How to Apply for Your Kenya Visa

[Updated 10 September 2018]

Kenya is home to a variety of stunning attractions, wildlife and sandy coastlines, that is why the country is fast becoming a popular destination of choice for many Nigerians. The country’s unparalleled beauty and charm has made it to be on most Nigerian’s bucket list.

Nigerian passport holders require a visa to travel to Kenya, but rest assured the process is an easy one! This article applies to the Kenyan e-visa for tourists which you can obtain online through eVisa.

Please note that your possession of a Kenyan e-visa does not guarantee you entry into the country. The immigration officers, at the port of entry, can deny you entry if you do not meet the immigration requirements. The processing time for the Kenyan e-visa is two business days, but it is recommended to apply at least seven days before you travel to spare yourself some stress, and in case additional documents are required.

Please check your eligibility before beginning the application process and submitting your application well in advance of flight departure. Once you have your visa, all that’s left to do is pack your bags!

Travelstart Kenya NG

Image courtesy of @beauifulmombasa_001 via Instagram

Kenyan Visa Description

  • Single-Entry Visa – This e-visa allows you to enter into Kenya once. The single-entry visa is for those who want to go to Kenya for business, tourism or medical reasons. It is valid for three months from the date of issue with a stay of up to 90 days in Kenya. You can renew the single-entry visa for up to a maximum of six months – at the immigration headquarters in Nairobi.
  • Transit Visa – Allows you a short stop-over that can last up to 72 hours.

Visa Processing Time

The e-visa processing time is two business days. Once your Kenya e-visa has been approved it will be sent to your eVisa account. Print out a copy and present it with your passport at the port of entry in Kenya.

Visa Fees

Type of Visa Cost of Visa
Single-Entry Visa USD 51
Transit Visa USD 21

Secure payments can be made using your debit card, credit card, VISA card or Mastercard via the eVisa website, after submitting your application form.

Please note: The e-visa processing fee is non-refundable!

Travelstart Kenya NG

Image courtesy of @rishav_canon_photography via Instagram

Kenya Visa Requirements

  • Passport valid for at least six months, with at least one blank page for entry stamp
  • A return ticket
  • One scanned photograph – must follow the Kenyan government’s photo guideline
  • Travel itinerary
  • Hotel bookings
  • Invitation letter – if visiting family

Follow the eVisa checklist to ensure you have all necessary documents.

Travelstart Kenya NG

How to Apply Online

  • Click “create an account” on the eVisa home page
  • Select “register as a visitor”
  • Once logged in, select Department of Immigration Services
  • Make an application and select “apply now”
  • Fill in the application form
  • Submit application
  • Choose your payment method (debit/credit/prepaid card, EazzyPay, KCB Cash or Equity Cash)
  • Await approval via email, then download and print the Kenyan e-visa from your eVisa account
  • Present your printed Kenyan e-visa to the immigration officer at the port of entry
Travelstart Kenya NG

Image courtesy of @tae_olivia via Instagram

Now that you have all the necessary information needed to acquire your Kenyan e-visa, you’re ready to book your flight and fly to this diverse African destination.

Sign up to Travelstart’s newsletter for the latest flight deals to Kenya and other beautiful destinations.

If you haven’t booked your tickets yet, find cheap flights to Kenya with Travelstart!

All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart is not affiliated to immigration authorities or their application centres and will not be liable for loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this volatile information.

Travelstart does not provide advice or assist with processing visas. The content of this article is listed as recommended by research and the Kenyan embassy. Kindly check the embassy’s website BEFORE applying for your visa.

Featured image courtesy of @luigiborto_ via Instagram

 

 

 

 

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215 thoughts on “How to Apply for Your Kenya Visa

  1. Greetings to you. Thanks for the detailed information. please i just discovered that the expiring date of my passport is less than six month and my return ticket has been booked. please how do i go about it?
    please reply needed urgently
    thanks

    • Hi Tolu, I will advise you to apply for a new passport as you may not be given visa when you get to the point of entry, so in order not to waste your time and resources, kindly apply for a new passport. Thanks

  2. Please Ms.Kemi, I have been to kenya recently, now I want to apply for a work visa there,, can I do it at lagos consular??? And what could be major concerns to look into?

    Thanks, ur info here was useful for me in travelling before on tourist.. Although u still find out things that are not written anywhere though(like immigration asking nigerians for bribe).. Smh

    • Hi Abiose, It will be advisable for your company to apply for the Work Visa on your behalf. Thanks for reading our blog.

  3. Only going to kenya because slovakia embassy in Nigeria is close, so I can apply for Slovakian embassy in kenya for. What type of kenya visa should I apply for

  4. I want to travel to Kenya with my wife and two kids this summer holiday, just for a week. Am a business man, what and what do I need to put in place? I mean documents that I will need to present in embassy, and the Visa fee charges ? Tanxs

    • Biodun u need your passport, (6 months validity at least), letter of introduction (company), fees, any thing that shows you are Nigerian tax paying citizen. It is about $51

  5. I am a Nigerian going for a postgraduate programme at the University of Nairobi, please what kind of visa do I apply for and do I need a return ticket or one way ticket since I`m staying for 3 to 4 years? Thank you

  6. The link provided for application is failing

  7. Please how can I confirm the genuinity of a Kenyan visa.

  8. Please leave your comment…please I want to relocate to Kenya but I don’t know is their embassy will ask for bank statement. and also please which way is better, … “to visit Kenya high commission here in Nigeria, or to fly to Kenya and obtain Visa @ entry point. thanks.. pls sir you can as well inbox me your answers. cos I might not follow up here. thanks. okaforhenry90@gmail.com. or bube24@naij.com.

  9. mrs. kemi..
    thanks. but do i need to be in nigeria during the permit application. cus i was invited to kenya by my friends there again. and if they apply for my permit from work. how then do i get contacted and the visa. thanks a lot. cus this could cost a lot more to know than comment.

  10. thanks. but do i need to be in nigeria during the permit application. cus i was invited to kenya by my friends there again. and if they apply for my permit from work. how then do i get contacted and the visa. thanks a lot. cus this could cost a lot more to know than comment.

  11. Hi Kemi please I need an urgent help from u please help by replying it will help a lot,my passport will expire on the 4th december 2016,is it posible to travel 2 Kenya with it?bcoz am planing to travel by summer”please waiting for reply thanks and God bless.

    • Valid Passport (must be at least six months valid from the intended date of return)
      kindly renew your passport before you apply

  12. Please Kemi help me please am begging!

    • Yes you can Victoria. The minimum validity is six months. 08025532086 for more details

  13. I would be staying only for 3 or 2 weeks can I still use it?

  14. My passport will expire in 6months time,and I would like 2 travel in august and spend 3 to 2 weeks in kenya,will I still get my visa? Please Kemi

  15. I have a conference to attend in Zanzibar beginning from the 21st of July to 24th July 2015.
    I wish to stopped in Kenya on 24th July 2015 to sunday 26th July 2015.
    Kindly advice me on the new visa rules because I am clear with the information on your site.

  16. I will be traveling to Mombasa on 18th of this Month but I’m using Ethiopian airline so would stop over at addis ababa for the night before connecting to kenya the next morning. Would I need to get my kenya/ethiopian visa before leaving Nigeria? I have my ticket and reservation already. Thanks for your quick response…

    • Hi muyiwa, You can get your visa on arrival at the airport for $50.

  17. Thanks for your quick response.

  18. Dear Kemi,
    I am planning of relocating from Nigeria to Kenya Mombasa to be precise to settle and reside.
    Please how do I go about making this a reality?
    Thanks.

  19. Hi am desmond,am traveling from Nigeria to kenya for d first time.how do i go about it plsss help me

  20. One more question please Kemi, Do I need to travel with cash above $50 for the visa? I don’t know if they will ask me how much cash I’m traveling with to be sure I have enough for my stay before issuing visa because I would rather travel with my card than traveling with cash to avoid loss of money in transit. I have my return ticket and my reservation already.

  21. Hello,

    I ‘ve been planing to visit my Friend in Kenya. I will be there for a minimum of 2 week. Please guide me on how to go about it. I wish to travel in September.please Advise!

  22. Hello! Am planning to visit kenya but am not going for a business just to view the country and to visit a friend.. So how do I apply for the post of visa

    • Hi John, You can now apply for Kenya Visa Online on eCitizen Website

  23. Thank you Kemi you re doing a great job here. Pls I want to visit Kenya,Dubai and South African this summer I wish to spend one week in each country.
    How do I go about it? I’m a very busy person. Send me the Answers to: emyx_services@yahoo.com Thank you

    • Hi Emeka, Please check your email. We look forward to your reply.

  24. What will it cost to visit kenya on tourism?

  25. dear kemi,
    I am so happy the way you handle issues here, be blessed I got a 10days course at Mombasa Kenya on a scholarship by 1st week of September I don’t know how to go about it do I need to apply for visa at the embassy here like most other countries visa or is it don like UAE point of entry
    thanks

  26. please mrs kemi i will be visiting Kenya next week do i need any document to take along with me before getting a visa at the point of entry…..kingle explain it to me better God bless you.

  27. Hi Kemi, you are doing a great job with this. I wish to travel to Dubai next week, transiting Kenya for a day (flight schedule, about 20hrs stopover in Kenya), and so I thought to get a hotel there and do some sight-seeeing while I wait. Do I need to pre-book the hotel in Kenya to show them at the Point of Entry, or I can just get the visa on arrival without any hassle? I await your response. Thanks.

  28. pls can i present my nigerian passport to come to kenya and get my visa at point of entry with issue or problem

  29. Hi,Dear.Pls,I Want To Visit Kenya By Next Month Ending.How Will I Go About Getting The Kenyan Visiting Visa For That Purpose.I Will Spend Two Weeks There Just To Spend Time Out There For Two Weeks To Visit And Experience Life There.Thanks. Reply ASAP.

    • Hi Franklin, You can apply for e-visa online via https://www.ecitizen.go.ke/ and you will get your visa within 3 working days.

  30. I quite appreciate your kind response to issues related to Kenyan visa.
    I’m a public servant with the federal government of Nigeria.
    I’m planning to pay a visit to a friend in Mombasa at the end of November this year during my annual leave. My stay will be for a period of three weeks.
    I’ll prefer going to the embassy to obtain my visa than this e-visa.
    Plz, mention the nessesary items I may require to hold when coming to do the visa for paying visit to a friend.
    Thank you as I wait for your promp response.

  31. Hello Kemi, I stumbled on this site on random search. Great job. I wish to visit Kenya by December. It’s my first time. Would you be kind enough to furnish me information on how much I should budget(visa, flight ticket, hotel bookings, etc) for dis trip? I am going as a tourist and wish to spend 2-3weeks there. Thanks in anticipation

    • Hi Felix, kindly send your enquiries to info@travelstart.com.ng. Please state your travel dates.thanks

  32. HEllo Kemi, I wish to visit kenya for the purpose of business and i will like to have a valid visa before leaving Nigeria. Can i apply in Lagos since i am lagos based.

    Regards
    Gbope

    • Hi Gbope, You can simply apply online via https://www.ecitizen.go.ke/. This will save you time and money.

  33. Please leave your comment…I want to travel
    to Nairobi for just two weeks. How much is the visa, ticket and how much do I have to hold with me? and how long will it take for the visa to be ready

  34. Hi Oluwakemi Ojo, I love what you do here. I am the CEO at OrBell Technologies, Nigeria, developer of blogulr.com . Blogulr! (pronounced blogular) is a content marketing community that lets you post useful articles, share them across your favourite social networks, setup featured ads, socialize with other professional, etc. All for free. You will find a tutorial and other handy tools to get you started when you sign up and I will be there to guide you all the way.

    • Thanks George!

  35. Hello Admin, I Received An Invitation Letter From A Friend In Kenya As To Come And Take Part In The Coordination Of A Band Ministry/ Conference. Please What Kind Of Visa Do I Go For, And How Do I Go About The Application Stuffs?

    • Hi Thompson, kindly apply for e-Visa online.

  36. After reading your helpful answers, hopefully you can help me.
    I am applying on line for a kenyan visa, unfortunately I do not have a printing facility at my home to print out the e Visa . I was wondering if the required documents are forwarded to my e mail address, where I could save it and have it printed out where a facility exists
    Thank you

    • Hi David, You can request that the eVisa be sent to your email or you could screen print the page and save.

  37. Thanks Admin. But Could You Please Be Specific To Me On What Visa Type To Apply And How To Get It Approved. Maybe You Could Send Me Full Details Via My Mail: thompsondayes@gmail.com

    I Look Forward To Hearing From You…

  38. Thanks for the info.
    Really helpful!

  39. please i intend traveling to Kenya at the the end of the month but i don’t know how to go about travel itinerary for a tourist visa, is there anyway you can assist?

  40. Hello, please the whole process look complicating, don’t know where to start from. I want to go to Kenya to spend 3 to 4 days but don’t have anyone there. I will appreciate if I can get response through my mail. olokodanamutiu@yahoo.com

  41. Hi, i will like to travel to Kenya and want to know if there is a travelling agency that can take care of my visa. Looking forward to hearing from u.

  42. Hi Kemi, i will like to travel to Kenya by December and its my first time, want to know if there is a travelling agency that can take care of my visa. Looking forward to hearing from u.

  43. Hi Kemi, I’ve seen your response to nearly all questions posted on this platform but I still have one or two. Can one pay the visa fee with verve or visa ATM cards?, A friend in Germany is sending some goods to Kenya for me to come clear and bring in to Nigeria. She doesn’t live there and therefore cannot send an invitation letter, what do I do with that requirement? Thanks Emma

    • Hi Emma, you can apply for your e-visa online. Yes you can make payment with your Visa or MasterCard.

  44. Please reply quickly!!!!

  45. Hello,you didn’t reply me asking if I need bank statement if it is online Visa
    Please reply
    Aiyenuro Gbenga Babatunde

    • Hi Aiyenuro, You don’t need your financial statement for e-visa.

  46. hi oluwakemi, pls I’m going to Kenya for Xmas and I will spend like a week there. pls what type of visa can I apply for.

  47. is it advisable for me to travel to Kenya,because this is just my first time of travelling

  48. is it advisable for me to travel to Kenya because I have not travel before

  49. Hello Kemi,i have been to Kenya and came back this June 15th for my father burial,i have my student admission letter and my student id card with me here in Nigeria,i defer my admission mainly because my parent request me to visit Nigeria when i lost my father,I want to return back,do i need to get the visa from Nigeria or i should just book my flight just like i did the first time and get the visa at the port of entry for $50,i need a quick response ma?

    • Hi Oke, You can no longer get visa on arrival. You should apply for your e-visa online – ecitizen.go.ke.

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