Anyone dreaming of adventurous safari rides, magnificent forests, soothing coastal beaches, hot deserts, and strolling wildlife must visit the "Land of Five" or Kenya. The country has everything you need to spend an unforgettable vacation. Therefore, millions of tourists visit Kenya each year for both fun and business purposes.
Before you enter a foreign country, including Kenya, the most important thing you need is a visa. A visa is a travel document that allows you to enter and stay in the country legally. In this article, we have discussed about Kenya visas for Australian passport holders.
So, without further ado, let's get into it:
Do Australian Citizens Need A Visa For Kenya?
Well, the short and simple answer is YES! Except for children under 16 years of age, all Australian nationals are required to have a valid visa to enter Kenya. As the Kenyan government has stopped providing traditional paper or stamp visas, you need to get a Kenyan visa online!
Depending on your purpose of visit, valid Australian passport holders can apply for the following types of Kenyan e-visas:
Tourist and Business e-Visa
For tourism and leisure, you can apply for a Kenya tourist visa. It's a single-entry visa that permits holders to stay in the country for 90 consecutive days. This visa is for you if you want to:
Visit relatives
Explore the country
Spend holidays
Alternatively, if Australian citizens want to enter Kenya for business purposes (attending business meetings, seminars, and conferences), they can apply for a Kenya business e-visa. The country offers different types of business visas, including single-entry (90-day) visas, multiple-entry (1-year) visas, and multiple-entry (5-year) visas.
Transit Visa
In case you are transiting through Kenya, you're required to apply for a transit e-visa. Although the Kenya transit visa comes with a validity period of 90 days, it is valid for multiple entries and allows holders to stay in the country for 3 consecutive days.
Courtesy Visa
If an Australian national is invited by the state to visit Kenya, they are required to get a courtesy visa. Kenya courtesy e-visa is a single-entry travel document that stays valid for 90 days.
East-Africa Visa
An east-Africa visa allows holders to visit Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. It's a multiple-entry visa that comes with a validity period of 90 days. You can use this visa to explore the beauty of the above-mentioned east-African countries.
Kenya Visa Requirements
Regardless of your selected visa type, there are a few required documents that you must provide to get your travel document. The following are the most basic documents required to apply for a Kenya visa:
Valid Passport - Applicants are required to have a valid Australian passport with at least 2 blank pages for visa stamps and 6 months of remaining validity
Means of Payment - You need to pay the embassy fee as well as the visa service fee. As this entire process is online, you are required to have online means of payment, such as a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account
E-mail Address - Your email address will be linked electronically to your Australian passport. Once processed, you'll get your approved visa via email
These are the most basic Kenya visa requirements. Besides these, you will need some additional supporting documents as well, depending on your selected visa type, such as:
Invitation letter
Proof of accommodation
Business registration
COVID-19 vaccination certificate
Itinerary
Moreover, all travelers are required to have a health declaration form while visiting Kenya. Your health declaration form must be issued within 72 hours prior to the flight. You can get your health form within 24 hours via VisaHQ!
How To Apply For Kenya Visa Online?
As the Kenyan government has made the visa application process streamlined, you don't need to visit the embassy anymore. You can apply for all of the above-mentioned visa types through VisaHQ!
To get your Kenyan visa online, all you need to do is:
Fill out the online visa application form.
Pay the visa processing fee.
Submit your application with supporting documents.
You can complete this entire process within 10 minutes. Make sure to double-check the provided data in your application. This is because if there are errors or mistakes in your application, your visa will most likely be delayed or denied by the embassy.
To fill out the Kenya eVisa application form, you're required to provide personal details, contact information, travel plans, and passport information! Once you submit all of the necessary data, the Kenyan embassy will process your application, and you'll get your approved visa via email.
Processing Time
The average processing time for a Kenya electronic visa is 3-7 business days. However, due to secondary checks and high demand, you may have to wait a little longer. Therefore, it's recommended to apply for a Kenya visa at least 2 weeks prior to the intended date of entry.