Kenya visa

For a trip to Kenya, you need a visa. We explain how you can get the right entry permit quickly and inexpensively and what you are allowed to do as an eVisa visitor in Kenya.

eVisa for Kenya → Apply now

Who needs a visa for Kenya?

Most international travelers need a visa to enter Kenya. There is a distinction between a "Referred Visa" through the Kenyan Embassy and the new, non-bureaucratic eVisa (electronic travel authorization).

If you are a citizen of a country eligible for Kenyan eVisa, you will get an entry permit within two days and with little effort. Children under 16 traveling with you may accompany you without a visa.

Note

Nationals of Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Burundi, Dominica, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia (for stays of less than 30 days), Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Zambia, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Singapore, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa (for stays of less than 30 days), Swaziland, Tanzania, Tobago, Tonga, Tr.Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa (for stays of less than 30 days), Swaziland, Tanzania, Tobago, Tonga, Trinidad, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Cyprus and travelers under the age of 16 accompanied by their parents, certain UN employees and diplomats are allowed to enter Kenya without a visa.

eVisa for Kenya: travel faster and more affordable

Since 2021, travel to Kenya has become much easier for nationals of many countries, who can now apply for an eVisa online.

The electronic entry permit is faster, cheaper, and easier to obtain than a traditional visa, and it allows travelers to stay for up to 90 days for tourism, visiting family and friends, medical, or business purposes.

Kenyan eVisas come in different categories:

  • Single Entry Visa
  • Transit Visa
  • Courtesy Visa
  • East African Tourist Visa
  • Multiple Entry Visa
  • 5yr Multiple Entry Visa

Single Entry eVisa for Kenya

A Single Entry Visa is issued to you for a single visit to Kenya for business, tourism, medical, or other purposes like family visits.

Transit Visa for Kenya

If you are traveling to other countries via Kenya and want to leave the airport during your stopover, then you will need a transit visa. It is valid for 72 hours.

Courtesy eVisa for Kenya

Diplomats and certain officials can apply for a Courtesy Visa to perform official duties in Kenya or to transit the country. The unique feature about this eVisa is that it is free of charge.

East African Tourist Visa

The East African Tourist Visa allows you to travel through three African countries, namely Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Multiple Entry eVisa for Kenya

If you travel to Kenya frequently for business, tourism, medical, or other reasons, you can apply for a multiple-entry eVisa. It is valid for between three and twelve months from the date of issue, but you can also apply for a visa that is valid for five years.

Who can apply for a Kenya eVisa?

The eVisa eligible countries for travel to Kenya currently include:

eVisa Kenya: eligible countries
Albania Algeria Andorra Angola
Antigua and Bermuda Argentina Australia Austria
Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium
Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cambodia
Canada Cape St. Christopher Cape Verde Central African Republic
Chad Chile China Colombia
Comoros Congo (Brazzaville) Congo (Democratic Rep) Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Czech Republic
Denmark Djibouti Dominican Republic Ecuador
Egypt El Salavador Equatorial Guinea Estonia
Finland France French Guiana Gabon
Georgia Germany Greece Greenland
Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti
Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland
India Indonesia Iran Ireland
Israel Italy Japan Jordan
Kazakhstan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos
Latvia Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania
Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Malta
Marshall Islands Mauretania Mexico Micronesia
Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro
Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Nepal
Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger
Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan
Palau Panama Paraguay Peru
Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar
Romania Russia Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia
Serbia Slovakia Slovenia South Korea
South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan
Suriname Sweden Switzerland Taiwan
Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tunisia
Turkey Turkmenistan Ukraine United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom Uruguay USA Uzbekistan
Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam  

 

Citizens from Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Eritrea, Cameroon, Mali, North Korea, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Syria and Tajikistan as well as stateless travelers must apply for "referred visas" at the Kenyan embassy.

Requirements for a Kenya eVisa

If you want to travel to Kenya on an eVisa, you must meet additional requirements besides being a citizen of a country approved for eVisa. These include:

  • You can prove that you have sufficient funds for your stay (rule of thumb: at least $500).
  • You can present a return or onward travel ticket.
  • Kenyan border officials deem you eligible to enter Kenya with an eVisa.
  • You have a passport valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry, with three blank visa pages remaining.
  • You have already planned your travel route and can provide documents (e.g., hotel reservations) for this purpose.
  • You intend to leave the country again before your eVisa expires, and you can prove this (e.g., with a return or onward travel ticket).
  • If you are entering on business or for a family visit: you can show a letter of invitation from a company or your relatives as well as copies of identification documents of your family members.

eVisa for Kenya: required documents

During the visa application process, in addition to personal information, you will be asked to upload various documents in JPG, PNG, or .doc format. These may differ slightly depending on the purpose of your trip and the type of eVisa you are applying for.

Documents for Kenya Single Entry Visa:

To obtain a Single Entry eVisa for Kenya, you will need to upload the following documents during the eVisa application process and present them again upon entry:

Tourist requirements:

  • A passport valid for at least six months after your intended entry date with three blank visa pages remaining
  • A passport photo
  • Your return ticket
  • Documentation of your travel itinerary (e.g., hotel reservations)

Business travelers:

  • A passport valid for at least six months after your planned entry date and with three blank visa pages remaining
  • A letter of invitation or secondment from the companies involved
  • Copies of the registry entries of the companies involved
  • A passport photo
  • Your return ticket

Family visits:

  • A passport valid for at least six months after the planned date of entry and with three blank visa pages remaining
  • A letter of invitation from the family
  • A copy of the host's identity document
  • A passport photo
  • Your return ticket

Documents for Kenya Transit Visa

To obtain a transit visa for Kenya, you must upload the following documents in the eVisa application and present them again upon entry:

  • A passport that is valid for at least six months after your intended entry date and has three blank visa pages remaining
  • Your outbound and onward flight ticket
  • A passport photo

Documents for Kenya Courtesy Visa

To obtain a Courtesy Visa for Kenya, you will need to upload the following documents to the eVisa application and present them again upon entry:

  • A passport that is valid for at least six months after your intended date of entry and has three blank visa pages remaining
  • A service, official, or diplomatic passport
  • An official letter from the inviting or sending country or organization
  • For transit travelers: a round-trip ticket or boarding pass
  • A passport photo

Documents for East African Tourist Visa

To obtain an East African tourist visa, you must upload the following documents in the eVisa application and present them again upon entry:

Tourist requirements:

  • A passport that is valid for at least six months after your intended entry date and has three blank visa pages remaining
  • A passport photo
  • Your return flight ticket
  • Documentation of your route (e.g., hotel reservations)

Family visits:

  • A passport valid for at least six months after the planned date of entry and with three blank visa pages remaining
  • A letter of invitation from the family
  • A copy of the host's identity document
  • A passport photo
  • Your return ticket

Documents for Multiple Entry Visa

To get a Multiple Entry Visa, you need to upload the following documents in the eVisa application and show them again upon entry:

Tourist requirements:

  • A passport valid for at least six months after your intended entry date with three blank visa pages remaining
  • A passport photo
  • Your return ticket
  • Documentation of your travel itinerary (e.g., hotel reservations)

Business travelers:

  • A passport valid for at least six months after your planned entry date and with three blank visa pages remaining
  • A letter of invitation or secondment from the companies involved
  • Copies of the registry entries of the companies involved
  • A passport photo
  • Your return ticket

Family visits:

  • A passport valid for at least six months after the planned date of entry and with three blank visa pages remaining
  • A letter of invitation from the family
  • A copy of the host's identity document
  • A passport photo
  • Your return ticket

Kenya eVisa: photo requirements

In addition to your passport, any invitation letters, and documentation of your travel route, the Kenya eVisa application also requires you to upload a digital photo that meets the current standards of the Kenyan government. These are:

  • Recent color photo (less than six months old) that shows your current appearance
  • No scans or photos of passports or driver's licenses
  • Neutral, light-colored background
  • Completely recognizable face, looking into the camera
  • No uniforms (except religious clothing worn daily)
  • No hats or head coverings that obscure hair or hairline
  • No sunglasses (except prescription varieties with a doctor's certificate)
  • Ears must be be visible
  • It should be 5.5cm * 5.5cm (207px * 207px)

Kenya Visa for Children

Children under the age of 16 do not require a visa or eVisa to enter Kenya, provided they travel with their parents. Be prepared to prove your relationship status as well as the right to travel with your children, for example, with birth certificates, letters of authority, and copies of ID from both parents.

If you are an adult traveling with children under the age of 16, indicate this in the appropriate field during your eVisa application. Young people traveling alone fill out their own eVisa application (or have caregivers do so) by selecting "minor" instead of "adult" at the beginning.

Apply for eVisa for Kenya

The eVisa application for Kenya will take about 15 minutes on the eVisa application page of our partner iVisa. To complete it, you will need your passport, a valid email address, your travel dates, any documents regarding hotel bookings or your hosts' contact information, any invitation letters, and your personal information.

After completing the form, you will be prompted to upload your passport, passport photo, hotel reservations, and other supporting documents (depending on the type and purpose of your eVisa).

Double-check all data before submitting your eVisa application. If all the information is correct and you, as a traveler, meet the requirements, then you will receive your eVisa approval usually within 48 hours.

eVisa for Kenya → Apply now

How long is an eVisa for Kenya valid?

How long is an eVisa for Kenya valid? An eVisa for Kenya is valid for three months initially but no longer than the expiration date of your passport. What is meant here is that you must enter Kenya within three months of receiving the approved permit.

If you realize on-site in Kenya that you need to stay longer, you can have your visa extended by another 90 days with the local authorities.

What am I allowed to do in Kenya with an eVisa?

With an eVisa, you are allowed to vacation in Kenya, visit relatives and friends, do short business errands such as attending conferences, or receive medical services.

Possession of an eVisa does not entitle you to work or reside in the country. You must obtain permission from the Kenyan government for any purpose beyond tourism, visits, business, or medical travel.

eVisa for Kenya rejected: What now?

If your eVisa for Kenya has been rejected, there can be various reasons for this. The most common ones include spelling mistakes, incomplete information, or documents uploaded in the wrong format.

Personal eligibility can also play a role. For example, if your information in the application suggests that you want to live and work in Kenya or could pose a threat to the Kenyan people, your eVisa application is likely to be rejected.

Provided that the reasons for your eVisa rejection are correctable (i.e., if they are clerical errors, missing documents, or incorrect file formats), you may reapply for an eVisa after correcting them. All others are advised to apply for a classic visa at the Kenyan Embassy instead of the eVisa.

Entering Kenya: What to consider?

When you arrive at the Kenyan border, you ask the border officials for permission to enter the country. Have your travel documents ready for this purpose. They include:

  • Your passport
  • Your return or onward flight ticket
  • Your hotel reservations
  • A printout of your eVisa approval (on paper and in color)
  • For business travel: A letter of invitation or delegation
  • For business trips: Register entries of the companies involved
  • For family visits: A letter of invitation from the family
  • For family visits: A copy of the host's ID document
  • Proof of sufficient financial means

If the border officials deem you eligible to enter Kenya, they will issue you a visitor's pass and stamp your passport with the date of exit. Re-check the exit date and have it corrected if necessary, as this date is binding for you.

Travelers Health Surveillance Form

All passengers are subject to a short medical check. For this purpose, you will receive the Travelers Health Surveillance Form to fill out before your trip. After completing the form, you will receive a QR code to show upon entry.

Follow the entry regulations

When entering Kenya, please be aware of the current entry regulations, including all safety instructions.

Follow the import regulations

Find out about the exact import regulations for Kenya before you enter the country. The import of electrical equipment, animal and plant species, and some other things are strictly regulated. Also, it is forbidden to bring weapons and pornographic material.

Kenya Visa FAQ

Do you have further questions about the Kenya visa? We hope you will find what you are looking for in our FAQ:

With an eVisa for Kenya, once approved, you must enter the country within the following three months. This means that the last day of validity of your eVisa is also the last day you are allowed to enter Kenya with it. Thus, you do not need to apply for a new eVisa while your old one is still valid.

Tip: You can apply for a visa extension of up to 180 days at the Kenyan authorities in Nairobi when you are in the country.

Suppose you are a citizen of Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Burundi, Dominica, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia (for stays of less than 30 days), Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa (for stays of less than 30 days), Swaziland, Tanzania, Tobago, Tonga, Trinidad, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa (for stays of less than 30 days), Swaziland, Tanzania, Tobago, Tonga, Trinidad, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Cyprus or a traveler under the age of 16 accompanied by their parents, certain UN employees and diplomats. In that case, you do not need to apply for a visa.

Travelers under the age of 16 can also travel to Kenya visa-free when accompanied by their parents.

You can apply for your eVisa only after planning your route and booking your accommodations. The reason is that you need to upload proof of your hotel bookings or similar confirmations from your hosts when applying for a visa.

Approval of an eVisa for Kenya usually takes two business days. However, some applications may require an additional processing time of up to eight days, for example, because the application is incomplete or certain documents are missing. In the case of multiple-entry visas valid for five years, you can expect about 14 days of processing time.

Without a work permit, you are not allowed to pursue any professional employment in Kenya. The eVisa only entitles you to short business errands such as attending meetings and conferences.

Contact the State Department for Immigration for a work permit.

If you are already in Kenya, you can have your eVisa extended through the State Department for Immigration.

If you want to leave the airport during transit in Kenya, you need a transit visa. You apply for this visa, like all other eVisa, via the website https://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html.

No, you must apply for your eVisa for Kenya before you arrive in the country. The application process is online and should be completed prior to your departure.

If you plan to leave and re-enter Kenya during the validity period of your eVisa, you should apply for a Multiple-Entry eVisa. This eVisa will allow you to exit and re-enter the country multiple times.

Overstaying your eVisa for Kenya can result in fines, penalties, and possible difficulties with future travel. It is important that you leave the country before your eVisa expires.

Yes, the East African Tourist Visa allows you to travel to three countries in East Africa: Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. This is a great way to explore the region.

If your eVisa application for Kenya is rejected, you will not be able to reapply until you have resolved the issues that led to the rejection. Make sure that all information and documents are correct and meet the requirements.

Yes, you can enter Kenya on an eVisa for medical treatment. Make sure that the duration of your visit matches the validity of your eVisa and that you have the required medical documents with you.

Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents do not require their own eVisa. However, they should be prepared to provide proof of relationship, such as birth certificates or consent forms.

An eVisa is not valid for volunteering or other activities beyond tourism, short business trips, visiting relatives, or travel for medical reasons. For these purposes, you must apply for a special visa at the Kenyan embassy or consulate.

No, you cannot change the purpose of your trip after you have received an eVisa for Kenya. Make sure you apply for the correct type of eVisa for the purpose of your trip.

An eVisa is not for educational purposes such as studying in Kenya. If you wish to study in Kenya, you must apply for a student visa at the Kenyan embassy or consulate.

Yes, you can apply for an eVisa to Kenya if you have dual citizenship. However, make sure that you use the passport that corresponds to the citizenship for which you are eligible to apply for the eVisa.

The processing time for an eVisa for Kenya is usually relatively short. However, it is advisable to apply well in advance of your trip to avoid any unexpected delays or problems.