You are traveling to Kenya, but you're still not sure about which eVisa to apply for? It all depends on your travel plans. The Kenyan government offers three main options. Check out our tips to choose the right one for your needs:
Single Entry
You can request a Single Entry if you are traveling to Kenya and are not planning on extending your trip to Uganda and/or Rwanda.
Allowed duration of your stay: up to 90 days.
When to submit the application: the Kenyan government only accepts applications submitted up to 90 days before the arrival date. Once the eVisa is approved and issued, it is valid for travel within three months.
How long does it take to process my request?
We ask our travelers to submit their applications as soon as possible to give us time to review them, communicate any necessary changes, or request missing documents. The average processing time is between 5 to 10 days. It includes our manual review of the application and the processing time by the government eVisa portal.
East Africa Tourist Visa
You can request an East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) if you are traveling to Kenya and your itinerary includes an onward trip to Uganda and/or Rwanda. Please note that the East Africa eVisa must be issued by the government of your first point of entry. In this case, if you issue a Kenyan EATV, you need to enter via Kenya to get your stamp, allowing you to travel to the other two countries.
Allowed duration of your stay:
up to 90 days. It will allow multiple entries between these three countries. If you leave the borders to go to another country other than Kenya, Rwanda or Uganda, your eVisa expires automatically.
When to submit the application:
the government only processes applications up to 90 days before arrival. Once the eVisa is approved and issued, it is valid for travel within 3 months.
How long does it take to process my request?
We ask our travelers to submit their applications as soon as possible to give us time to review them, communicate any necessary changes, or request missing documents. The average processing time is between 5 to 10 days. It includes our manual review of the application and the processing time by the government eVisa portal.
Check out this article for more information about the different East Africa Tourist Visas, including itinerary combinations.
Transit eVisa
You can request a Transit eVisa if you are only traveling to Kenya for less than 72 hours. It can be used if you are transiting the country but must leave the airport before departing.
Allowed duration of your stay: up until 72 hours.
When to submit the application: the government only processes applications up to 90 days before arrival. Once the eVisa is approved and issued, it is valid for travel within 3 months.
How long does it take to process my request? We ask our travelers to submit their applications as soon as possible to give us time to review them, communicate any necessary changes, or request missing documents. The average processing time is between 5 to 10 days. It includes our manual review of the application and the processing time by the government eVisa portal.
Which documents are required?
The required documents vary depending on your travel purpose. See the details below for each travel purpose.
Tourism - I’m staying at a hotel or using a travel agency:
- Photo of your passport bio page, valid for at least six months
- Headshot (it can be a selfie taken against a white/light background
- Accommodation confirmations can be your hotel confirmation or your travel itinerary issued by the agency. It needs to include your travel dates and the name of the guests.
Tourism/Visiting - I’m staying with friends or relatives:
- Photo of your passport bio page, valid for at least six months
- Headshot (it can be a selfie taken against a white/light background)
- Invitation letter from the host (it can be an email or a handwritten letter stating that they are willing to host you, and it should contain the name of the guests and the travel dates)
- A photo of the host’s ID or passport - and the residence permit if the host is not Kenyan.
Business:
- Photo of your passport bio page, valid for at least six months
- Headshot (it can be a selfie taken against a white/light background)
- Invitation letters from the company/business you're visiting
- Copies of registration of the company in Kenya
- Return air ticket
Transit:
- Photo of your passport bio page, valid for at least six months
- Headshot (it can be a selfie taken against a white/light background)
- Return Ticket from Kenya to the destination country. Alternatively, if you are traveling with an itinerary, you can submit your agency’s document showing your travel dates and the next destinations and dates.
Traveling with a minor?
You can find more information here.
As a final disclaimer, please note that the possession of a visa for Kenya is not the final authority to enter the country. The Immigration Officer at the port of entry may refuse entry if they consider that the traveler is unable to fulfill all of the immigration requirements.
