Read on as we share with you the details of the criteria to be met, the procedure involved and the time needed to acquire a visa to the lovely land of Kenya from the UAE.
People from the following countries are eligible for ‘pre-arrival’ or ‘on-arrival’ visas
Check out the list of the countries that we’ve given below. If you are a citizen of any of the following countries or hold a passport from any of these countries, you’ll receive a visa on arrival when you land in Kenya. The countries are-
- Uganda
- Rwanda
- Tanzania
- Burundi
- South Sudan
On Arrival Visa of 90 Days
If hold a passport from any of the countries mentioned in the table below, you’ll be eligible to stay in Kenya for a period of 90 days with the visa being stamped on your passport at the airport itself. Here are the countries-
Bahamas | Belize | Botswana |
Belize | Brunei | Cyprus |
Dominica | Darussalam | Ethiopia |
Fiji | Grenada | Ghana |
Gambia | Jamaica | Kiribati |
Lesotho | Mauritius | Malawi |
Maldives | Malaysia | Nauru |
Namibia | Papua New Guinea | Rwanda |
St Lucia | Samoa | St Kitts and Nevis |
Singapore | Sierra Leone | South Africa |
Seychelles | Solomon Islands | Swaziland |
Trinidad and Tobago | Tanzania | Tuvalu |
Tonga | Uganda | Vanuatu |
Zimbabwe | Zambia | St Vincent and the Grenadines |
Note: For passport holders of South Africa, the duration of the stay is less than 30 days. For Malaysian passport holders, the duration of stay in Kenya is 30 days.
If your country doesn’t appear in the table given above, then you aren’t unfortunately eligible for a visa on arrival. You’ll be required to apply for a pre-arrival visa to Kenya from the UAE.
Type of Short-term Pre-arrival Visit Visa
If you happen to be a UAE national or are a holder of a passport from any of the countries mentioned in the table and residing in the UAE, then you’re eligible for an on-arrival visa. There’s no need for you to go through any formalities before you travel. Again, if you’re a passport holder of any of the 26 Schengen states, you’re eligible for a visa on arrival which is stamped in your passport.
The On-arrival visa is ideal for those who are looking to visit Kenya for business, investing or trading purposes. It’s also suitable for those who want to visit Kenya for tourism and those wanting to visit their family and friends.
The Price of the Pre-arrival Visa to Kenya
Depending on the age of the applicant and the type of visa sought, the visa fee is likely to vary. Even if the visa is rejected, the visa fee shall not be refunded under any circumstances whatsoever. Apart from the standard visa fee, a charge of AED 150 has to be paid as a service fee.
- Original passport that’s not older than 10 years and is valid for at least 6 months from the date of return scheduled. It should have at least 2 blank pages
- 1 passport size color photo with a white background
- Residency visa valid for at least 3 months from the scheduled date of return
- Valid UAE ID proof
- For professional visitors, an NOC letter from the employer mentioning the designation, salary, beginning of employment date and a no-objection statement bearing the company’s original stamp
- If invited by someone from Kenya, the original invitation letter
- An original bank statement of 3months duly stamped by the bank
- Proof of hotel reservation
- Travel insurance for the period of travel
- Return flight tickets that are confirmed
The usual time needed to have a visa to Kenya processed is 7 to 10 working days. The process may however be delayed on improper submission of documents or certain eligibility criteria not being met.
The Procedure Involved
- The documents and payment are collected from the applicant
- After the visa application form is submitted, it is checked for any mistakes or any missing information
- An appointment with the Kenyan embassy is fixed and the biometric tests are done
- The visa processing begins after the interview and it takes 7 to 10 working days
- The passport is collected after the visa processing is done
FAQ
Yes, children below 18 years must have their parents with them unless there’s an NOC letter from both the parents specifically stating that the child may visit without them. This letter must be attached to the passport copy and submitted with the Kenyan embassy along with the visa application.
No, it’s not possible to do so as the Kenyan embassy won’t be able to enter the details in their systems.
No, under no circumstances whatsoever is the visa fee refunded. Granting a visa or rejecting the application is entirely at the discretion of the embassy.