Kenya visa policy

Kenya visa policy outlines the requirements foreign citizens willing to travel to Kenya must meet to obtain a Kenyan visa and be allowed into the country. The policy of Kenya allows passport holders of certain countries to enter visa-free, but passport holders of other countries must obtain a Kenya eVisa or a regular visa.

The electronic visa for Kenya is available online through a straightforward application process for citizens of 143 countries. An applicant completes a simple form with their personal and travel details and makes the payment. Kenyan eVisa will then be delivered directly to the email address specified in the form.

The eVisa to Kenya can be used for tourism, business, and transit. There is also an East Africa eVisa allowing entry to Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Foreigners not eligible for a regular visa or intending to stay in Kenya long-term must obtain a regular visa. Kenyan regular visa requires attendance at Kenya’s diplomatic mission in person and taking part in the visa interview.

Nationals of 45 countries can travel to Kenya visa-free for up to 90 days. Moreover, all children under 16 are visa-exempted, regardless of their citizenship.

The Kenya visa policy is essential to learn, but it is also important to take into account other entry requirements of Kenya – for instance, all visitors, without exception, must hold a valid passport.

Who can enter Kenya?

Kenya enforces no admission refusals for certain nationalities. That means citizens of all countries can enter the Republic of Kenya, provided they meet all the entry requirements.

Note that Kenya still has not removed COVID-19 restrictions: everyone coming to the country must present either proof of vaccination completed at least 14 days before entry or a PCR test with a negative result taken within 72 hours before entry.

Entry requirements for Kenya

In accordance with the Kenya travel requirements, all foreigners must have a passport that contains at least two blank pages and remains effective for 6 months from the arrival date.

Citizens of certain countries have visa-free access to Kenya, but nationals of all other countries must obtain a Kenyan visa. It is required for every traveler who has reached the age of 16.

All passengers over the age of 12 years must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken not more than 72 hours ahead of departure. Vaccination must be completed at least 14 days before arrival in Kenya.

Visitors to Kenya must also complete a health declaration – Kenya Health Surveillance Form. It must be obtained online prior to departure and contains travel, health, and contact details of the traveler.

It is also mandatory to have a yellow fever certificate when traveling to Kenya from destinations with a high risk of yellow fever transmission.

Documents checklist for entering Kenya

Learn which documents are required for crossing the Kenyan borders:

• a passport (must be effective for a minimum of 6 months from the date of arrival);
• a Kenyan visa (for travelers over 15 years old);
• COVID-19 vaccination proof or a negative PCR test (for travelers over 11 years old);
• Kenya Health Surveillance Form;
• yellow fever certificate (for those coming from certain countries).

Methods of getting a visa to Kenya

Kenya visa policy distinguishes two methods of applying for a visa to Kenya – a Kenya eVisa and a regular visa.

Electronic visa

Kenya eVisa is an electronic visa that has an entirely online application process that can be finished within minutes. It was launched in 2005 by the Kenyan Government as a facilitation for eligible foreigners.

There are several types of Kenya eVisa according to the purpose of the trip:

• tourist eVisa and business eVisa with a 90-day validity period and 90-day permitted stay in Kenya;
• transit eVisa allowing a 72-hour visit for transit through Kenya;
• East Africa eVisa giving access to Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda for numerous 90-day visits.

Regular visa

A regular visa to Kenya can be obtained by citizens whose passport is not eligible for Kenya eVisa. To apply, it is necessary to schedule an appointment at the nearest Kenyan embassy or consulate, make a visit, and lodge an application form in person.

An applicant will have a visa interview with a consular officer and need to answer some questions regarding their trip and personal information.

Countries and regions which require a visa for entry into Kenya

These lists are prepared according to the visa policy of Kenya. Check whether you need a Kenyan visa, and if yes, which application method you are eligible for:

eVisa

• Andorra
• United Arab Emirates
• Albania
• Angola
• Argentina
• Austria
• Australia
• Azerbaijan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Burkina Faso
• Bulgaria
• Bahrain
• Benin
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Bhutan
• Belarus
• Canada
• Central African Republic
• Republic of the Congo
• Switzerland
• Ivory Coast
• Chile
• Cameroon
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Serbia
• Cuba
• Czech Republic
• Germany
• Djibouti
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Algeria
• Ecuador
• Estonia
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Spain
• Finland
• Micronesia
• France
• Gabon
• United Kingdom
• Georgia
• Greenland
• Guinea Bissau
• Guinea
• Equatorial Guinea
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Honduras
• Croatia
• Haiti
• Hungary
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• India
• Iran
• Iceland
• Italy
• Jordan
• Japan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Cambodia
• Comoros
• South Korea
• Kuwait
• Kazakhstan
• Laos
• Liechtenstein
• Sri Lanka
• Liberia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Latvia
• Morocco
• Monaco
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Madagascar
• Marshall Islands
• Macedonia
• Mali
• Myanmar
• Mongolia
• Macau
• Mauritania
• Malta
• Mexico
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Nicaragua
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Nepal
• New Zealand
• Oman
• Panama
• Peru
• Philippines
• Pakistan
• Poland
• Senegal
• Suriname
• Sao Tome
• El Salvador
• Chad
• Togo
• Thailand
• Timor Leste
• Turkmenistan
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Taiwan
• Ukraine
• United States
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vatican City
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Qatar
• Palau
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Romania
• Paraguay
• Sudan
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Reunion
• Cape Verde
• Antigua and Barbuda

Regular visa

• Afghanistan
• Anguilla
• Armenia
• American Samoa
• Aruba
• Aland Islands
• Bermuda
• Cocos Islands
• Cook Islands
• Christmas Island
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Georgia
• French Guiana
• Gibraltar
• Guadeloupe
• Iraq
• North Korea
• Cayman Islands
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Martinique
• Montserrat
• New Caledonia
• Norfolk Island
• Niue
• French Polynesia
• Somalia
• Syria
• Caicos Islands
• Tajikistan
• Tokelau
• British Virgin Islands
• Samoa
• Yemen
• Mayotte
• Palestine
• United States Virgin Islands
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon
• Isle of Man
• Guernsey
• Saint Martin
• Saint Helena
• Puerto Rico
• Jersey
• Curacao
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Saint Barthelemy
• Sint Maarten
• Bonaire

Visa-free

• Barbados
• Burundi
• Bahamas
• Botswana
• Belize
• Cyprus
• Dominica
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Ghana
• Gambia
• Jamaica
• Kiribati
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Lesotho
• Mauritius
• Maldives
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• New Guinea
• Sierra Leone
• San Marino
• Swaziland
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Vanuatu
• Samoa
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
• Singapore
• Seychelles
• Rwanda
• Brunei Darussalam
• Trinidad and Tobago
• South Sudan
• Solomon Islands

Entry requirements for children

Children under the age of 16 are not required to have a Kenyan visa to enter the country. Adults traveling with minors must include them in their Kenya visa application form and provide their name, passport number, and bio-data page.

Travelers between 16 and 18 years old do need to have a visa to Kenya. They must have a separate application, but adults may add minors’ passports and names to their applications for reference.

All visitors, including children, regardless of age, must hold a passport that does not expire for at least 6 months from entry.

Children aged 11 or under do not need to present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test. However, all minors are required to have a separate Kenyan Health Surveillance Form.

Transit information

You are transiting through Kenya if you only need to enter it to get to your next destination, and you do not have intentions to stay in Kenya for a more extended period.

However, a visa to Kenya is required even for a short-term stay in the country for transit. Travelers eligible for electronic visas must apply for a transit eVisa to Kenya. It stays effective for 72 hours from arrival in the country.

Important information

• As stated by the Kenya visa requirements, all passengers who do not have visa-free access must get a Kenyan visa to enter the territory of the Republic of Kenya.
• Kenyan government implemented two methods of applying for a Kenyan visa – a traveler is required to obtain either an eVisa or a regular visa to Kenya.
• Kenya eVisa is available in several options: tourist, business, transit, and East Africa visa.
• A valid passport and Kenyan Health Surveillance Form are obligatory for all visitors, regardless of age.
• Travelers over the age of 15 must present a negative PRC test or COVID-19 certificate.
• A yellow fever vaccination proof is required for persons coming from areas with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission.