A Simple Guide to Kenya Tourist Visa Application and Requirements
- Tour The Rift Safaris
- Dec 8, 2018
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 12, 2018
To start with, the country has one of the most relaxed and friendly tourist visa requirements you can find. Secondly, coming to Kenya is now very easy and efficient because of many direct flights to the main airport (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) in Nairobi City, and Mombasa City.
Visa-exempt foreign nationals
According to the Government of Kenya, you do not need a Kenya Tourist Visa if you are a nationality from any of the countries named below:
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Burundi, Cyprus, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Salomon Islands, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Nationalities NOT eligible for online e-Visa
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Eritrea, Iraq, North Korea, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan and Yemen.
If you are a citizen of any one of the above countries, make sure to apply for a visa from an Embassy in your country and get it in your hands before traveling to Kenya.
Nationalities subject to visa and eligible for e-Visa online
If you are a nationality from a country not mentioned above you are qualified to get a visa through three methods mentioned below:
1. E-Visa online application process – highly recommended.
2. Visa at port of entry on arrival – also convenient but efficiency and speed depends on the volume of people at the point of entry waiting to undergo the same process. This could cost you some time waiting at the immigration desk.
3. Visa application at a Kenyan Embassy in your country.
See below a detailed breakdown of the first two processes mentioned above.
1. e-Visa online application process and what you will need for the process
The government has made it easy to process your Kenyan Tourist Visa in advance through a three step online application process.
Make sure you have 4 things ready with you: a recent passport size photo in color in normal street wear clothing, a valid copy of your passport, a $51 fee for processing your visa application, and your travel itinerary while in Kenya including your place of accommodation e.g. hotel.
PDFs, JPGs, and MS Word documents are accepted.
Next, visit this link to get your Kenya Visa. The application process is fast and over in a matter of minutes. Once your Visa is approved or declined, you will be notified of the results in your application email address within two business days.
A valid visa is required before entering Kenya, make sure to bring your issued and approved e-visa printout before leaving your place of origin.
2. Visa at Port of Entry on Arrival
Another easy way to get your Kenya tourist Visa is by applying for one at the point of entry on arrival. This process requires you to have three items with you: 1. A recent clear colored pass port size photo, 2. Your passport, and 3. A visa processing fee of $ 51. Debit, Master, Visa, and Credit Cards are accepted.
However, if you absolutely do not like waiting at Immigration desks, it is advisable to get your Visa before traveling to Kenya either by the e-Visa application process (above) or from a Kenyan embassy in your country.
Kindly remember, if you are a nationality from Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan, be sure to get a Kenya visa from your country’s Embassy before travelling to Kenya. The e-Visa application process does not work in this case too.
East Africa Tourist Visa for Rwandan and Ugandan Nationalities Visiting Kenya
This is valid for Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda citizens. The East African Tourist Visa allows you to enter and leave Kenya at your pleasure at any time for any duration too.
Kenya Tourist Visa Cost Breakdown
The single entry visa will cost you $ 51. This cost is applicable for processing a Kenya entry visa for Tourist, Family, Medical, or Business purposes. It is valid for 90 days or 3 months.
The $ 1 is a service charge. Kindly note card handling fees are surcharged for Debit, Master, Visa, and Credit Cards.
Useful Information to Keep in Mind
1. Kindly note that the $51 fee is not refundable, as the Kenyan government puts it, “Visa fee is non-refundable since the application will be processed for approval or non-approval.” Also note that the acceptable currency is US Dollars only, this is also a government requirement. Debit, Master, Visa, and Credit Cards are accepted.
2. If your Tourist Visa is approved, the single entry visa issued either through the e-visa online application or received at the port of entry is valid for 3 months or 90 days. If you wish to stay in Kenya for a longer period, you may renew your tourist Visa for a further 90 days at Immigration offices in Nairobi. However, the maximum length a visitor may stay in Kenya is 6 months.
3. It’s advisable to have a passport with at least two blank pages and six months’ validity before presenting them for visa processing.
4. The single visa entry given to you upon arrival or prior to your arrival is not treated or equal to a multiple entry visa. A multiple entry visa must be applied for before leaving your country of origin and costs $101.
5. Incomplete e-visa application will not be processed. Make sure you have the four documents required before starting the process; 1. A clear, recent and color passport size photo, 2. A valid passport, 3. Travel itinerary and provide details of your accommodation e.g. hotel, and 4. A visa processing fee of $51 which can be paid by Debit, Master, Visa or Credit Cards.
6. For Kenyans, keep in mind the government is phasing out old passports and the deadline for renewing or getting the new generation passport is 2019.
Need Help or Advice Applying for a Kenya Tourist Visa, We Can Assist
Tour the Rift Safaris is a premier Travel Company in Kenya. We can assist you get your tourist visa.
Looking for easy and seamless time planning your safari holiday or visit to Kenya? Contact us today to start the process going.
Useful Links and Downloads
1. Kenya Online Visa Application Procedure or the e-Visa application process
Visit our Safari in Kenya information for ideas on where to visit while in the country.
Interested in Kenya's most famous wild life ecosystem, find it under Maasai Mara safaris.
Looking for a comfortable, beautiful, and luxurious accommodation in Maasai Mara, visit our ecotent, ecocamp, lodge, and villa accommodation portfolio.
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