Travel Information

Electronic visa application for Kenya:

The visa application process involves uploading your passport picture along with your passport photograph. Your visa shall be issued approximately five days after you register. You shall be required to print a copy of your electronic visa, bring it with you for presentation along with your passport on arrival in Kenya. If you have any problems or enquiries related to applying for an electronic visa, please contact the Kenyan Embassy in your country / region or email evisa@immigration.go.ke.

Kenya Evisa Application procedure:

• Click register on evisa.go.ke (This is the only official portal).

• Select Register as a Visitor.

• Once Logged in, Select Department of Immigration services.

• Select submit Application.

• Select Kenyan Visa.

• Select the type of Visa and read the Instructions Carefully.

• Fill in the application form.

• Pay Using visa card, Mastercard and other debit cards.

• Await approval via email, then download and print the E-Visa from your eCitizen account.

• The processing time is 2 business days.

• Present your printed E-Visa to the immigration officer at the port of entry.

Kenya Visa Charges as at now:

• Single entry visa + service charge: us$51.00

• Transit entry visa + service charge: us$21.00

• Referral Visa + service charge: us$11.00

• Courtesy entry visa + service charge: us$0.00

• East African tourist visa + service charge: us$101.00

• Multiple entry visa + service charge: us$101.00

• 5yr multiple entry visa + service charge: us$201.00

Visa Validity:

An E-visa to Kenya once issued is valid for 3 months before you travel. Once you present yourself to immigration control at the port of entry, you may be issued with a stay period not exceeding 90 days, which may be renewed for a further 90 days at the immigration headquarters. The maximum number of days a visitor may stay in Kenya is 6 months.

Kenya Category 3 / Referral Visa:

• Nationals of the following Countries require a referral visa. Afghanistan, Armenia, Cameroon, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (Formerly North Korea), Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, Mali, Senegal, Somalia & Tajikistan.

• Applicants against whom there is some local objections or doubt in the country where the application is made.

• Stateless persons or persons not holding valid passports or other travel documents issued by their own country of nationality, including recognized refugee holders of the United Nations Refugee Travel Documents.

• Prohibited immigrants as enumerated under Section 33 (1) and (2) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011.

Where reference to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, is necessary before the issue of a visa, the completed application forms in duplicate with the required documents of the applicant as stipulated in the guidelines mentioned shall be forwarded to the Director of Immigration Services, Nairobi, for approval in the usual manner to reach him at least one month prior to the proposed date of the applicant’s departure to Kenya.

Address for Referred Visa Communication:

All inquiries, where necessary, shall be made to:

The Director of Immigration Services

Nyayo House

P.O. Box 30191 00100

NAIROBI

Telephone: +25420 222 2022

Telegraphic address: “PRINCIM” Nairobi

Telex: 25396 PRINCIM

Fax: +254202220731

Email: visa@immigration.go.ke, overseasection@gmail.com

Read more about referal visa: https://evisa.go.ke/category-three-visa-regime.html 

Related information on e-visa application:

1. Approval Time:

The e-Visa takes a maximum of 48hrs to approve but can be issued in a much shorter period.

Availability in different languages will be looked into but poses a challenge for local Immigration Officers who may not be familiar with different languages.

2. Auto Save:

The ability to auto save applications has been updated to the system. Should the system “hang”, one can refresh the page then click on the “history” tab to access the information saved.

3. Payments:

The system currently only accepts Visa & Mastercard and arrangements are in progress to include American Express, Union Pay, PayPal & Mpesa.

Critical to note is that when making payments, the system sends a One Time Password (OTP) for the owner of the credit card to confirm. Failure to enter this OTP has been a cause for card payment decline.

4. Communication (in case of a hitch in process)

Application  process assistance is provided in a timely manner

The system flashes two dedicated telephone numbers & an email that can be used to get help:

• General Enquiries: +254 110 922 063 /4

• Payment Issues: +254 110  922 062

• Email: evisa@immigration.go.ke

5. System Downtime:

The E-visa system has very little downtime but is occasionally taken offline for system upgrade.

During the downtime ,a message shall be  displayed indicating the system was offline for upgrade and the time this would take.

Other things you need to bear in mind with regard to your visa:

• You shall be required to complete a landing card that will be issued to you on the plane, or at the visa desk when you enter Kenya.

• You shall be required to complete an exit card, which will be provided to you in the departure terminal when leaving Kenya.

Book your Kenya safari today with Jadea Ventures. Feel free to contact us

SAFARI & ROADS IN KENYA :

All major Kenyan roads are tarred. However road surfaces vary depending on remoteness from Nairobi city and sometimes due to regular maintenance. Rain  may also affect the state of roads. Many roads within the National Parks and game reserves are quite navigable. Driving time on Kenyan roads vary from one safari point to another and are approximate. They  vary depending on traffic and road conditions.

CREDIT CARDS :

Credit cards Kenya: Most major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa and American Express) are widely accepted. In addition to credit cards, it is advisable to carry easily convertible currency in cash. USD currency is readily accepted in many local outlets and can also easily be exchanged to Kenya shillings

VACCINATION :

We advise you to contact a medical specialist or family doctor or even a licensed vaccination clinic well before travelling to Kenya.

ACCOMMODATION ON SAFARI :

Safari hotels/ lodges/ tented camps are carefully chosen and are named on the safari itinerary/program. The choices  are unique and add flavor/ romance to your safari tour. They are comfortable and sufficiently luxurious. They vary from economy, comfort, superior comfort (applies for Masai Mara accommodation) and luxury options. Luxury lodges blend nicely with the landscape and have rooms with all amenities you would expect from a good hotel. Tented camps are on permanent foundations and have en-suite bathrooms. The amenities can include hot water bottles to warm your bed before you turn in , coffee, tea and hot chocolate served in your tent as part of your early morning wake up call. Except the tree lodges, most other lodges and camps in economy , comfort & luxury options have swimming pools.

DRINKING WATER & BOTTLED DRINKS:

Avoid drinking water straight from the tap. Complimentary bottled drinking water will be provided in the safari vehicle -there shall be a cooler box in your private safari car Soft drinks, beer and other bottled beverages can be purchased at the lodges and camps throughout the safari as they have bars and comfortable lounges with fire places for those cool evenings. Tea or coffee are served after meals.

SUGGESTED PACKING ON A SAFARI:

It is advisable to spread packing between you and your partners suitcases. This is in case of loss of luggage –(in case you are travelling together) All the important items and information should be carried in your hand luggage: passport, visa, airfare, insurance, credit cards, money and prescriptions if necessary. You should carry information about your specific health condition plus malaria pills, any lifesaving medication (diabetics), anything used to treat allergies or a sudden stomach upset (maybe Imodium) and analgesic aspirin should all be kept accessible to you. Any expensive electrical equipment, such as a camera or computer should be well looked after. Please note that all use, import and production of plastic bags, such as those we know from supermarkets, etc., is prohibited in Kenya. We therefore recommend that you avoid using plastic bags when packing your luggage. Use fabric bags instead, or bags made of a waterproof material other than plastic. If, for example, you are visibly carrying hand luggage in plastic bags upon your arrival in Kenya, you will be asked to hand them in. This also includes plastic bags from “Duty Free”, etc. On light aircraft flights in Kenya the baggage allowance is limited to a maximum of 15 Kilograms, including camera and video equipment. Any additional luggage can be stored at the hotel in Nairobi until end of safari. Extra luggage is charged at $ 5 per kilogram and depends on space availability and weight Luggage and personal effects are at owner’s risk throughout the tour. For your peace of mind , baggage insurance is recommended.

PHOTOGRAPHY / EQUIPMENT ON SAFARI

A  digital Camera made during the Last  several years is good for  taking excellent Wildlife and Landscape  photographs , It does not need to be  the most expensive camera  to take good pictures on  your Kenya  Holiday Safari. Getting good safari photos is more about practice , focus and concentration than having an expensive camera / gadget A (digital Single Lens Reflex) DSLR  Camera with interchangeable lenses is a good  option during  a  Safari Tour.  Good  lenses for African wildlife photos  fall  in the range of 200-400mm, while those intending  to make landscape or animal shots in their wild  environment should consider  bringing  a wider angle lenses in the range of 24-100mm. A video camera if available is a welcome gadget during safari , you may be having it already in your  DSLRs as a  built in extra. Safari Tours are in remote areas so bring plenty of batteries and a charger in case you run out of power!  Bring plenty of cleaning equipment like cleaning cloths and a blower brush as Cameras get dirty quickly on the dusty safari environment.  Plenty of memory cards are necessary too –  safari adventure is exciting and you may take more shots than you had anticipated A pair of binoculars is  essential to view  the birds and animals at a  distance. Best size is 8/10 x 40  they only need to be of good quality

Suggested equipment List for Safari

• Camera

• Telephoto lenses (ideally covering 24-100mm and 200-400mm range)

• Cleaning equipment for lens

• Extra batteries

• Battery charger

• Memory cards

• Camera bag

• Zip lock bags (dust proof ) Not  plastic bags as they are  banned in Kenya so you may use a cloth alternative

• Beanbag (for Camera  stability during photography)

WEATHER & SAFARI IN KENYA:

You can make a safari in Kenya throughout the year.