If you want to know if it is possible to apply for a Kenyan visa on arrival, find out the answer to this question here.
A trip to Kenya must be prepared well in advance if you wish to complete all the necessary formalities for its organisation. This includes, of course, the need to have a valid passport, but also the need to obtain a visa before your departure. Many travellers to Kenya still wonder if it is possible to get a visa on arrival (at the airport). On this page we will answer this question.
Kenya visa at the airport: key points
- Since 2021 it has no longer been possible to obtain a visa on arrival in Kenya.
- All travellers to Kenya must obtain a visa online before arrival
- The e-visa procedure makes it possible to obtain a visa for Kenya online without travelling to the airport
- You may be refused boarding to Kenya if you have not obtained a visa.
In the past, it was of course possible to apply for permission to stay in Kenya once you arrived in the country. One only had to go to one of the immigration offices at the airport where one landed to apply for this visa, which was stamped in the passport.
However, since 1 January 2021, it is no longer possible to apply for a visa for Kenya on site. This procedure has been replaced by the e-visa procedure which is done directly online. It is therefore essential to apply for a visa before your departure to the country.
If you wish to obtain a visa for Kenya before your departure, you must follow a simple online procedure. Here are the different steps you need to take:
First of all, you need to prepare the documents for your application. For this, you will need to have a passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival in the country, as well as a passport photo.
All of these documents can be sent digitally at the time of your application by scanning or photographing the documents.
It is also necessary to bring a bank card to pay the processing fee for your visa application.
Once you have gathered these documents, you can start filling in the application form directly online from a provider like the one we present on our website. Please fill in the form carefully and do not make any mistakes.
Only after you have filled in the form will you be asked to scan the pages of your passport, indicating that you have a passport photo.
At the end of the procedure, you will have to proceed to the payment stage. For this, the payment of the fees is done directly online by credit card on a secure server. The payment of these fees is compulsory to obtain the processing of the visa application for Kenya.
Once your visa application has been validated, you will need to wait approximately one week to receive your visa.
Once you have obtained your Kenya visa, you may wish to know how long it will be valid. You should know that this visa can be used within a maximum of 3 months of its issue. As for the duration of stay in the country allowed by this visa, it is currently 90 consecutive days. The Kenya single tourist visa is a single entry visa, but it is also possible to obtain a multiple entry visa.
As mentioned above, it is not possible to obtain a visa for Kenya once you have arrived in the country. You should therefore make sure that you apply well in advance to ensure that you have this valuable document with you when you travel. Remember that the authorities at the airport will ask you for this document as well as your passport before you board the plane to Kenya.
The electronic visa application procedure for Kenya, or e-visa, has the advantage of very short delays. You will only have to wait 7 to 8 working days to obtain this precious document. This is simply the time needed for the Kenyan authorities to study your application and accept your visa. However, it is recommended that you apply for your visa at least 2 weeks before your travel date to avoid any disappointment.
Please also note that visas for Kenya are no longer issued at the Kenyan Consulate or Embassy in the UK from 1 January 2021. The online application is therefore the only one available to you today.
It is always better to apply for your Kenya visa before you leave rather than at the arrival airport for several reasons. Firstly, it can help you avoid potential delays and disappointments en route. Applying for a visa at the airport can cause considerable delays due to queues and paperwork. By applying for your visa in advance, you can be sure that everything is in order before you leave, which can save you potential difficulties once you get there.
In addition, visas obtained at the airport can cost more than those obtained in advance. By applying for your visa in advance, you can get a better deal and save money. It can also help you manage your budget for the rest of your trip.
The visa application process can also be easier if you do it before you leave. You can submit your visa application online, which can be more convenient and faster than doing it at the airport. In addition, you can be in direct contact with Kenya's diplomatic representatives in your country of departure, which can help clarify any questions or concerns you may have before you leave.
Finally, by applying for your visa in advance, you can better plan your trip. You know in advance that your visa will be in order, which can help you plan activities and excursions for your trip with confidence. It can also allow you to better anticipate additional costs associated with your trip, which can help you avoid unpleasant surprises once you get there.
Adeline HARMANT
As a web writer and globetrotter with a passion for travel and tourism, I have acquired in-depth knowledge of the procedures that are essential for travellers. I help travellers to complete all the formalities required for a successful trip, particularly when it comes to obtaining a visa online. With several years' experience in this field, I'd like to offer you some valuable advice to help you discover the world with complete peace of mind.
Thanks to the new online visa application procedure for Kenya, the time required to obtain this document is now extremely short. Indeed, once your application has been registered and validated, you will only need to wait 7 to 8 working days at most to obtain your visa for Kenya. The application form can be completed in just a few minutes with the correct information.
It will no longer be possible to board a plane to Kenya without first showing a valid visa at the time of boarding. Indeed, as visa application procedures can no longer be done on arrival when you arrive at a Kenyan airport, airlines systematically check that you have this residence permit in your possession before boarding.
Just as it is not possible to apply for a visa for Kenya once you have arrived in the country, it will not be possible to renew your visa once you have arrived. Indeed, once the 90-day period of stay has passed, you will have to leave the country to make a new application if you wish to stay longer.
