A Guide to Kenya Visa Application & Requirements

The Single-Entry Visa allows foreign passport holders to enter Kenya for tourism, business or medical purposes. They are usually issued for a stay of up to 90 days. Currently, US passport holders can obtain a visa that’s valid for three months from the date of issue.

Types of Single-Entry Visas

• Tourism
• Business
• Medical

Single-Entry Visa Validity

• Valid for one entry to Kenya within three months of the date of issue

Single-Entry Visa Required Documents

• If you’re traveling to Kenya on official business, you will need to submit an invitation letter from a company for business visits.
• To visit Kenya for tourism, you will need to submit your travel itinerary and hotel accommodations.
• To visit Kenya for medical reasons, you will need to submit your cover letter explaining the purpose of your visit and the medical treatment you are seeking in Kenya. Include medical reports or documents from your health-care provider that support your need for medical treatment in Kenya.

Single-Entry Visa Costs

The fee for the Single-Entry Visa is US$50, plus a $1 visa processing fee. Payment is by debit or credit card with Visa or Mastercard preferred. While it’s possible to apply for a Kenya visa yourself, booking a visa with Entriva ensures you get the right visa in time, every time. In addition to mandatory government fees, Entriva charges among the industry’s lowest handling fees, starting at just $50.

Single-Entry Visa Average Processing Time

It should take at least three days to get your Kenya e-Visa.

Types of Multiple-Entry Visas

• Tourism
• Business
• Medical

Multiple-Entry Visa Validity

• Valid for multiple entries to Kenya, six to 12 months from the date of issue.

Multiple-Entry Visa Required Documents

Depending upon the reason for your visit, there are certain documents you must provide with your Multiple-Entry Visa application.

• For business, you will need to submit an invitation letter from a company for business visits.
• For tourism, you will need to submit your travel itinerary and hotel accommodations,
• For medical, you will need to submit your cover letter explaining the purpose of your visit and the medical treatment you are seeking in Kenya. Include medical reports or documents from your health-care provider that support your need for medical treatment in Kenya.

Multiple-Entry Visa Costs

Once approved for a Multiple-Entry Visa, you will be required to pay US$101 for the application fee and service charge. Payment is by debit or credit card with Visa or Mastercard preferred.

Multiple-Entry Visa Average Processing Time

A Multiple-Entry Visa takes 10 working days to process.

Multiple-Entry Visas are only available only to US nationals traveling for tourism, medical, or business-related purposes who may need to enter and exit the Republic of Kenya more than once during a certain span of time. These visas are valid for six to 12 months from the date of issue.

A Transit Visa is issued to people connecting through Kenya to other destinations for a period not exceeding 72 hours. You do not need a Transit Visa if you’re transferring directly to a connecting flight without leaving the airport.

Transit Visa Validity

• Single entry

Transit Visa Required Documents

• An appropriate travel document with not less than six months’ validity remaining
• At least one blank page in the holder’s passport
• A round-trip ticket

Transit Visa Costs

A Transit Visa costs US$21, including a $1 handling fee. Payment is by debit or credit card with Visa or Mastercard preferred.

Transit Visa Average Processing Time

A Transit Visa may take anywhere from five to 10 days to receive.

When planning a trip, few things are more stressful than waiting for your visa to arrive without knowing if it will get there in time. At Entriva, we take the stress out of the equation by letting you monitor your application in real-time. Here’s how:

After registering and setting up your profile, you’ll get access to your personal Traveler Hub, and once you have submitted your visa application to Entriva, you can track the progress of your application online. To track your application, log in to your Entriva account and click on the “My Applications” tab.

On the “My Applications” tab, you will see a list of all of your visa applications. You can click on the “View Details” link for an individual application to see the status of your application.

The status of your application will be updated as it progresses through the processing system. The possible statuses for your application are:

• Pending: Your application is currently being processed.
• Approved: Your application has been approved, and your visa will be sent to you.
• Denied: Your application has been denied. You will receive an email explaining why your application was denied.

While you await approval, you can also use your Traveler Hub for things like organizing to-dos before your trip and checking out Entriva’s other Kenya travel resources to answer any questions you may have.

For any questions about your visa application, please contact Entriva customer support.

Can I travel to Kenya without a visa?

No. All visitors are required to obtain an e-Visa prior to departing for Kenya.

How long can I stay in Kenya with my visa?

It depends on the length of your approved visa. Check on the day of its expiry.

Can I extend or renew my Kenya visa?

It depends on your type of visa. It’s important to check the specific regulations and guidelines related to your visa type to determine if extensions or renewals are allowed.

Can I travel to Kenya with a different or separate passport than the one I used to get my visa?

No. When you apply for a visa, you provide your passport details, and the visa is usually affixed or electronically linked to that specific passport.

When you arrive in Kenya, an immigration officer will check your passport and visa to verify your identity and immigration status. If you attempt to enter the country with a different passport than the one associated with your visa, you will encounter difficulties—your visa will not be valid with the new passport.

If you have obtained a new passport after obtaining your visa and you still plan to travel to Kenya, it is essential to transfer or update your visa to the new passport. Contact the Kenyan embassy or consulate in your country or consult with the appropriate immigration services to see about transferring the visa to your new passport.

Where can I find the Kenyan government’s official visa and e-Visa portal?

This is the Republic of Kenya’s official authorized visa website, where you can learn more about regular visas or e-Visas.

Where should I keep my Kenya visa while traveling?

If you received a regular or paper visa, it’ll be put directly into your passport.

If you applied for a Kenya e-Visa, you will receive a digital copy by email. You should print out a copy of the e-Visa to show immigration officers and to keep with you while traveling. If you misplace any of your essential travel documents while in Kenya, contact the US embassy for consular services.

Didn’t find the answer you needed? Reach out to us directly—we’re happy to help.