How To Apply For Kenya Visa Online – Definitive Guide To eVisa & eCitizen

If you are not a Kenyan citizen, it is required that you have a visa before you are allowed to enter Kenya. It is illegal to be in Kenya without a visa if you are not a Kenyan.

There is the likelihood that you be classified as a criminal should you continue to stay in the country without a valid permit.

Hence it is crucial to apply for a visa before entering Kenya.

The process is now easy with the introduction of the eVisa and eCitizen online application.

But how do you do this?

Just take your time and continue reading.

Recommended article: Schengen Visa Rules To Change By 2020 – What You Need To Know

What Do I Need To Apply For Kenya Visa?

These are the requirements you will need to apply for a Kenya visa:

1. Passport number
2. Provide your full name
3. Specify your gender
4. An active email address
5. A fully completed Single Entry Kenya Entry e-Visa Questionnaire
6. A scanned color passport photograph
7. Submit a copy of your flight itinerary including details of hotel accommodations
8. You must provide a detailed proof of travel arrangements
9. Provide a valid confirmation of your hotel accommodations.
10. Kenya e-visa authorization (must be provided upon arrival)
11. You must have an East African Tourist Visa if you are visiting Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda as a tourist.

You Must Read This: List Of Visa-Free Countries For Kenya Passport Holders.

What You Need To Know Before You Apply For The Visa

If you are a citizen of another country and want to travel to Kenya, then you need a visa.

Some countries are visa-free to Kenya. And that is an exception.

The best way to apply for a Kenya visa is to go to the eVisa and eCitizen website and select the appropriate visa.

The visitor’s visa is for international travelers who reside permanently outside of Kenya. It is also for those who wish to visit the country on a more temporary basis for tourism or business reasons.

This is what you need to bear in mind; it doesn’t last forever. Once you get your Kenya visa, it is valid for no more than 90 days.

If you need to stay for more than 90 days, then you must renew your visa.

Having a visa clearly means that the Kenyan authorities have reviewed your application and that you are considered eligible to enter the country for the reason you stated.

You have the Kenyan visa, great news!

Now that you are allowed to enter Kenya, the visa will give you access to the Kenyan port of entry.

Here, an immigration officer will determine if you are allowed to enter the country and for how long.

Yes, your possession of the Kenyan visa is not automatic permission to enter the country.

It is up to the Kenyan immigration officers to allow your entry into the country or your exit.

This means you may be denied entry even if you have a valid Kenyan visa.

Always remember, all visitors are restricted from performing only the activity or the reason why the visa was issued.

Read also: Nigeria To Issue Visa On Arrival for All African Countries.

What Can You Do With Your Visa

So, now you are inside the country, what next?

While here, the visa is considered a visitor’s permit. The period of validity of the permit is counted from the date you.

It is important to make sure you apply for the correct visa or permit. Otherwise, it is possible that your entry into the country will be rejected if the purpose of the visit was not stated accurately.

In simple terms, you cannot do anything either than the purpose for which the visa was issued to you.

Depending on your country of origin, the Kenya visa requirements are different from one country to another and are subject to change.

Meaning you need to check periodically at the Kenyan immigration website.

Each visa application is treated as an individual case. So I suggest you ask at the nearest Kenyan Embassy or consulate to see if you are even supposed to apply for a Kenyan visa.

For example, applying for a Kenya visa from Nigeria, Ghana, South Sudan, and India will be slightly different from say the Philippines, United States, United Kingdom, or Canada.

Remember, the issuance of a visa comes at a cost, and you should check on the website as it is updated annually. The cost is paid in different currencies in different countries.

Many people still keep wondering.

Thus, is if you are looking for information on how to apply for a Kenya visa, you are in the right place. The Kenyan government has tried to make its essential services easily accessible.

They have eliminated the paperwork and adapting to the new technology.

They are going 100% paperless.

To apply for Kenya visa there are only two available options, and both are online options;

Visit their official website http://evisa.go.ke or http://ecitizen.go.ke

They are both official government websites dedicated to helping you apply for a Kenyan visa online irrespective of where you are in any part of the world.

How To Apply For Kenya Visa On eVisa Website (http://evisa.go.ke)

It is the first Kenyan Government officially mandated portal to give you visa services. It is simple to use this website and get a Kenyan visa within 2-3 days.

Here are the steps to follow to apply for a Kenyan visa on the eVisa website;

1. Visit their official page http://evisa.go.ke

2. Select create an account option.

Here all you need is to create a single account to be able to even apply for a visa in the future.

3. Key in the required details to create your account for the Kenyan Visa.

Please, this is one of the few documents you can’t toil with. You need to provide as accurate information as possible.

Don’t fill incorrect details because your visa application will be rejected.

4. Select apply for visa.

5. Here, you should select the type of visa you wish to apply.

6. Fill in the visa application form with correct details as they appear on your passport.

7. Click next and another page will open up, requesting the means you wish to use and pay for your visa. You can pay securely using your MasterCard or Visa card.

After payment, your visa will be processed within two working days and ready to download.

You need to be visiting the Kenyan visa application website periodically to check if your visa is ready.

When your Kenyan visa is ready, click download from your visa account, and there you will have your Kenyan visa ready.

How To Apply For Kenyan Visa On The eCitizen Website (http://ecitizen.go.ke)

It is the second available option where you can apply for your Kenyan visa and have it within two working days.

Here are the steps to follow to use the eCitizen website;

1. Visit www.ecitizen.go.ke.
2. Choose Register as a Visitor.
3. Fill the required details
4. After you have successfully logged in, scroll down and click on the Department of Immigration services.
5. Choose to apply.
6. Click Kenyan Visa.
7. Choose the actual type of visa you wish to apply. Remember to read the instructions carefully and understand every bit of it.
8. Fill in the application form with correct details as they appear on your passport.
9. You will then have to pay for the visa application.

Remember that you can conveniently use your visa card, MasterCard, or other debit cards as long as you have money on it.

Now you are done with the application. All you have to do for now is wait patiently for approval from the authorities.

You will receive an email, and then will be able to download and print the Kenyan eVisa from your eCitizen account.

You are required to present your eVisa to the Kenya immigration office at the port of entry.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply For A Visa In Kenya?

The cost of a Kenyan visa depends on the type of visa you wish to apply.

Here is the cost as per the type of visa;

• Single entry visa (Business or Tourism) – $51
• Transit visa- $21
• East Africa Tourist Visa – $101
• Courtesy Visa – FREE

Related article: How To Apply For Nigeria Passport Online.

How Long Does It Take To Get The Visa?

It is advisable to apply for your Kenyan visa on time as the application sometimes may take up to 3 days.

Remember, you can apply for Kenyan visa 90 days before even arriving in Kenya, and it remains valid.

Who Needs A Visa To Enter The Country?

According to the Kenya visa policy, all visitors are required to have a visa before entering the country. However, if you are a resident of one of the visa-free countries, you don’t need to apply for a Kenyan visa.

Remember that when applying for the Kenyan visa, you must have a passport valid for at least six months.

Can You Get A visa On Arrival In Kenya?

Yes, you can get a Kenyan visa upon arrival at the point of entry in Kenya and most cases at the airport.

However, you will have to queue to get one. Thus, to minimize the time you spend at the airport, it is advisable to apply for a Kenyan visa before you arrive in Kenya.

You can do that on the two official websites I mentioned above.