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VISAS

Types of Visas
The possession of a visa for Kenya is not the final authority to enter Kenya. The Immigration Officer at the port of entry may refuse such a person permission to enter if he is satisfied that such a visitor is unable to fulfil the immigration requirements.

a) Ordinary/Entry Visas
These are visas issued to all persons whose nationality require visas to enter Kenya for visits or residence and shall be issued strictly in accordance with the provisions of categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Visa Regulations.

b)  Transit Visas
These are visas required by all persons whose nationality require visas to enter Kenya and are intending to transit through Kenya to a third destination for periods not exceeding three days and shall be issued strictly in accordance with the provisions of categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Visa Regulations.

c)  Diplomatic Visas
Diplomatic (Multiple, Ordinary or Transit) Visas are issued gratis to holders of Diplomatic Passports on official visits.  These visas should be issued strictly in accordance with the provisions of categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Visa Regulations.

d)    Official/Service Visas
Official/Service (Multiple, Ordinary or Transit) Visas are issued gratis to holders of Official or Service passports on official visits.  These visas should be issued in accordance with the provisions of categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Visa Regulations.

e)  Multiple Journey Visas
All persons who are nationals of countries which require visas for Kenya and who by nature of their business or circumstances require to make frequent visits to Kenya may be issued with Multiple Journey Visas for Kenya valid for  up to twelve (12) months or part there of as the case may be.

f)  Courtesy Visas
Courtesy (Transit and Ordinary ) Visas may be issued gratis in accordance with the Provisions of categories 1, 2 and 3 of the Visa Regulations, where the applicant is not entitled to a Diplomatic Visa, but where it is considered by the issuing officer to be desirable on the grounds of international courtesy.

Visa charges and application
Visa type USD Z. Kwacha (ZMK)

Single entry visa                    –          25                                140,000
Multiple entry visa                –          50                                270,000
Transit visa                            –         10                              55,000
Referral Visa fee                   –          5                               30,000

Category 1
Countries Whose Nationals Do not Require Visas to Enter KENYA
1a)

Barbados Maldives St. Lucia
Belize Malta Zimbabwe
Botswana Mauritius Swaziland
Brunei Darussalam Namibia Seychelles
Burundi Nauru The Gambia
Cyprus Papua Tanzania
Dominica St. Kitts and Navis The Bahamas
Fiji Island New Guinea Tonga
Ghana Samoa Trinidad & Tobago
Malawi Sierra Leone Tuvalu
Jamaica Singapore Uganda
Kiribati Solomon Vanuatu
Lesotho Islands Zambia
Malaysia (For less than 30 days stay) South Africa (For less than 30 days stay) St.Vincent and the Grenadines

1b. The Following Persons Do not require visas to enter Kenya

  • All persons whose passports are endorsed with valid Kenya re-entry passes or any other written authority in lieu of a re-entry pass.
  • All passengers arriving and leaving by the same ship, and who do not leave the ship.
  • All passengers in transit through Kenya arriving and leaving by the same aircraft or transferring to another aircraft and who do not leave the international transit lounges at the International Airports in Kenya.
  • Holders of United Nations Organisation Laissez-Passers whilst on official UN Business.
  • Holders of African Union Laissez-Passers whilst on official A.U. business.
  • Holders of African Development Bank Laissez-Passers, whilst on official A.D.B. business.
  • Holders of Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa Laissez-Passers, whilst on official ABEDA business.
  • Holders of International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa Laissez-Passers, whilst on official I.R.L.C.O. business.
  • Holders of Desert Locust Control Organisation Laissez-Passers, whilst on official D.L.C.O. business.
  • Holders of COMESA Laissez-Passers, whilst on official COMESA business.
  • Holders of International Monetary Fund and World Bank Laissez – Passers whilst on official IMF/World Bank Business.
  • Holders of Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Laissez- Passers whilst on official IGAD business.
  • Holders of African Airlines Travel Association (IATA) Laissez- Passers whilst on official business.
  • Holders of Environment Liason Centre International (ELCI) Laissez-Passers whilst on official ELCI business.
  • Holders of Union Of Radio, Television Network of Africa (URTNA) Laissez- Passers whilst on official URTNA business.
  • Holders of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Laissez – Passers whilst on official ILO business.
  • Holders of Preferential Trade Area/Common Market of East & Southern African Bank Laissez – Passers whilst on official PTA/COMESA business.
  • Holders of European Union Laissez – Passers whilst on official European Union business.
  • Holders of CIP (International Potato Centre) Laissez – Passers whilst on official CIP business.
  • Holders of African Reinsurance Corporation (ARC) Laissez – Passers whilst on official ARC business.
  • Holders of African Housing Fund (AHF) Laissez – Passers whilst on official AHF business.
  • The manifested crew of ships and aircraft passing through or stopping in Kenya for periods not exceeding seven (7) days in the case of air crew and fourteen (14) days for ships crew.
  • Owners of private aircraft stopping over for refuelling in Kenya and who do not leave the precincts of the airport.

1c. The Following Countries have Concluded Visa Abolition Agreement with Kenya

  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • San Marino

Category 2
(a) Nationals of the following countries, classes and categories of persons may be issued with visas on application, and without reference to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, provided that they do not fall under the classes and categories of persons mentioned under Chapter 1, paragraph (E) of the Visa Regulations.

Albania
Algeria;
Andorra
Angola
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Rep.
Chad
Chile (Nationalist)
China (China Peoples Republic)
Columbia
Comoros
Congo Brazzaville
Costa Rica
Cote d’ Ivoire/ Ivory Coast
Croatia
Cuba
Czech Republic
Denmark `
Djibouti
Dominican Rep
DRC
East Timor
Egypt
El Salvador
Ecuador
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
Finland
France
French Guyana
Gabon
Georgia		 Germany
Greece
Greenland
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Haiti
Holders of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kampuchea
Kazakhstan
Kirghistan
Korea (South)
Kuwait
Laos
Lativia
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malagasy
Malta
Mauritania
Mexico
Moldavia
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar (formally Burma)
Nepal
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria		 Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau Pacific Isles
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russia
Salvador
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sri Lanka
St.Christopher Cape
Sudan
Surinam
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan (Endorsement made on a paper visitor’s pass)
Thailand
Togo
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
U.S.A.
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Yugoslavia-and also Former States of Yugoslavia

(b) Delegates attending regional or international conferences, meetings, workshops, seminars and courses sponsored by regional or international organisations of which Kenya is a member.

Spouses and children accompanying delegates who fulfil the requirements of paragraph 2 (b) above may be issued with visas on application.

(c) Diplomats arriving to take up diplomatic assignments/appointments in Kenya may be issued with gratis entry visas on application and without reference to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi provided that: –

  • Such persons produce documentary evidence of their official
  • Assignment / appointment to Kenya.
  • Wives and children accompanying such diplomats who fulfill the requirements of category 2 (c) above; and provided such persons, their wives and children do not fall under chapter I paragraph “E” of the visa regulations.

(d) Diplomats and government officials coming to Kenya to conduct official business or transiting through Kenya may be issued with entry/transit visas on application and without reference to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi,  provided that:

  • Such persons produce documentary evidence of their nature of official business transit.
  • Spouses and children accompanying such diplomats and government officials who fulfill the requirements of category 2 (d) above and provided such persons, their spouses and children do not fall under Chapter I, paragraph “E” of the visa regulations.

Note: Diplomats and government officials on private visits to Kenya and who are nationals of countries that require referred visas, shall have their visa applications referred to the Director of Immigration Officer, Nairobi, for approval, in the usual manner.
Category 3
Nationals of Counties, Classes and Categories Of Persons Who Requires Referred Visas.

  • Afghanistan
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Cameroon
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Kosovo
  • Lebanon
  • Mali
  • North Korea
  • Palestine
  • Senegal
  • Somali
  • Syria
  • Tajikistan

(b) Nationals of the following countries who are holders of Diplomatic and official Civil Servants with “Ordre de Mission” can be issued with Visas on application.

  • Cameroon
  • Senegal
  • Mali

(c) Applicants against whom there is some local objections or doubt in the country where the application is made.
(d) Stateless persons or persons not holding valid passports or other travel documents issued by their own country of nationality, including recognized refugee holders of the United Nations Refugee Travel Documents.
(e) Prohibited immigrants as enumerated under Chapter I, paragraph ‘E’ of the Visa Regulations.

(f) Persons who intend to enter Kenya as immigrants but have not applied for and obtained entry permits or passes from the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi