Kenya is an east-African country known for its unmatchable beauty and wildlife. The country is known as the "Land of Five," referring to lions, buffalos, leopards, rhinos, and elephants. Each year, millions of tourists visit Kenya to explore the adventurous wildlife.
Before you travel to Kenya, the most important thing that you need is a visa. As Kenya offers different types of visas, the processing time varies as well. In this article, we have discussed in detail about Kenya visa types and how to apply for them!
So, without further ado, let's get into it!
Types of Kenya Visas
The Kenyan government has stopped the traditional visa application process. This means you can apply for a Kenyan visa online from the comfort of your home. No need to visit the Kenya embassy or consulate office. All you need to do is visit VisaHQ and apply for a Kenya visa online!
Currently, foreign citizens can apply for the following types of Kenyan e-visa applications online:
Tourist Visa
If you want to visit Kenya for tourism purposes, you can apply for a tourist e-visa. This travel document is valid for those who want to:
Visit relatives
Spend holidays
Explore the country
A Kenya tourist visa is a single-entry visa that stays valid for 90 consecutive days. Keep in mind that children under 16 years of age are exempt from getting a tourist visa. All they need is their parent's passport bio-data page.
Processing Time
The average processing time for a Kenya tourist visa is 3-5 business days.
Business Visa
Foreign nationals who want to enter Kenya for professional and commercial activities are required to apply for a business visa. Kenya offers different types of business visas, depending on the validity period.
You can apply for a single-entry travel document that stays valid for 90 days or a multiple-entry visa that comes with a validity period of either 1 year or 5 years. Regardless of your selected visa type, you can stay in the country for 90 consecutive days.
Processing Time
Whether you apply for a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry travel document, the embassy can take 3-5 business days to process your application.
Courtesy Visa
A courtesy visa is issued if a public institute of Kenya invites a foreign national to enter the country to perform activities for the State. A Kenya courtesy visa is a single-entry travel document that comes with a validity period of 90 days.
Processing Time
For a courtesy visa, you don't need to pay an embassy fee. The average processing time for a courtesy visa is 2-3 business days.
Transit Visa
In case an international traveler wants to transit through Kenya, he/she is required to apply for a transit visa. Kenya offers a 90-day transit visa that allows you to stay in the country for 3 consecutive days.
Processing Time
The processing time for a transit visa varies from applicant to applicant. The average processing time for this visa option is 2-3 business days.
East-Africa Visa
An east-Africa visa permits a holder to enter multiple east-African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. It's perfect for those who want to explore the wildlife of east-Africa. It is valid for multiple entries with a 90-day period.
Processing Time
On average, it can take up to 6 business days to get an approved east-Africa visa.
How to Apply for a Kenya Visa?
The Kenya online visa is nothing if not convenient. You can apply for this travel document from the comfort of your home. All you need is a stable internet connection and a mobile device or laptop.
To apply for a Kenya visa online, follow the following step-by-step guide:
Visit VisaHQ
Select your citizenship and travel destination
Fill out the Kenya visa application form
Pay the visa processing fees
Submit Kenya e-visa application form with supporting documents
Depending on your selected visa option, it'll only take 10-15 minutes to complete this process. Before you submit your application form, make sure to double-check the provided data. This is because if there are errors or mistakes in your application, the embassy will most likely decline or delay your visa.
Kenya Visa Requirements
To get a Kenya visa, there are a few required documents that you must have! Three of the most basic Kenya visa requirements are as follows:
Valid Passport - You must have a passport valid for at least 6 more months with 2 blank pages for visa stamps
E-mail Address - Make sure you use your own active email address. This is because your email will be linked electronically to your passport, and you'll get your approved Kenya visa via email
Means of Payment - As this entire process is streamlined, you need online payment methods to pay the visa fee
Besides these, you need some supporting documents, depending on your selected visa option. You can visit VisaHQ to find out all of the necessary required documents for a Kenya visa.