Kenya eVisa Requirements from 01 September 2015

Tracey Campbell - September 1, 2015

As of today (01 September 2015), it is no longer possible for tourists to Kenya to obtain a visa upon arrival at their port of entry. It is now compulsory to apply online for your visa via the eVisa portal https://www.ecitizen.go.ke/.

It is quite a simple process:

Visit https://www.ecitizen.go.ke/
Click on the eVisa tab
Click on ‘Create an Account’
Fill in the application form – you need to upload a digital passport photograph (maximum size 500 px by 500 px), a scan of the main page of your passport (with your name, date of birth and other information), and a copy of your confirmed itinerary
Pay securely using a Visa or MasterCard
Log out of your account, then set a reminder to log back in in 5-7 days time, by which time the eVisa should have been approved
Download the eVisa PDF from your account and print it out
Remember to take this with you when you travel and present it to the Immigration Officer at your point of entry into Kenya, along with your passport

Please ensure that you apply at least 3-4 weeks in advance of your proposed travel dates as approvals may take up to 7 working days to process. Once the eVisa is issued, it is valid for 3 months.

A full list of the nationalities who qualify for an eVisa can be found at on the eCitizen website . If your nationality does not qualify for an eVisa, please contact your local Kenyan High Commission or Embassy.

The following 2 eVisa types are available:

1. Single Entry – Allows you to enter into Kenya once – current cost US$50.

2. Transit – Allows a short stop over (up to 3 days) in Kenya – current cost US$20. This is ideal if you want to leave the secure area of the airport, for example for an overnight stay inbetween flights, or for a period not exceeding 72 hours. No visa is required for a direct transit (not leaving the secure area of the airport, aka staying ‘airside’, within the airport terminal) between 2 flights.

All costs quoted are subject to change.

Your passport should also be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Kenya.

Comments (4)

4 Comments

I have personally just done this, as I am off to Kenya in 3 weeks time. I found it in parts easy, in other parts quite difficult!

First of all, just perserve in getting onto the website! I tried several times during the day and kept getting told that the website was not available due to high traffic, but I eventually got onto the website successfully early one morning.

You need to set up an account first of all – you immediately get an email and you need to click on the link to activiate the account.

You need to upload a picture – it has to be current (within 6 months), in colour, NOT the same as the one in your passport, you need to be wearing normal street attire (no uniforms) and against a plain background (preferably white), you must not wear a hat/sunglasses or anything else that obstructs your hairline or hairline, and if you normally wear glasses you need to wear them for the photo but they should not be tinted.

When I clicked back on the link that the email sent me, I was directed to a page where I had to then click on the Department of Immigration Services. It was then a bit hazy as to what to do, so I clicked on Go to My Account and then Manage My Account and filled in the details here (whether this is actually required or not, I do not know). It asked for a KRA Pin No which I ignored, the postal address was NOT set up for UK residents at all (postcode only allowed for 5 digits, for example, the mobile number was 10 digits, the postal address 1-8 digits – to be honest, I just improvised with some random numbers). Like I said, whether this is key or not I will find out if my application is rejected.

I then clicked on Submit Application and was taken to the actual application – so I wonder whether it is necessary to fill in the account part? The cost is US$51 plus a service charge of US$1 (and then they charge a credit card fee as well!).

When you go through the application, you need to note these things:

It asks for your mothers name, your fathers name and your spouses name.
It asks for the Place of Issue and Issued By information from your passport – now, my passport doesn’t have this, so I put UK for both.
All dates are in US format – so the month is first, then the day, then the year. UK people are not really used to this so watch out!
You have to put details of your full itinerary – just summarise it – so the place and the number of nights.
For the telephone/email address of where you are staying – you can use the details that Travel Butlers will send you re our partner company in Kenya.
Remember when putting in phone numbers just to use numbers – so no + instead of the 00 for the code.
It also asked for your past travel history in the last 3 months, and details of all previous visits to Kenya.

When you finally submit the application, you do get a chance to reread it before final submission, and if you find you have made a mistake, pressing the Previous button will take you back to the page in question but you do not lose any information so you do not have to reinput anything again.

You are given a lot of reference numbers – I wrote them all down just to be on the safe side!

Payment is only by Visa or Mastercard, and as I mentioned above, they also charge a credit card handling fee.

You do not get the visa immediately, I believe you are sent an email when it is approved but I have heard rumours not to rely on this, so I will be checking back into my account next week to see the status.

Good luck!

Comment by TraceyCampbell — September 4, 2015 @ 8:21 am
I tried to apply and I a facing a strange issue. I tried to register in the morning. The site was fast and was rendering properly. However I am stuck at a page where it asks me to confirm the email by clicking the email it supposedly sent me. However I haven’t received any email yet 🙁

Comment by Roshan — September 5, 2015 @ 11:46 am
I am happy to report that I had an email confirming my eVisa had been approved the same day! Kenya here I come!

Comment by TraceyCampbell — September 10, 2015 @ 1:03 pm
I applied for my evisa and it was issued immediately. I was able to print the pdf straight away. Amazing service.

Comment by Jane — December 3, 2015 @ 3:15 pm

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

I have personally just done this, as I am off to Kenya in 3 weeks time. I found it in parts easy, in other parts quite difficult!

First of all, just perserve in getting onto the website! I tried several times during the day and kept getting told that the website was not available due to high traffic, but I eventually got onto the website successfully early one morning.

You need to set up an account first of all – you immediately get an email and you need to click on the link to activiate the account.

You need to upload a picture – it has to be current (within 6 months), in colour, NOT the same as the one in your passport, you need to be wearing normal street attire (no uniforms) and against a plain background (preferably white), you must not wear a hat/sunglasses or anything else that obstructs your hairline or hairline, and if you normally wear glasses you need to wear them for the photo but they should not be tinted.

When I clicked back on the link that the email sent me, I was directed to a page where I had to then click on the Department of Immigration Services. It was then a bit hazy as to what to do, so I clicked on Go to My Account and then Manage My Account and filled in the details here (whether this is actually required or not, I do not know). It asked for a KRA Pin No which I ignored, the postal address was NOT set up for UK residents at all (postcode only allowed for 5 digits, for example, the mobile number was 10 digits, the postal address 1-8 digits – to be honest, I just improvised with some random numbers). Like I said, whether this is key or not I will find out if my application is rejected.

I then clicked on Submit Application and was taken to the actual application – so I wonder whether it is necessary to fill in the account part? The cost is US$51 plus a service charge of US$1 (and then they charge a credit card fee as well!).

When you go through the application, you need to note these things:

It asks for your mothers name, your fathers name and your spouses name.
It asks for the Place of Issue and Issued By information from your passport – now, my passport doesn’t have this, so I put UK for both.
All dates are in US format – so the month is first, then the day, then the year. UK people are not really used to this so watch out!
You have to put details of your full itinerary – just summarise it – so the place and the number of nights.
For the telephone/email address of where you are staying – you can use the details that Travel Butlers will send you re our partner company in Kenya.
Remember when putting in phone numbers just to use numbers – so no + instead of the 00 for the code.
It also asked for your past travel history in the last 3 months, and details of all previous visits to Kenya.

When you finally submit the application, you do get a chance to reread it before final submission, and if you find you have made a mistake, pressing the Previous button will take you back to the page in question but you do not lose any information so you do not have to reinput anything again.

You are given a lot of reference numbers – I wrote them all down just to be on the safe side!

Payment is only by Visa or Mastercard, and as I mentioned above, they also charge a credit card handling fee.

You do not get the visa immediately, I believe you are sent an email when it is approved but I have heard rumours not to rely on this, so I will be checking back into my account next week to see the status.

Good luck!

Comment by TraceyCampbell — September 4, 2015 @ 8:21 am

I tried to apply and I a facing a strange issue. I tried to register in the morning. The site was fast and was rendering properly. However I am stuck at a page where it asks me to confirm the email by clicking the email it supposedly sent me. However I haven’t received any email yet 🙁

Comment by Roshan — September 5, 2015 @ 11:46 am

I am happy to report that I had an email confirming my eVisa had been approved the same day! Kenya here I come!

Comment by TraceyCampbell — September 10, 2015 @ 1:03 pm

I applied for my evisa and it was issued immediately. I was able to print the pdf straight away. Amazing service.

Comment by Jane — December 3, 2015 @ 3:15 pm