Kenya is generally a straightforward business aircraft operating environment from the perspective of Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) clearance and procedures. However, it’s important to ensure you have all required documentation and applicable visas – including a gen dec stamped by customs from your previous point of departure – on hand.
Do you want to know how to get a Kenyan Visa?
The following is an overview of what you need to know:
a) Ordinary Visa: Issued for Single or Multiple entries to persons whose nationalities require visas to enter Kenya.
b)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.
c) Diplomatic Visa: Issued for Single or Multiple entries to holders of Diplomatic passports who are on official duty.
d) 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.
e) 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
Fee: US $100
Diplomatic missions of the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda.
Immigration Offices,
Port of entry.
Note:
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, provided that any such refusal is consented to by the Director of Immigration Services Nairobi, his Deputy or Provincial Heads of Immigration at Mombasa, Kisumu, and Garissa or any other Senior Officer so authorized to deputize.
The Government of Kenya acts in a quasi-consular capacity on behalf of the following Commonwealth countries. Visas and other consular services may be undertaken on behalf of these governments, by the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, strictly in accordance with the quasi-consular agreements, entered into between the Government of Kenya and the respective countries.
1. Gambia 2. Ghana 3. Jamaica 4. Lesotho 5. Mauritius 6. Sierra Leone 7. Singapore 8. Trinidad and Tobago 9. Tuvalu 10. U.K
The attention of all applicants for visas should be drawn to immigration requirements set out below:
i. Valid passports or other travel documents including Seaman’s Discharge Book, acceptable to the Government of Kenya are required for all persons wishing to enter Kenya.
ii. Passports must be valid for at least Six (6) Months.
iii. Passports must have a clean and a full visa page for endorsement.
Subject to the exemptions mentioned below, an immigration pass or permit is required by all persons, other than Kenya citizens wishing to enter Kenya.
Exemptions from permits are granted to all persons who are entitled to privileges and immunities under The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011 under section 34 (3) (a) to (g) laws of Kenya.
A bona fide visitor may be issued with a visitor’s pass on arrival at a port of entry into Kenya valid for a period not exceeding three months in the first instance provided that he is in possession of a valid passport or other travel document acceptable to the Government of Kenya, has a valid visa where required, is in possession of sufficient funds for subsistence while in Kenya and a return, or onward ticket to his country of origin, domicile or destination.
Nationals of East African Partner States holding valid passports and other acceptable travel documents may be issued with a visitor’s pass on arrival at a port of entry into Kenya valid for Six Months.
Travelers entering Kenya by road are advised to pass through the gazetted entry points and report immediately to an Immigration Officer.
Guidelines for visa applications referred / submitted to the Department of Immigration Headquarters for approval:
Requirements
Requirements
Requirements
Requirements
Two visa application forms V.I to be duly filled, signed and dated.
Two passport size photographs of the applicant.
Two copies of valid Passport/travel document with a validity of at least six months.
Copies of onward ticket/itinerary to a third destination.
Transit Visa Fee is USD 20.
The Government of Kenya acts in a quasi-consular capacity on behalf of the following Commonwealth countries. Visas and other consular services may be undertaken on behalf of these governments, by the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, strictly in accordance with the quasi-consular agreements, entered into between the Government of Kenya and the respective countries.
1. Gambia 2. Ghana 3. Jamaica 4. Lesotho 5. Mauritius 6. Sierra Leone 7. Singapore 8. Trinidad and Tobago 9. Tuvalu 10. U.K
All inquiries, where necessary, shall be made to:
The Director of Immigration Services
Nyayo House
P. O. Box 30191 00100
NAIROBI
Telephone: 000 254- 20-2222022, Extension 22057 Nairobi
Telegraphic address: “PRINCIM” Nairobi
Telex: 25396 PRINCIM
Fax No. 000 254- 20-2220731
E-MAIL: Visa Section: overseasection@gmail.com ,
visa@immigration.go.ke
WEBSITE: www.immigration.go.ke
After arrival in Kenya, passengers are transported by vehicle to the main terminal. While your ground handler will provide any arrival/departure cards that need to be filled out and signed, Kenyan authorities prefer that passengers fill out these forms unless there’s a language barrier. If clearance is accomplished via the main terminal, passengers normally clear in the same lines as scheduled commercial passengers. Clearance could take 15 minutes or more during peak arrival periods. Passengers are screened by metal detector while luggage is checked via X-ray. Passports – as well as visas (if required because of nationality) – will be reviewed.
At some locations in Kenya, passengers have the option of clearing in a private VIP lounge, for an additional fee. Lounge clearance is done in a separate area of the terminal and offers faster clearance with maximum privacy for passengers. Arrangements for expedited clearance in Kenya must be confirmed in advance. Your ground handler will advise on availability of lounge clearance options, as well as associated costs.
Kenya makes no provision for on-board CIQ clearance, except in cases of approved air ambulance or diplomatic flights. While customs officials will come out to inspect the interior of your aircraft, passenger/crew clearance takes place either in the main terminal with commercial passengers or in a VIP lounge with prior arrangement (if this option is available at your destination). Note that airport authorities may check aircraft documentation. If documents aren’t in order, the aircraft may be grounded until sufficient documentation can be provided.
Upon arrival crew members are permitted to open aircraft doors only after the ground handler confirms it’s OK. Crew members do not need to clear CIQ at the same time as passengers and may remain with the aircraft during customs inspection of the interior of the aircraft. After the aircraft has been shut down, crew members will be transported to the main terminal or VIP lounge (if available and pre-arranged) for CIQ clearance.Always have a stamped gen dec on hand from your previous airport. With this stamped gen dec, no crew immigration inspection is required. Crew members will go through metal detector screening and luggage X-ray screening while the ground handler presents a stamped gen dec to immigration authorities. Without a stamped gen dec from the previous airport, crew members must go through immigration screening, via the crew line in the terminal.
CATEGORY 1:
a. NATIONALS OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS TO ENTER KENYA.
Barbados, Fiji Island, Malaysia (For less than 30 days stay, Samoa, St.Lucia, Uganda
Belize, Ghana, Maldives, Sierra Leone, St.Kitts and Nevis Zambia
Botswana, Grenada, Mauritius, Singapore, Swaziland, Mauritius
Brunei, Darussalam, Jamaica, Namibia, South Africa (For less than 30 days stay) Tanzania, Namibia
Burundi, Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands ,Seychelles, Tanzania
Cyprus, Lesotho, Papua, New Guinea, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago
Dominica, Malawi ,Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Vanuatu
The Bahamas, Tonga, Tuvalu
b. THE FOLLOWING PERSONS DO NOT REQUIRE VISAS TO ENTER KENYA.
i. All persons whose passports are endorsed with valid Kenya re-entry passes or any other written authority in lieu of a re-entry pass.
ii. All passengers arriving and leaving by the same ship, and who do not leave the ship.
iii. All 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.
iv. Holders of United Nations Organization Laissez-Passers whilst on official UN Business.
v. Holders of African Union Laissez-Passers whilst on official A.U. business.
vi. Holders of African Development Bank Laissez-Passers, whilst on official A.D.B. business
. vii. Holders of Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa Laissez-Passers, whilst on official ABEDA business.
viii. Holders of International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa Laissez-Passers, whilst on official I.R.L.C.O. business.
ix. Holders of Desert Locust Control Organization Laissez-Passers, whilst on official D.L.C.O. business.
x. 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.
xii. Holders of Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Laissez- Passers whilst on official IGAD business.
xiii. Holders of African Airlines Travel Association (IATA) Laissez- Passers whilst on official business.
xiv. Holders of Environment Liaison Centre International (ELCI) Laissez-Passers whilst on official ELCI business.
xv. Holders of Union of Radio, Television Network of Africa (URTNA) Laissez- Passers whilst on official URTNA business.
xvi. Holders of International Labor Organization (ILO) Laissez – Passers whilst on official ILO business.
xvii. Holders of Preferential Trade Area/Common Market of East & Southern African Bank Laissez – Passers whilst on official PTA/COMESA business.
xviii. Holders of European Union Laissez – Passers whilst on official European Union business.
xix. Holders of CIP (International Potato Centre) Laissez – Passers whilst on official CIP business.
xx. Holders of African Reinsurance Corporation (ARC) Laissez – Passers whilst on official ARC business.
xxi. Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports from The Islamic Republic of Iran for a period not exceeding (30) Days stay.
xxii. 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.
xxiii. Holders of Diplomatic, Official or Service Passports from the Federal Republic of Brazil for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days.
xxiv. Serving Members of the British Military (are exempted from visa formalities).
xxv. 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.
xxvi. Owners of private aircraft stopping over for refueling in Kenya and who do not leave the precincts of the airport.
c. THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES HAVE CONCLUDED VISA ABOLITION AGREEMENTS WITH KENYA
i. Ethiopia
ii. San Marino
CATEGORY 2
(a) Nationals of the following countries, classes and categories of persons may be issued with visas on application, and without reference to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, provided that they do not fall under the classes and categories of persons mentioned under Chapter 1, paragraph (E) of the Visa Regulations.
Albania ,Algeria ,Andorra, Angola, Antigua & Bermuda ,Argentina,Australia, Austria,
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso
Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde ,Central African Rep., Chad , Chile ,China (People’s Republic) ,Colombia ,Comoros ,Congo,Republic of the (Congo Brazzaville) Costa Rica ,Cote d’Ivoire/ Ivory Coast ,Croatia ,Cuba ,Czech Republic
Denmark , Djibouti ,Dominican Rep ,Congo,Democratic Republic of the (Congo Kinshasa)
East Timor ,Egypt ,El Salvador ,Ecuador ,Equatorial Guinea ,Estonia
Finland ,France
Guyana, Gabon, Georgia Germany ,Greece ,Greenland ,Guatemala, Guinea ,Guinea Bissau
Haiti , Hong Kong (SAR)
MACAU (SAR)
Honduras ,Hungary
Iceland, India ,Indonesia , Iran , Ireland , Israel , Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kampuchea , Kazakhstan , Kirghizstan , Korea (South) , Kuwait
Laos , Latvia , Liberia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Luxembourg
Macedonia , Madagascar , Malagasy , Malta , Mauritania , Mexico , Moldova , Monaco , Mongolia , Morocco
Mozambique , Myanmar (formally Burma) , Nepal , Netherlands , Nicaragua , Niger , Nigeria, Norway
Oman
Pakistan , Palau , Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines ,Poland , Portugal
Qatar
Reunion , Romania , Russia
Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia , Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia , Slovenia ,Spain ,Sri Lanka, South Sudan, Sudan, Surinam , Sweden, Switzerland
Thailand , Togo , Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan
United States of America, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom , Uruguay , Uzbekistan ,
Vatican City, Venezuela , Vietnam
Yemen,Yugoslavia-and also Former States of Yugoslavia
(b) Delegates attending regional or international conferences, meetings, workshops, seminars and courses sponsored by regional or international organizations of which Kenya is a member.
Spouses and children accompanying delegates who fulfil the requirements of paragraph 2 (b) above may be issued with visas on application.
(c) Diplomats arriving to take up diplomatic assignments/appointments in Kenya may be issued with gratis entry visas on application and without reference to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi provided that: –
i. Such persons produce documentary evidence of their officialassignment /appointment to Kenya.
ii. Wives and children accompanying such diplomats who fulfill the requirements of category 2 (c) above; and provided such persons, their wives and children do not fall under Section 33 (1) and (2) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011.
(d) Diplomats and government officials coming to Kenya to conduct official business or transiting through Kenya may be issued with entry/transit visas on application and without reference to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, provided that:
i. Such persons produce documentary evidence of the nature of their official business or transit.
ii. Spouses and children accompanying such diplomats and government officials who fulfill the requirements of category 2 (d) above and provided such persons, their spouses and children do not fall under Section 33 (1) and (2) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011.
Note: Diplomats and government officials on private visits to Kenya and who are nationals of countries that require referred visas, shall have their visa applications referred to the Director of Immigration Officer, Nairobi, for approval, in the usual manner.
CATEGORY 3
a) Nationals of Countries, Classes and Categories Of Persons Who Require Referred Visas.
Afghanistan , Armenia , Azerbaijan
Cameroon Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Formerly N. Korea)
Eritrea
Iraq
Kosovo
Lebanon, Libya
Mali
Palestine
Senegal, Somali , Syria
Tajikistan
b) Applicants against whom there is some local objections or doubt in the country where the application is made.
c) 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.
d) Prohibited immigrants as enumerated under Section 33 (1) and (2) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act,2011 .
N.B:
Where reference to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, is necessary before the issue of a visa, the completed application forms in duplicate with the required documents of the applicant as stipulated in the guidelines mentioned shall be forwarded to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, for approval in the usual manner to reach him at least one month prior to the proposed date of the applicant’s departure to Kenya.
Address for Communication
All inquiries, where necessary, shall be made to:
The Director of Immigration Services
Nyayo House
P. O. Box 30191 00100
NAIROBI
Telephone: 000 254- 20-2222022, Nairobi
Telegraphic address: “PRINCIM” Nairobi
Telex: 25396 PRINCIM
Fax No. 000 254- 20-2220731
E-MAIL: Visa Section: overseasection@gmail.com,visa@immigration.go.ke
WEBSITE: www.immigration.go.ke
VISA FEES
• The transit visa fee shall be US $ 20.
• The visa referral visa fee shall be US $ 10 non-refundable.
• The current standard visa fee for an ordinary or a Single Journey entry visa shall be US $ 50.
• The standard fee for multiple journey visas shall be US $ 100 for all nationalities.
NB: The above quoted fees are subject to change.