You are here: Home > Travel Guide > Visas and Permits
Travel Guide
This guide is designed to help get you prepared for your trip of a lifetime. It is worth taking your time to read through each of the sections to ensure your prepared for life in Kenya!
If you would like more information or if you would like us to give you a call, please visit our contact page.
Contents
Section 7: Visas and Permits
While Kenya does have a visa waiver system that allows nationals from certain countries to visit the country for up to three months, this is generally excluded to African, Caribbean and a few European and Asian states. The majority of EU nations, as well as the USA, will be required to make a Kenyan visa application.
Additionally, while UK passport holders are eligible to purchase a visa on arrival, it is generally advised that travellers to Kenya buy their visa in advance to avoid complications.
Processing Times
The processing time for a Kenyan visa depends greatly on the method in which the visa is applied for. If the visa application is made in person, then the processing time can be as little as three days. However, postal applications and referral cases can take a number of weeks. A visa application will be referred if the applicant is a national of one of the countries that is subject to further checks in order to gain visa approval.
Kenyan Tourist Visa
A Kenyan Tourist Visa is issued only to applicants entering the country for the purpose of tourism. The duration of the visa means the holder is eligible to visit the country for up to 3 months in total.
Additionally, multiple entry visas are also an option, but these can only be issued to British Passport holders currently. Multiple entry visas are also eligible for a maximum of 3 months, but they allow the holder to enter and leave Kenya as often as they like within either a 1 year or 2 year period (depending on the type of multiple entry Kenyan visa they apply for).
An application for a Kenyan tourist visa requires that the applicant submit a valid passport, as well as a completed visa application form, a recent passport-sized photo and their travel itinerary.
The Kenyan tourist visa is granted on the basis that the holder return to their country of residence upon the expiry of the visa, and not engage in employment while residing in Kenya.
