Visa Requirements for Kenyan Citizens
Visa requirements for Kenyan citizens are rules and regulations established in advance by the governments of other countries, including the eligibility of travelers from Kenya, as well as the required documents to enter. Established conditions must be met when traveling abroad, otherwise customs officers at the chosen destination may refuse entry. Kenyan citizens can visit other countries using e-visa, visa on arrival, embassy visa and visa-free.
The most difficult type of visa to obtain is the one issued by the embassy as it requires a lengthy application process with many supporting documents to provide. Currently, 115 countries require Kenyan passport holders to have a regular embassy visa on arrival. The eVisa is an electronic alternative to the regular embassy visa and is much easier to obtain. The entire process can be done online using any functional device with an internet connection.
Electronic visas are offered to Kenyan citizens by 16 countries. There is also the option of visa on arrival, currently offered by 27 countries to incoming Kenyan passport holders.
This eliminates the need to manage visas before departure; however, the process of getting it at one of the border checkpoints often involves long and stressful lines.
Finally, 38 destinations welcome Kenyan citizens visa-free, allowing them to travel without any type of visa.However, some supporting documents may be required; however, this type of trip is still the easiest to track.
More information about each visa/entry type is available below, along with a specific list of countries that require each type of document from Kenyan citizens when visiting.
Electronic visa
An e-visa is an online travel authorization document that allows the holder to travel abroad for a short-term visit related to leisure, business or transit.
Sometimes eVisas are issued for other purposes, including medical reasons.
Regardless of type, eVisa applications can be submitted online using a phone, laptop, PC or tablet.
List of countries offering eVisas for Kenyan citizens
- Bahrain
- Cambodia
- Djibouti
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Madagascar
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Qatar
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Suriname
Currently, there are only 16 destinations that allow Kenyan citizens to travel with an eVisa in hand. Kenyan passport holders visiting these countries are advised to apply for an eVisa a few days before departure to receive the necessary documents on time.
What is typically required to apply for an eVisa is simply a valid passport, a working email address, and access to any preferred online payment methods. Additionally, most applications are approved by foreign governments within up to 72 hours and then sent directly to the applicant’s email inbox. An approved eVisa is linked to the traveler’s passport and, in most cases, must also be printed for the intended trip. This document then entitles its holder to stay abroad for a short period of time for Kenyan citizens, ranging from 14 to 90 days depending on the chosen destination.
When traveling abroad with an eVisa in hand, Kenyan citizens can enjoy all sorts of leisure, business and transit travel, including:
- Go on vacation,
- Meet with their friends and family,
- Attend meetings, conferences, seminars, or trade fairs,
- Negotiate future contracts or deals,
- Take a leisure while reaching another final destination.
Visa on Arrival
A visa on arrival is a type of visa that is processed after arriving at the chosen destination at one of the country's border checkpoints.
This is when travelers must fill out the application, pay the issuance fee, submit supporting documents (if any) and wait for approval.
List of countries offering a Visa on Arrival for Kenyan citizens
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Jordan
- Laos
- Madagascar
- The Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Saint Lucia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
27 countries allow Kenyan citizens to apply for a visa upon arrival, eliminating the need to apply for a visa before departure. The first step in obtaining a VoA begins before arriving in the chosen country and requires the Kenyan passport holder to check if there are any supporting documents to prepare.
In this case, documents must be collected before departure. For example, supporting documents may include hotel reservations or evidence of having enough funds for a planned stay abroad, and all of them must be attached to the VoA application.
The next step is to request a VoA application form at one of the border crossings upon arrival.
The form must be filled out completely and accurately to avoid any problems or delays in approval. Some countries also require travelers to cover the cost of issuing a VoA, usually in cash and using the local currency. The final step is simply waiting for approval. VoA, like eVisa, allows its holder to undertake short-term stays (usually up to 30 or 90 days) abroad, related to leisure, business or transit. It is also important to note that some countries (e.g.
Cambodia, Guinea-Bissau, Laos or Madagascar) that offer a VoA option will offer an additional eVisa option for travelers who want to apply for a visa online more easily, Ignore the long delay.
Line up upon arrival.
Embassy visa
An embassy visa or regular visa is a traditional visa that can be stamped on the traveler's passport and requires the traveler to complete the application process directly with the country's embassy or consulate.
the country they intend to visit.
Embassy visas can be issued for short-term and long-term stays, even those related to work, study or meeting relatives abroad.
List of countries that require Kenyan citizens to present a valid Embassy visa on arrival
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Andorra
- Angola
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Cameroon
- Canada
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- The Republic of the Congo
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- The Czech Republic
- Denmark
- The Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Ivory Coast
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- The Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nauru
- The Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- North Korea
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Oman
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- The Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- The United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
As many as 115 countries have required Kenyan passport holders to have a visa issued by their embassy upon arrival.
This means that upon arrival at these destinations, Kenyan citizens must apply for a regular visa as this is the only document that allows them to enter their chosen country. The embassy visa application process varies depending on a number of factors, the specific visa type of the embassy, the destination country, and the applicant’s nationality.
Differences may be evident in supporting documents, processing times, and other parts of the application process. Visa applications issued by the embassy should usually be submitted several weeks before departure to allow enough time for processing.
It’s best to check the exact processing time before booking your flight or hotel, as it can even take more than a few weeks. The next important part of applying for an embassy visa is gathering supporting documents, which may vary depending on the specific embassy visa type chosen.
Once the documents have been collected, Kenyan citizens must carefully fill out the embassy visa application form available on the official government website of the selected country. Once the documents are collected, the traveler must apply in person at the embassy or consulate.
This will trigger the start of request processing. However, some countries may require additional steps, such as paying a visa fee or completing a visa interview. Travelers should also carefully choose the specific embassy visa type that suits their needs and the reason for their planned trip abroad.
Visa-free countries
38 countries offer Kenyan citizens visa-free entry, eliminating the need to apply for any type of visa when traveling.
This is the simplest way to travel as the only document usually required is a passport or valid ID.
List of visa-free countries for Kenyan citizens
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Jamaica
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Namibia
- Panama
- The Philippines
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Senegal
- Singapore
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The process of traveling without a visa is as simple as possible!
Most of the time, Kenyan citizens will only need to prepare a valid passport or identification document to be able to enter a country without a visa. Sometimes it may be necessary to prepare some additional supporting documents, such as proof of hotel booking, sufficient funds for the trip or a copy of your return ticket. Visa-free countries allow Kenyan citizens to enter for short-term stays related to leisure, business or transit.
This means that visiting the destination listed above for vacation, business travel, to visit family or friends or just as a stopover is more than simple!