Kenya Visa Guide

Visa Information: Visa required

Visa issuance:

1. E-visas can be obtained before departure at www.evisa.go.ke. Passengers must have a printed e-visa confirmation. This does not apply to passengers younger than 16 years.
   Note:
   
   • The services of the e-visa portal are fully restored. However, customers might experience a delayed response. Therefore, the option extended to travelers to acquire visas upon arrival in Kenya is no longer available.
   • Customers can avail visa on arrival at USD 50.
      

MPOX ALERT:

Kenya declared an Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) outbreak on 31st July 2024. Since then, two cases have been confirmed: one in Taita Taveta and one in Busia. Both cases were detected at One-Stop Border Points (OSBPs). No new cases have been reported since the last update.

Current Status:

• Confirmed Cases: 2 cases (Taita Taveta: 1, Busia: 1)
• Testing: 57 samples received; 2 positive, 55 negative
• Contacts: 17 contacts linked to the second case are being monitored in Busia and Mombasa counties
• Travel Screening: 25,484 travellers screened since the last update, bringing the total to 490,037
   

Additional Requirements:

1. A valid "East African Tourist Visa" issued by Rwanda or Uganda is accepted if having first entered the country that issued the visa. The visa is valid for 90 days and multiple entries/reentries.
2. Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay (at least USD 500)
3. Passengers travelling to and from YF endemic countries (countries where Yellow Fever disease is persisting) are required to be in possession of a “VALID YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CERTIFICATE” issued by authorized and designated centers in India.
4. Those not in possession of such valid certificates or defective certificates as enumerated by the WHO, are upon reporting by the immigration officers are quarantined for a period till the YF certificate becomes “valid” or until a period of six days, reckoned from the date of last possible exposure to infection, has elapsed, whichever occurs first. For more info, click https://www.ihpoe.mohfw.gov.in/vaccination.php
5. Vaccination against yellow fever for all passengers over 9 months of age visiting any area other than the entire North Eastern Province; the states of Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Malindi and Tanariver in Coastal Province; and the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa.
6. It is required for customers traveling between India and Kenya, 9 months or older to receive vaccination against yellow fever and poliovirus at least 4 weeks before their travel and present a valid vaccination certificate on arrival in India.
7. Customers not holding a yellow fever vaccination certificate are subject to quarantine for 6 days.
8. SEAMEN:
   • Visa required
   • Merchant Seamen must travel on duty and have a Letter of Employment or a Letter of Guarantee issued by the shipping company. The letter must state that a visa has been arranged before departure. They are visa exempt for a maximum stay of 14 days.

IMPORTANT:

Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused entry. Customers without eTA will not be accepted in to Kenya and airline will be responsible for their return journey and also be surcharged as per Kenya Citizenship and immigration Act.

1. CUSTOMERS EXEMPTED FROM OBTAINING THE eTA:
   1. Holders of valid Kenya Passports or Emergency Certificates issued by Kenyan Missions abroad.
   2. Holders of Kenya Permanent Residence, valid Work Permits, and Passes.
   3. Holders of valid United Nations Conventional Travel Document issued by the Government of Kenya.
   4. Members of Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations accredited to Kenya.
   5. Citizens of the East African Partner States (Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda) - Exempted for six (6) months.
   6. Passengers in transit through Kenya not leaving the airport precincts.
   7. Passengers arriving and leaving by the same ship without disembarking.
   8. Members of the crew included in the manifest proceeding to a destination outside Kenya.
   9. Owners of private aircraft for refueling not leaving the airport precincts.
2. CUSTOMERS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR THE eTA BUT EXEMPTED FROM PAYMENT:
   1. Holders of Diplomatic, Official, or Service Passports on official duty.
   2. Holders of specific Laissez-Passers engaged in official business for various international organizations (refer to the attached list for specific exemptions).

      Link:  http://www.etakenya.go.ke

   • Kenya migrant workers destined for Lebanon are not allowed.

Passport Requirement: Passport required

Document Validity: Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the arrival date.

Important: Passports with manually extended validity are not allowed to enter Kenya.

As the name suggests, single entry Kenya eVisa is provided to Indians for a single entry. This visa can be for either business, tourism, or medical.

You need to apply on the official website to get a Kenya tourist visa. Through this visa, you can indulge in tourist activities and explore the country.

Documents for tourist visa

• Completed visa application form
• At least two coloured passport-size photographs 
• Valid passport
• A copy of first and last page of the passport 
• Round-trip flight reservation or a detailed itinerary
• Travel medical insurance
• Proof of accommodation
• Bank statements for proof of funds

Tourist visa validity

A Kenya tourist visa is valid for three months from the date of issue. It is a single entry visa and the duration of stay in Kenya is for 90 days.

Processing time for tourist visa

The processing time for Belgium visas for Indians may take up to 15 working days. However, the process may take longer if there are mistakes in the application.

In order to work in Kenya, you need to apply for the Kenya business visa. This visa allows an individual to work in the city. 

Documents for business visa

• Completed visa application form
• At least two coloured passport-size photographs 
• Valid passport
• A copy of first and last page of the passport 
• Round-trip flight reservation or a detailed itinerary
• Travel medical insurance
• Proof of accommodation
• Business invitation letter
• Company registration document
• Bank statements as proof of funds
• Proof of occupation

Business visa validity

A Kenyan business visa is valid for three months from the date of issue. It is a single entry visa and the duration of stay in Kenya is for 90 days.

Processing time for business visa

It takes 1 to 2 business days for the visa to be processed. In case of any mistakes in the application, the time may extend to 2 to 6 months.

If you have a Kenya transit visa and your flight layover or change is after 72 hours, you will need to apply for the transit visa. It will allow a passenger to leave the airport. However, if you only have a few hours to change your flights, without needing to leave the airport, then you do not need to apply for the transit visa. 

Documents for transit visa

• Completed transit visa application form
• At least two coloured passport-size photographs 
• Valid passport
• First and last pages of the passport 
• Round-trip flight reservation or a detailed itinerary

Transit visa validity

A Kenya transit visa is valid for 3 from the date the Kenya visa is issued. 

Processing time for transit visa

A Kenya tourist visa can take 5 to 10 business days to get processed. Once this is done, you will get an email informing you of the same. In case of any mistakes in the application, the processing time may extend.

This type of visa is issued to the passport holders of Diplomatic, Official, and Service coming to Kenya for official duties, or transiting. 

Documents for courtesy visa

• The individual must have an official letter provided by the organisation/Foreign Affairs
• At least two coloured passport-size photographs 
• The passport must be Diplomatic, Official, and Service
• The passport must not less than six months valid
• Round-trip flight reservation or a detailed itinerary

Courtesy visa validity

A courtesy visa for Kenya is a single-entry visa with a validity period of 90 days. 

Processing time for courtesy visa

The time for a courtesy Kenya Visa to process may take 1 to 2 business days. It may however extend to 2 to 6 months, in case of any mistakes in the application.

This is beneficial to those who frequently travel to Kenya either for business, tourism, and medical purposes. 

Documents for multiple entry visa

• At least two coloured passport-size photographs 
• The passport must not be less than six months valid
• Copies of first and last pages of the passport 
• Round-trip flight reservation or a detailed itinerary
• One blank page of the passport

Multiple entry visa validity

The multiple entry visa for Kenya is valid for 6 to 12 months from the date the visa has been issued. 

Processing time for multiple entry visa

The processing time for the multiple entry visa takes around 10 working days.

This five-year multiple entry visa to Kenya is issued to USA nationals. Through this visa, an individual can enter Kenya for various purposes such as business or tourism.

Documents for five-year multiple entry visa

• At least two coloured passport-size photographs 
• A vlaid passport not be less than six months 
• A copy of first and last page of the passport 
• Round-trip flight reservation or a detailed itinerary
• One blank page in the passport

Five-year multiple entry visa validity

The multiple entry visa for Kenya is valid for five years from the date the visa has been issued. 

Processing time for five-year multiple entry visa

The processing time for the Kenyan five-year multiple entry visa is around 10 days.

Through this East Africa Tourist Visa, an individual can travel to three African countries, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, for tourism purposes with the first entry point being Kenya. 

Documents for East Africa Tourist Visa

• At least two coloured passport-size photographs 
• The passport must not be less than six months valid
• Copies of first and last pages of the passport 
• Round-trip flight reservation or a detailed itinerary
• One blank page in the passport

East Africa Tourist Visa validity

The East Africa Tourist Visa for Kenya is valid for three months from the date the visa has been issued. 

Processing time for East Africa Tourist Visa

The visa is processed may extend to a week or month, more or less if there will be mistakes on the application.