst on official IGAD business.
- An Holders of African Airlines Travel Association (IATA) Laissez- Passers whilst on official business.
- Holders of Environment Liaison Centre International (ELCI) Laissez-Passers whilst on official ELCI business.
-
Holders of Union of Radio, Television Network of Africa (URTNA) Laissez- Passers whilst on official URTNA business.
- The Holders of International Labor Organization (ILO) Laissez – Passers whilst on official ILO business.
- Holders of Preferential Trade Area/Common Market of East & Southern African Bank Laissez – Passers whilst on official PTA/COMESA business.
- Holders of European Union Laissez – Passers whilst on official European Union business.
- An Holders of CIP (International Potato Centre) Laissez – Passers whilst on official CIP business.
- Holders of African Reinsurance Corporation (ARC) Laissez – Passers whilst on official ARC business.
- Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports from The Islamic Republic of Iran for a period not exceeding (30) Days stay.
- Any Holders of Diplomatic, Official, Special, and Service Passports, from The Republic of Turkey and members of their families holding valid Diplomatic, Official, Special, and Service Passports, while on Transit or Stay not exceeding ninety (90) days.
- Holders of Diplomatic, Official or Service Passports from the Federal Republic of Brazil for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days.
- Serving Members of the British Military (are exempted from visa formalities).
- The manifested crew of ships and aircraft passing through or stopping in Kenya for periods not exceeding seven (7) days in the case of air crew and fourteen (14) days for ship’s crew.
- Owners of private aircraft stopping over for refueling in Kenya and who do not leave the precincts of the airport.
The following can NOT make e-Visa applications on eCitizen. These Nationals of countries, classes and categories of persons require Referred Visas. The VISA applications are referred to the Director of Immigration services for processing and approval.
Afghanistan | Armenia | Azerbaijan |
Cameroon | Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Formerly North Korea) | Eritrea |
Iraq | Kosovo | Lebanon |
Libya | Mali | Palestine |
Senegal | Somalia | Syria |
Tajikistan |
- Applicants whom there is some local objections or doubt in the country where the application is made.
- Stateless persons or persons not holding valid passports or other travel documents issued by their own country of nationality including recognized refugee holders of the United Nations Refugee Travel Documents.
- Prohibited immigrants as enumerated under chapter 1, paragraph (e) of the Visa regulations.
Booking Your Kenya Trip?
Book Your Flight
Use Jetradar to find a Cheap Flight. It is one of the largest airline booking engines in the world with over 750 airlines.
Book Your Accommodation
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Check also Our Travel Insurance Guide