Entering Kenya is only permitted with a visa. Travelling with a visa for Kenya comes with certain requirements. Make sure you meet these, so your trip to Kenya can proceed without any problems. The visa requirements on this page apply to tourists and business travellers.

How can I apply for the Kenya visa?
Since 2021, visas for Kenya can only be applied for online. You therefore do not need to visit an embassy or consulate. You receive the electronic visa, or e-visa, by e-mail.
Apply for your Kenya visa here

Your passport and nationality

First, you must possess a passport for a holiday or business trip to Kenya. This can be a regular, diplomatic or emergency passport. The passport must be valid for at least six more months on arrival in Kenya and contain at least three empty pages. Check this before submitting your visa application. Do you need a new passport for your trip to Kenya? Hold off on applying for your visa until you have received your new passport. Identity cards, residency permits or travel documents do not meet the requirements.

The online application procedure for the visa is available to tourists and business travellers with the nationality of the United Kingdom, Ireland and all countries in the European Union. Travellers with the nationality of Switzerland, as well several other nationalities you can find on this page, also meet the requirements for the e-visa for Kenya.

Your travel purpose in Kenya

The e-visa Kenya is suitable for your trip if you have a business, tourist or medical travel purpose. Visiting family or friends that live in Kenya also falls under this.

You are not allowed to enter into employment with an organisation located in Kenya during your trip. Voluntary work is also not allowed with the standard e-visa. More information about the possibilities for visas that are suitable for (voluntary) work can be acquired through the Embassy of Kenya.

When travelling with children

Children always needs their own passports. Children who on arrival have not yet reached 16 years of age do not require a visa. Are you travelling with children under 18? Then you must always indicate this during the visa application of one of the parents or guardians travelling along. Do you have questions about this? Read the frequently asked questions about the visa for Kenya.

The Masai - an indigenous people in eastern Kenya

Your itinerary

A requirement to apply for the Kenya visa is that you must have already started making an itinerary. It does not have to be extensive. The application form only asks for the airport, seaport or border post where you will be entering Kenya. It also asks for the location of your first overnight stay in Kenya.

You must have already established the location of your first overnight stay before applying for the visa. During your visa application, you are asked to provide a booking confirmation of this. Are you staying with friends or family? Then you must provide a letter of invitation written in English by the friend or family member with whom you will be staying. Additionally, you must provide a photo or scan of the Kenyan passport, Kenyan ID card or Foreigner Certificate of this friend or family member. Are you travelling for business? Then you must provide a letter of invitation from the Kenyan organisation you will be visiting.

Did your travel plans change after applying for the visa? Then you do not need to pass that information on.

Important documents that you must take to Kenya
• The passport with which your visa was applied for
• The printed visa (children under 16 are exempt)
• The booking confirmation of the location of your first overnight stay in Kenya
• Your letter of invitation, if you are staying with friends or family
• Your letter of invitation, if you plan to visit a Kenyan organisation
• Your return or transit ticket, with which you will be leaving Kenya

Arrival location

The e-visa allows you to enter Kenya at every border crossing that has a checkpoint. All international airports and seaports have a checkpoint. Most land border crossings do as well, though not all of them. Check if your arrival location appears in the below list:

Permitted arrival locations by plane

• Eldoret International Airport (EDL)
• Garissa Airport (GAS)
• Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO)
• Kisumu Airport (KIS)
• Lamu Airport (LAU)
• Lokichogio Airport (LKG)
• Malindi Airport (MYD)
• Moi Airport Mombasa (MBA)
• Wajir International Airport (WJR)
• Wilson Airport (WIL)

Permitted arrival locations by sea

• Kilindini Sea Port, Mombasa
• Kisumu
• Kiunga
• Lamu
• Malindi
• Mbita Point, Nyanza
• Muhuru Bay, Nyanza
• Old Port, Mombasa
• Shimoni
• Vanga

Permitted arrival locations by land

• Busia
• Isebania
• Liboi
• Loitokitok
• Lungalunga
• Malaba
• Mandera
• Moyale
• Nadapal
• Namanga
• Taveta

Do you meet all the requirements?

If you meet all the visa requirements on this page, you can apply for an e-visa for Kenya. Make sure to also take into account the validity term of the visa for Kenya.
Apply for the Kenya visa now