No Visa – No Entry as Kenya launches new rules

VISA IN ADVANCE? NOW KENYA TOO STARTS THIS NONSENSE!

(Posted 01st July 2015)

Come midnight tonight, 02nd of July 2015, do major changes in Kenya’s Visa policy come into place. Unlike in the past when many nationalities were able to get their Visa on arrival in Nairobi or Mombasa, will intending visitors now have to apply for an e-Visa in advance, with processing days taking as much as a week. Upon vehement intervention from tourism stakeholders has a grace period been extended but only for two months, during which tourists and business travelers arriving at one of the two international airports can still get their Visa on arrival but effective 01st of September will this dual modus operandum be scrapped and only the e-Visa process be available.

The new method was only announced a short while ago and has caught many travelers and in particular tour operators and travel agencies abroad unaware. Many destinations brochures will now need re-printing as in most are European visitors told they can get their Visa on arrival at a cost of US Dollars 50, payable in cash. No more under the new rules when the payment must be made by credit or debit card.


KENYA INTRODUCES MANDATORY

ONLINE VISA APPLICATIONS

Starting from 2nd July 2015, the government of Kenya will introduce electronic visa application. Tourists wishing to visit Kenya need to apply as follows:

Visit the electronic visa page at www.ecitizen.go.ke

Select Register as a Visitor

As part of this process, you will receive a confirmation email that you need to click on to verify and confirm your registration

At this point, you will be asked to UPLOAD A DIGITAL PASSPORT PHOTO (Maximum size 500 px by 500 px)

Once logged in, select Department of Immigration Services

Select Submit Application

Select Kenyan Visa

Select the type of visa (visitor) and read the instructions carefully

Complete the application form – please note that incomplete applications will berejected and you will lose your processing fees

You will need a scan of the main page of your passport (with your name, date of birth and other information)

You will need to re-upload your passport photo

Pay using your Visa card, MasterCard or other debit card

Await your approval which will be sent to you by email. This could take up to 7days so ensure that you plan in advance

Once you have received the email advising that your visa is approved, log back into your ecitizen account and download your visa.

Print a copy of your visa to present to the immigration officer at your point of entry into Kenya

Some things to remember:

The visa process takes up to one week and must be completed in advance

You will need a scan of your passport and passport photo

Approval and issuance of the visa does not guarantee entry into Kenya

Any form of business or employment on a visitor’s visa is an offence

As the introduction of this visa process was only announced a few days ago, there is a two month grace period whereby visas can still be purchased on arrival. This grace period expires on 31 August 2015.

Effective 01 September 2015, you will be denied boarding of your flight to Kenya or denied entry to Kenya if you do not have your printed copy of your e-visa with you.

The new service goes live on 2nd July 2015.

It was not possible in the short period of time available to ascertain if the common East African tourist Visa, which presently allows entry into the three CoW countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya at a reduced cost of just 100 US Dollars, must now also be purchased in advance via e-Channels, as no such information was included in the regulations and guidelines published by the Kenyan immigration department.

Tourism stakeholders have sharply condemned the move, saying the week long processing period is excessive and prevents tourists taking a last minute decision to come to Kenya.

Last minute bookings, often at a significant rebate, are popular in Europe with passengers at times just turning up at the airport and in a game of potluck choosing from posters hang up by airlines or touroperators where to fly to, paying there and then and checking in for their flight.

Either did Kenyan officials not think of this segment of travelers, or perhaps rather not know about it and with the new rules basically sending out the message that last minute travelers are no longer welcome in Kenya will inevitably business be lost to more user friendly destinations for last minute bookers.

One source from Nairobi close to this ‘action’ admitted that this was aimed to keep undesirables out of Kenya, in particular to stem the potential rise in arrivals of radicals from the UK, who may wish to join terrorist organisations similar to what many have done with ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

‘You must understand that the threat level from that side has gone up and up. We need those days to vet applicants and compare data base information with some of our western partners. This way we hope to catch those with links to radical groups and can deny them entry. Right now they just come, pay their Visa fee and melt away. One British was killed a few weeks ago when together with Al Shabab operatives trying to attack our barracks in Lamu. Therefore, we had to act and close that open door which existed and which we believe was used by radicals to infiltrate us. Now that you say it will keep a lot of real tourists out of Kenya, this will have to be investigated. We have to see if the process can be made faster. Anyway, people who have been here as tourists before and now arrive under new rules will be captured in our data base and when they come back in the future, their application could be as fast as a day’.

Considering that the country is still reeling from the yoke of the only recently lifted harsh anti travel advisories, it is clear that there is now a raging argument between tourism operators to let tourists in as it has been while security services will argue that even with the risk of one radical slipping through the net that one is one too many.

When Burundi a few months ago, equally at short notice, also demanded Visa in advance instead of granting them on arrival, visitor numbers into Bujumbura all but collapsed, leaving an already struggling tourism industry reeling from the fallout and being pushed to the wall due to lack of tourism numbers and revenues.

Seriously speaking though, tourism stakeholders are now urged to communicate these changes to their agents and operators abroad to avoid situation where paid up travelers will be denied boarding for their flight to Kenya, still thinking they get their Visa on arrival and yet, come September, will those doors be closed for good.

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149 Responses

  2. This article in unnecessarily alarmist and not entirely true.
    While it is true the E-Visa application goes live on 2nd July, for the first two months (up to end of August) visitors can still acquire their visas at the airport as usual

    The E-Visa between 2nd July and end of August will be optional for those willing to do so. That gives the local industry stakeholders a good two months to engage the Government over the potentially harmful effects of this proposal.

  3. Those tourists who are serious about visiting Kenya make plans way ahead of time and will be able to go through the new requirements without a hustle. There are visa agencies that can also do the paperwork for those booking through travel agencies. Kenya can no longer afford to sacrifice the safety of millions of Kenyans to meet the comfort levels of tourists. Yes we need tourists but our safety is paramount and this new regulation will enable the preliminary screening of those seeking to enter Kenya. Terrorists and paedophiles beware!

    1. I think that Kenya does need to protect itself from certain undesirable elements & visitors such as terrorists and paedophiles. However, setting up an e-visa system does not necessarily safeguard against this as people may travel on different passports at different times if they are citizens of more than one country, or they may enter Kenya via another country in east Africa where they have not had to obtain an e-visa etc. An e-visa system can work but before it is released publicly certain safeguards need to be put in place so that users can be guaranteed of their own security (for making online payments for example) and given some reliable contact point to use in case there are problems or questions. I’m not sure that the current e-visa structure has taken all of these issues into account. Finally, Kenya does need tourists and these days many tourists do make a last minute decision to visit the country. For instance, if people are holidaying in Tanzania they may decide to visit Kenya as a spontaneous last minute decision – this new system (as it is currently proposed) will possibly deter these types of visitors which may be problematic in the long term for the Kenyan tourist market.

      1. I don’t think that any serious visitor will see this as a deterrent. There are so many die-hard Kenya holiday-makers who make appropriate arrangements on time. Kenya will review and deal with the consequences of the evisa after the implementation process has been completed & the first results submitted. No one can predict the outcome at this juncture. Furthermore, domestic tourists are also a force to recon with and have kept the tourist industry afloat during these trying period. We should stop crying about last-minute bookers.

  4. Kenya is going to loose lot of last minute tourism.

    I am wondering why they care so much about a few terrorism militants while many foreigners die in roads accident due the inadequate infrastuctures, luck of security, speed control or simply because a bump is is not indicated by a proper sign.

    Try to drive from Nairobi to Mombasa no matter if at day time or in tue night..you’ll risk your life hundred times..

  5. Panicked but phoned the High Commission in London and told I can get my visa at the airport no problem, thank goodness and nothing seems to be mentioned on their web pages.

  6. I dont event know what to say..All I know is that terrorism is just within and not necessarily from outsiders..That said, security should be beefed up at entry points so that people with questionable characters can be weeded out before they leave the airport

  8. Best thing to do is to get it clear from the horse’s mouth… this blog is a bit misleading… i have just come off the phone with an official for immigration at the JKIA and he has informed me that they will continue with the usual style of handing out visas to all until the 1st of September because of obvious reasons and will enforce it as of that date. Good day …

  10. true and due to some bad experience in past the kenya is going to adopt some safety rules we have to support as in other countries we do follow them like that we ahve to accept and follow

  11. How does this affect border crossings at Sirari for example??

  12. Unfortunately this means my present visit to Kenya will be my last visit. While I love visiting Kenya there is absolutely no way that I would trust the Kenyan Government with my Credit Card details.

  13. I wouldn’t trust the Kenyan Government with my credit card information either. On top of that, there are a lot of foreigners living in or traveling through surrounding countries that will not have access to scanners to scan a digital passport photo or the first page of their passport if they do chose to go to Kenya on a whim (or even within a few weeks). I’m an expat in East Africa – it’s not that simple. I’m surprised that for a country that is struggling for tourists that they would put this into place or at least make their online visa process this much of a hassle. Look to other countries and their online visa process – it is less of a process. Also, their website is very unclear about the photo; it states that no scanned photos will be accepted – so I have to go to a passport photo office and have them digitally email me the photo? I would like to hear from someone who has gone through this and let us know how smooth it is…

  14. I traveled to Kenya in May – June 2015 and had my credit card information stolen and used for a hotel stay in Mombasa costing USD$1,500. Will be my last trip to Kenya as the e-visa application asks for too much personal info and credit card details – an easy way for just one compromised person in GOK to steal identity as well as credit card info.

  15. i am trying yo submit the the evisa but keeps saying page not available

  17. I have used the ecitizen website to apply for my e visa. I applied on Monday 7 Sep 2015 and received an email confirmation on Tue 8 Sep to say my e visa has been approved. I has called the Kenya High Commission on Monday 7th since the website had been down the whole of Friday 4th. I spoke to the immigration officer and he said if my e visa doesn’t go through he can make arrangements to get it on my arrival. So people should not worry, they understand the system is new but its also got its complications.

  19. Having visited Kenya more than a couple times in the visa-on-arrival days, I was expecting the same. I had heard of East African countries raising their entry fees, though, so I googled to find out what Kenya’s current fees were. Luckily, one of the first results was this blog post! With less than 2 days before I was due to fly out for Kenya, I slogged through the eVisa site, applied, and was approved almost instantly. Many thanks to you for this informative post – I’m letting all my friends and colleagues know about these new requirements as well, since the system was implemented during our customary “summer break” from meetings in Gigiri!

      1. Please I book my ticket tomorrow to fly to Kenyan tomorrow 31st of October. Can I still get visa on arrival ? Or should I cancel my flight?

  20. Thank you very much for your information. It would be helpful if you post an update to your post about the Visa being restored on arrival to the main airports of Nairobi and Mombasa. Best wishes.

  21. I wanted to know whether this is possible to enter Kenya with a one way ticket for a British passport carrier (coming from Djibouti with a return ticket to the UK). I rang the embassy in London and they said that this is possible according to Kenyan immigration policies but that I needed to check with the airline company. The airline seems quite evasive. Anyone who’s done it recently or know whether it is possible and where to find the info in writing, just in case?
    Thanks

  22. Thanks for the info. Currently when googling ‘evisa Kenya’, this post comes up rather than your update. For other casual visitors like myself, you might save a few scared heart beats if you put a link to your update somewhere in this article. https://wolfganghthome.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/urgent-kenya-e-visa-update/

    I applied 3 business days before my flight, as I’d seen guidance that it took 2 business days, usually much less. Now 12 hours before my flight the eVisa is still ‘pending’. Still, $100 if I have to pay again on entry is better than having to miss my flight, I guess..

    1. Visa are available on arrival so in case of a tight deadline it is
      easier to just get the Visa after landing in Nairobi (or Mombasa).
      When you arrive in Nairobi, and still have not had your e-Visa
      come through, take the payment receipt with you and make your case
      that a double payment is really not on … they should be able to
      check at immigration that your application is actually on file.
      Enjoy Kenya!
      W.

  23. Planning to arrive in Kenya on March 4th, 2016. Is it still possible to get the visa at the airport?

  24. Hi sir how ‘re you ? i am pakistani citizen and we need Kenya visit visa.

  25. hi sir how are you i am pakistani citizen,and we need kenya visit visa.

  26. hello, please can czech citisien get the visa on the airport in Nairobi or we need e-visa before the flight? Thanks so much

  27. I live in Poland. I want to fly to Mombasa on Saturday 01/23/2016. I get a visa at the airport?

  28. hallo, I am traveling to kenya 11.02.16. and i did not know about the Evisa. i have norwegian passport. I applied for my Evisa but i dont know if i will get the answer early enouhg. can i buy the visa at arrival in nairobi?

  29. My name is Alex….my planned date was to enter into kenya on 14th of Feb 2016. but my flight date is 17th feb 2016. Is it possible for me to enter?

  30. My 15yr old son is travelling to Kenya by himself to stay with a school friend. Still waiting for his new passport to arrive so can’t apply for e-visa in advance. Does anyone know what documents i need to give him so he can enter Kenya and get his visa himself at the airport?

  31. I am a Canadian passport holder, can I get a visa on arrival at Nairobi Airport ? Will be flying on to Mombasa..should I anticipate any problems?

  32. I am a Nigerian passport holder. I intend visiting Dubai and transit in Kenya for 2 days, will i be given Kenya Transit visa on arrival without any problem if i choose this option? I would appreciate your reply. thanks for the good work

    1. Many nationalities are able to get Visa and transit Visa on arrival in Nairobi.
      However, we all know that African passport holders often are treated as second
      class travelers compared to holders of Western nation passports even when
      traveling across Africa.
      I suggest you contact your airline for the latest information about Visa
      requirements and how to secure one before you travel to avoid any possible
      upset of your plans.
      Thanks for your compliments and for reading my blog.
      W.

  33. So easy to solve it: US$50 if you go with an eVisa through eCitizen and US§100 if you ask for one at entry in the airport. Everyone will be happy 🙂
    PS: I’m a consultant and can be hired to solve this type of problems with not so out-of-the-box thinking

  34. Hi I will be travelling to Kenya I have an Australian passport and a south African passport, I will be visiting a friend and their might be a possibility of wanting to stay longer, which would be the better passport to use in this case?

  35. seems silly that you did not edit the article to make the correction for the current situation. VISAS ARE AVAILABLE ON ARRIVAL!

  36. I M FROM INDIA. I WANT TO COME NAIROBI ON 24 MAY ON BUSINESS VISA , KENYA IMMIGRATION GIVE ME ARRIVAL VISA OR NOT …?

  37. Thank you for your great service – and patience…..
    I’m leaving Denmark for Mombasa on Tuesday and thanks to you I will be at ease with the requirements for visa as I now know I can buy it at arrival for 30£ or 50§.

  38. Hi, thanks for the useful info. I will be flying from Johannesburg to London via Nairobi (3 hour layover there and back), do I still need to purchase a transit visa? Thanks!

  39. Hi again, on the evisa website it states that those connecting flights directly without leaving the airport don’t need to apply! But I wonder if this is true in practice? I have three hours to wait in between flights, so I guess that would be classed as ‘connecting directly’? Thanks for any advice with this.
    http://evisa.go.ke/transit-visa.html

  40. I am travelling to Kenya with my wife and two children. Do we need to fill in any forms, and if so can I download and fill them in advance?

  41. Hello,
    Thank you for sharing this information.
    I am from the United States and leaving to kenya in 6 days. I applied for my visa online but i did not get an answer yet. Would I be able to get a visa at the airport?
    Thank you,
    Maryan

  42. Leaving for Kenya on the 22nd of July, I’m a United States citizen. Would it be sensible to apply for a Kenyan Visa at the Kenyan Embassy in DC or could I just do it upon arrival in Kenya at the airport?

  43. Hi George, I don’t have a last name(surname) in my passport, I only have the first name. will there be a problem while getting visa on arrival in kenya(I am a resident of India) if that matters. ?? Also which currency do i need to carry when i get there for visa fees?

  44. Hi, I am from the Myanmar and travel to Kenya in 7 days for conference. In Myanmar don’t have the Kenya Embassy and also I can’t apply for my visa online due to don’t have the credit card. Would I be able to get a visa at the airport?
    Thank you,

  45. Dr. Wolfgang,

    My wife eVisa to Kenya is still pending, can you advise me whether she can get VOA at Nairobi airport? and do I have to pay additional cost other than 51$ which I already paid in eVisa website?

      1. Thanks Dr. Wolfgang for your immediate reply. It is really helpful.

  47. My wife and I are Leaving at the end of Sept for Nairobi for about 3 weeks. Visas still available at airport?

  49. hello am from india . am i able to apply for a visa after reaching airport in nairobi

  50. Sir i am from india i want to go kenya for visit my friend sir tell me after applying how many days will take for tourist visa Confirmation

  51. I am a Canadian citizen arriving in Nairobi in October 2016 can get a visitors visa on arrival at the airport. Thanks.

  52. I am a Canadian citizen and will be arriving in Nairobi on Oct 15 2016. Will I be able to get a visitors visa upon arrival at the airport.
    Thanks

  53. Hello, As a Slovak Republic citizen, am I able to travel to Kenya without e-visa and then, when i arrive, i can get visa for 50USD?
    Thanks for your time

    BB

  54. Dr. reading through all the comments and you replying to each is beyond understanding. You are a godsend. Be blessed immensely for this.

  55. I have not been able to see anything on the transit visa. Yes I can see I can have a 3 days transit visa if I leave the airport etc. But what about a flight change and NOT leaving the airport and on to Zanzibar /Tanzania and on return the same? thank you.

      1. I find interesting this answer, although it is not exactly our case. Our group will arrive to JKIA from Casablanca, Morocco, Then we have booked a safari program in Tanzania, going on the same day by land from Nairobi to Arusha, and crossing the border at Namanga. After 6 days, we will return by the same route to Nairobi, to follow on next day our trip toward Madagascar.

        Please, may you tell me what kind of visa we need? Is it enough a single entry one? Or do we need to get two visas?

      2. If you only transit Kenya, i.e. leave directly off your flight
        and proceed to the border with Tanzania in Namanga, you can
        obtain a transit Visa for Kenya. After your journey through
        Tanzania – you obtain your Visa at the border – you can again
        on re-entry into Kenya get a transit Visa, proceed to Nairobi
        and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and then fly out
        to Madagascar.
        Two transit Visa are cheaper than one main Visa though that would
        allow you to travel to Tanzania and back again on only one Visa,
        as part of Kenya’s modalities for visitors to the other
        countries of the East African Community.
        Enjoy your visit to East Africa, the scenery in Kenya while
        driving to the Tanzanian border and perhaps come back for a
        visit to Kenya proper.
        Thanks for reading my blog.
        W.

  56. There are 4 of us traveling from the US as tourists and we leave in 3 days. I’m now nervous on whether I should take my chances of filling out the 4 e-Visas applications online and having them approved / received on a Friday or over the weekend. If I apply but it doesn’t come through before we leave, do we just take the application / information with us and still try to go through the e-visa line OR do we just take all required documents with us and go through the VOI line? Is this too big of a risk?

    I don’t want to mess anything up by applying online and then also applying in person in case it looks like we’re then requesting anything duplicate.

    Thanks for any help!

  57. There are 4 of us traveling from the US as tourists and we leave in 3 days. I’m now nervous on whether I should take my chances of filling out the 4 e-Visas applications online and having them approved / received on a Friday or over the weekend. If I apply but it doesn’t come through before we leave, do we just take the application / information with us and still try to go through the e-visa line OR do we just take all required documents with us and go through the VOI line? Is this too big of a risk?

    I don’t want to mess anything up by applying online and then also applying in person in case it looks like we’re then requesting anything duplicate.

    Thanks for any help!

    1. Fear not! American citizens can obtain Visa on arrival at a cost
      of 50 US Dollars or, alternatively, should you also wish to visit
      Uganda and Rwanda, the common East African Tourist Visa goes at
      a cost of 100 US Dollars per person, valid for up to 90 days
      and permitting multiple re-entries.
      Either Visa you will obtain on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International
      Airport at the immigration desks marked ‘Visa’, so just queue and
      be served. Welcome to my home region and thanks for reading my blog.
      W.

  58. Hello ,
    After i have been looking for information of Kenya, I found your post is very helpful and in detailed. So can you help me with giving some info please? I am Myanmar (Burmese) Nationality and my husband is Swiss passport holder. We want to visit Kenya to kill our very long transit time.We will reach Nairobi airport on 27 of October,2016. yeah, very close. Do we need to get a visa just to go out for a night and if yes , how ? Visa on arrival is still possible or advanced e-Visa application ? May I know how much for each when we have different passport?

    Thanks a lot.

    1. Visa are available on arrival in Nairobi. I do not know the cost for
      your nationality but ordinarily it is 50 US Dollars. I suggest you go
      both at once to an immigration desk to show that you are married.
      There are transit Visa available for I think 48 hours but you need to
      ask when you reach the immigration officer.
      Enjoy your visit to Kenya and thanks for reading my blog.
      W.

  59. Sure, I will try to do like your suggestion over there. thank you so much for the very quick reply and wishes. Have a good day 🙂

  60. The grace-period has long been passed, but as I read, it seems still be possible to get a visa-on-arrival in both Nairobi and Mombasa. I am a Swiss-citizen, not-EU-member. Can you confirm, that I can still get a visa in Mombasa?
    Do the airlines know about that?
    Thank you for your interesting blog.

  61. As I see that you know the situation there, I have another question on a different subject.
    “A vaccination against yellow-fever protects your whole life against the disease, but only 10 years against problems at immigration.”
    I have two documented vaccinations, from 1990 and 2000, and want to stop at Addis Abeba for a few days on the way. Will I have problems at the Kenya immigration?

    1. I have over the past weeks been asked to show a yellow fever
      inoculation certificate some times and some times there was
      no one to ask. If you come from Europe and say so when asked
      that should suffice but then, I take nothing for granted when
      it comes to Kenyan immigration and airport staff.
      Latest rule from WHO is that a yellow fever inoculation lasts
      for a life time, but then, immigration is also supposed to
      accept Interstate Passes for travel from Uganda and they did
      not do that last time …
      Hence, after all is said and done, your guess how they react
      will be as good as mine.

      1. Okay, thank you. Then I will probably omit the stop in Ethiopia. I don’t want to take the risk being sent back from the immigration. Or it even might be possible that they don’t let me board in Addis Abeba. It’s really a pity that they destroy their tourism by such rules…

  62. dear sir, I am bangladeshi.can I apply for evisa?please answer me.thanks. md kamruzzaman.

    1. Visa for many nationalities continue to be available
      on arrival in Nairobi or Mombasa international airports.
      I can not say with authority that Bangladesh is among
      the countries which nationals enjoy this facility so
      please, to be absolutely certain, check out the Kenya
      immigration website to make sure you qualify for Visa
      on arrival.
      Enjoy your visit to Kenya and thanks for reading my blog.
      W.

  63. my name is Isreal I apply for evisa today on line, I want to go and spend my holiday in Kenya and have visit Kenya before,he will take like how many day to get my evisa thanks.

  64. My friend in the States is having a terrible time with e-visa, maybe because she is coming to Kenya then going to Congo before going back home. But I believe that the visa upon arrival is still valid for citizens of the US. Is that correct?

  65. Hi there, at the embassy in The Hague, they told me things got changed. I now have to apply online. I don’t have a credit card, unfortunately that’s the only way to pay.
    However, I got mixed feelings, some people say upon arrival they might send me back if I don’t have visa. 6 February I have my flight. What should I do? Take my chances or obtain a credit card and apply online. I have a little over 2 weeks, I am afraid that is too short in time… I am worried.
    Btw, I am from the Netherlands and Dutch national. It will be my third trip to Kenya.

      1. Hi there, thank you kindly for answering.
        In the meantime I decided to get myself a credit card so I could apply for the visa. I applied 22 January, the form was quite understandable to me which is nice.
        It surprised me that I did not get a confirm email that I submitted the visa application. I just checked the the website and I am absolutely surprised.
        Under ‘approval’ I read issued. So it took me 4 days? I hoped to receive the visa within the two weeks I had but I never expected it to be this fast!

        I find it odd that I didnt receive any mail with this information. I had to ‘download’ the visa. Is it true that it is titled as Evisa and that you cant find any information about the duration or till when the visa is valid?

        So this evisa is sufficient and I can print it and present it to immigration?

  66. Hey, thanks for this highly informative blog!

    Quick q’s about visa on arrival:

    1. You mentioned that visa on arrival is available both at the two major airports and at land border points. Do you know if Busia is one of those land border points, where visa on arrival is available?
    2. Apart from my yellow fever certificate, a passport and $50, do I need to bring any other papers with me in order to get visa on arrival?

    Thanks,
    B

  67. Tried the new Evisa web site for my trip to Kenya but was unable to make payment with my credit card. I tried a few other cards from family members, but every time I got payment declined. Eventually gave up and decided to go back to visa on arrival.

    Arrived Jan 27, 2017 at Nairobi, saw a new constructed immigration area at the airport since my last visit in 2015. They have a table with full size forms (although still got one of the small forms on the airplane just before arrival) and the lines went really fast. I noticed that a lot of people were still doing visa on arrival.

    My visa on arrival went smoothly, cost was still $50.

    Hardest part was actually checking in at USA for first leg of flight, travel clerk was convinced that I had to get an Evisa. She spent quarter of an hour on the phone to verify my claim that I could still get visa on arrival.

  68. Hi Great infos here,

    Can I get a business visa on arrival on an Australian passport?

    I am going very last minute and fear that the e-visa will take too long.

    Thank You

  69. Can i pay for tourist VOA in pound sterling? I believe the cost is £30
    Im coming from the UK

  70. thank you for all the info I have read today. Am taking a group of 18 to Kenya and didn’t want to find any surprises at the NBO airport!

  71. I have a group of visitors coming and out of the 6 one persons e-visa is still pending after more than ten days. As you can guess she is getting worried. She submitted using the same info as the others and all others got e-visa within the one week most in one day. What can I advise her to do. She has called Kenyan embassy, used the email contact. faxed all she can think of but no reply.

    If for some reason she can not get through to anyone or and get visa letter before she her flight can she get on VOA? Could she bring all printed info from e-visa and maybe get it worked out so she does not have to pay twice. Please advise.

    I have had nearly 40 or so visitors since the evisa began and this is my first problem.

    Please advise and thank you for your time.

    1. Don’t be unduly worried. Visa on arrival continue to be given
      at Kenya’s airports and although the nationality of your group
      does matter – some nationalities are required to obtain Visa
      in advance and details about that are available on the website
      of Kenya’s immigration department – will tourists normally be
      processed expeditiously on arrival if they do not have an e-Visa.
      I wish you and your group an enjoyable stay in Kenya.
      Thanks for reading my blog.
      W.

  72. Hi
    I’m a canadian citizen travelling to kenya on September 4, 2017. Can i still apply for the visa upon arrival? How much is the fee? Thanks

  73. Hi, i’m a portuguese citizen treveling to Kenya next week 25 sépt. Can i still apply for the visa upon arrival? How much is the fee? Thanks

ATCNews: 

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome is the founder and publisher of ATCNews, Eastern Africa’s leading aviation, tourism and conservation news blog of its kind. Wolfgang has over 48 years of experience in the tourism, aviation and conservation fields in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, covering all aspects of safari-, hotel- and air-operations. 

The Managing Editor of ATCNews is Mrs. Esther C. Goossens.

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