About Kenya eVisa
Kenya eVisa is an electronic visa implemented by the government of the Republic of Kenya to make traveling for eligible foreign citizens more accessible.
It is possible to apply for a Kenya visa online from any place at any time. To do that, an applicant needs to fill out the form, cover the fee and print out the visa that arrived at the email address.
There are three Kenya online visa types – for tourist, business, and transit purposes. The type defines how long the visa is valid and which documents are required. All three types are single-entry ones, but while tourist and business visas are valid for 90 days, a transit type stays effective for 72 hours.
Travelers can also apply for a special tourist visa – a multiple-entry East Africa visa allowing access to Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Kenya eVisa types
According to the purpose of travel, electronic visas issued in Kenya can be divided into three types:
- Tourist Kenya eVis used for vacations, sightseeing tours, and visiting friends and family. It is single-entry and stays valid for 90 days.
There is also a special visa available – the East Africa tourist visa, which permits to enter Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. It also stays effective for 90 days but allows numerous visits. - Business Kenya eVisa intended for business handling and allows one visit. The validity period is 90 days.
- Transit Kenya eVisa issued for those travelers who need to enter Kenya to get to their further destination. It is valid for 72 hours only.
How to apply for an electronic visa to Kenya
With online processing, it has become easier than ever to apply for a Kenyan visa. Now eligible countries’ citizens don’t have to attend an embassy or consulate, wait in queues, fill out a bunch of papers, and answer officials’ questions.
It is possible to complete the Kenya eVisa application sitting at home and using any device – be it your phone, tablet, laptop, or PC. The time also doesn’t matter – you don’t need to stick to working hours and can fill out the form whenever you want.
The application process takes place in three steps:
- Fill out the Kenya visa application form with your passport, personal and travel details. Attach the requested documents and check if the data is typed correctly.
- Cover visa fees using any online payment method available. For example, you can make the payment via your debit or credit card.
- Wait for your approved Kenya electronic visa to be delivered to your email address. Check the inbox not to miss the letter with a PDF file. Print it out and bring it with you to the customs.
Travelers under the age of 16 don’t need to apply for a Kenyan electronic visa.
Validity period
The validity of the eVisa for Kenya depends on its type.
Both a business visa and a tourist visa for Kenya are valid for 90 days, so the longest period you can stay in Kenya is three months. The validity of the visa is counted from the date of its issue. A traveler must leave the country by the last day of the validity period.
In contrast to a Kenya tourist visa which permits only one entry, the East Africa visa offers numerous entries to and within three countries – Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
The validity of a transit visa starts from the entry date and lasts for three days/72 hours.
It is possible to extend the visa upon arrival. However, you will need to pay for additional days.
Requirements for eVisa to Kenya
Kenya visa requirements vary because an applicant needs different documents to apply for each visa type.
Required documents
For an East Africa visa, you need the following documents:
- a photo of the bio-data page of a valid passport;
- a digital photo of your face – can be taken via a phone or a PC camera;
- hotel reservations;
- return ticket.
The necessary documents for a transit visa are almost the same, but you should also add a return ticket to the above-mentioned list of documents.
The business eVisa requires more documents:
- a photo of your valid passport’s bio-data page (can be taken on a phone or PC camera);
- a photo of your face looking directly at the camera (can be taken on a phone or PC camera);
- a copy of your company registration certificate;
- staff ID of the inviting party or representative;
- Kenyan ID of the inviting party or representative;
- a photo of the valid passport’s bio-data page of the inviting party or representative;
- a photo of the immigration status page of the inviting party or representative.
Note that if you are going to Kenya only to take part in a business or educational event, you can go for an easier option and apply for a tourist visa.
Requirements on arrival
Upon crossing the border, you need to show the customs officials the following documents:
- A valid passport that mustn’t expire for the next six months after arrival. It is digitally linked to the online visa for the Republic of Kenya, so any changes to the passport (its expiring, losing, or data change) make the eVisa invalid.
- A printed copy of an electronic entry document to Kenya.