Kenya is located in East Africa. It is a great safari destination, with breathtaking beaches, unique culture, and friendly people. The country is visited by more than 2 million tourists each year. It is a very attractive country that offers unforgettable experiences to those who visit it.
Foreigners who want to visit Kenya must check if they need a visa to enter the country. If they do not need a visa, a valid passport is all they need to enter the country.
Who Needs a Visa for Kenya?
Citizens of the following countries can enter and stay in Kenya for 90 days without a visa:
- Bahamas
- Kiribati
- Seychelles
- Barbados
- Lesotho
- Sierra Leone
- Belize
- Malawi
- Singapore
- Botswana
- Malaysia
- Solomon Islands
- Brunei
- Maldives
- South Africa
- Burundi
- Mauritius
- South Sudan
- Cyprus
- Namibia
- Tanzania
- Dominica
- Nauru
- Tonga
- Eswatini
- Papua New Guinea
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Ethiopia
- Rwanda
- Tuvalu
- Fiji
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Uganda
- Gambia
- Saint Lucia
- Vanuatu
- Ghana
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Zambia
- Grenada
- Samoa
- Zimbabwe
- Jamaica
- San Marino
Other Visa Exemptions
The following nations are also exempted from visa requirements if they fulfill some of the following criteria:
- Children under the age of 16.
- Everyone who needs to transit through Kenya, if they do not need to leave the ship or the international transit area.
- British Armed Forces that are serving members.
- Crew members of aircraft for seven days and ships for 14 days.
- Privat aircraft owners who need to stop in Kenya for refueling purposes.
- Holders of diplomatic, official, and service passports of:
- Brazil
- Cuba
- Turkey
- China
- Iran
- India
- Israel
- Nigeria
How to Apply for a Kenya Visa?
You can apply for a Kenya visa online (eVisa). However, follow these instructions for an easier application process:
- Enter the Kenya e-Visa official page.
- Open a new account; all you need is your ID number.
- Select the type of visa you need.
- Fill out the Kenya application form.
- Pay the application fee using a valid bank card, online money, or online banking.
- You will receive an email or SMS notification every time a new application change has been made.
- After receiving the application response, download it in PDF from anywhere.
Visa applications from the citizens of the following countries and stateless applicants are referred to the Directorate of Immigration Services:
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Iraq
- Kosovo
- Lebanon
- Libya
- North Korea
- Palestine
- Somalia
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Yemen
The visa application process for these applications may take a longer time to be processed.
Kenya Visa Requirements
To apply for a Kenya visa, you must attach the following documents to your application form. The file formats need to be in PDF, Jpg, or Microsoft word:
- A valid travel document not older than six months.
- A return flight ticket.
- A passport-sized photograph taken within the last six months. The photo must be in colors and in line with Kenya visa photo requirements.
- A letter of invitation from a friend or a family member who lives in Kenya.
- A flight itinerary. Enclose details of your flight such as the entry/depart dates, etc.
- An accommodation proof . A document which includes hotel booking, rental agreement, or a letter of invitation.
- A bank statement document proves that you are financially supporting yourself while in Kenya.
- A travel itinerary including details about places you plan to visit in the country.
- An invitation letter from a company (if applicable).
- A copy of the registration of the company (if applicable).
- A marriage certificate or a birth certificate (if applicable).
Note: Other additional documents may be required depending on the visa type you are applying for.
Duration of a Kenya Visa
The duration of a Kenya visa depends on the type of visa you are applying for:
- A single entry visa is valid for three months after the date of issue.
- A transit visa is valid for 24 to 72 hours.
- A East African tourist visa is valid for three months.
- A multiple entry visa is valid for three to twelve months.
- A five-year multiple entry visa is valid for five years from the date of issue.
Important: Foreigners who want to stay longer than the time issued in their visa application must apply for an extension, another Kenya visa, or a Kenya residence permit.
Kenya Visa Fees
Here are all the Keny visa fees:
| Visa Types | Duration | Fees |
| Single entry visa | Three months | $51 |
| Transit visa | 24 to 72 hours | $21 |
| East African Tourist visa | Three months | $101 |
| Multiple entry visa | Three to twelve months | $101 |
| Five-year multiple entry visa | Five years | $161 |
The payment can be done by Debit cards, Credit Cards, VISA card, Mastercard.
Kenya Visa Types
Here are all the Kenya visa types you can apply for depending on the purpose of traveling to the country:
- Single entry visa.
- Transit visa.
- Courtesy visa.
- East African tourist visa.
- Multiple entry visa.
- 5-year multiple entry visa.
Single Entry Visa
A single entry visa is issued to foreigners who want to visit Kenya for one of the following options:
- Business.
- Tourism.
- Medical purposes.
- Humanitarian reasons.
- School trip.
Transit Visa
The transit visa is issued to foreigners who must go through Kenya to their other planned destination. Holders of a transit visa are not allowed to leave the airport transit area.
Courtesy Visa
A courtesy visa is issued to holders of Diplomatic, Official, and Service passports who need to enter the country for official duties, business purposes, or transit through Kenya. Applicants who apply for a courtesy visa do not need to finish the application fee payment.
East African Tourist Visa
An East African tourist visa is a joined visa for three countries Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. This type of visa is issued for tourism purposes. An East Africa visa sticker will be issued to the port of entry in Kenya.
Multiple Entry Visa
A multiple entry visa is issued to foreigners who often need to visit Kenya for the same purpose as a tourist visa. Holders of a multiple entry visa need to present their e-Visa printout to the Immigration Control at the port of entry in Kenya.
5-Year Multiple Entry Visa
A 5-year multiple entry visa is issued to USA nationals who need a visa to enter and stay in Kenya for a business or tourism purpose.
Residence Permit for Kenya
Citizens who need to apply for a Kenya residence permit must follow these steps:
- Enter the official page of the Department of Immigration Services in Kenya.
- Fill out the Kenya residence permit application form.
- Attach other required documents by PDF.
- Finish the required fee payment. The payment needs to be done online by card or online money transfer.
- Wait until you receive an email or SMS with your application result.
- Print a hard copy of your application and personally submit it to the Immigration office at Nyayo House, Nairobi.
Adults must have their personal accounts to apply for a Kenya residence permit. Parents can apply in the name of their child in the same account.
Important: The processing fee payment is non-refundable; any missing documents or false information will lead to your application being rejected.
Duration of a Kenya Residence Permit
The duration of a Kenya residence permit is between one to three years.
Interesting Facts About Kenya?
Here are a few interesting facts about Kenya that you should know before visiting:
- The Republic of Kenya has 50 national parks and reserves. Twenty-two national parks and 28 national reserves which Kenya Wildlife Service manages.
- More than 60 languages are spoken in the country, but the official language of Kenya is Kiswahili (referred ad Swahili) and English.
- The second highest mountain in Africa is Kenya. The mountain is called Mount Kenya.
- One of the largest desert lakes in the world is Lake Turkana, located in Kenya.
- Haunting protected animals is illegal in Kenya.
- No cars are allowed on the island of Lamu.
- Kenya has some breathtaking beaches.
- Kenyan men are allowed to marry more than one woman.
- The government does not decide the religion in Kenya.
- In Kenya, there is a village where only women are allowed to enter.