Kenya to introduce mandatory online visa applications from September 1, 2015

Starting from 1st September 2015, Kenya will introduce mandatory electronic visa application. The new rules were first announced on 1st of July 2015 and the Kenya Government gave a grace period that expires on 31st August 2015.

Effective 1st September 2015, Passengers may be denied boarding of their flight to Kenya or denied entry to Kenya if they do not have printed copy of their e-visa with them.

Tourists wishing to visit Kenya need to visit the electronic visa page at www.eVisa.go.ke and 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 and submit the application.

After the submission, one will be required to select Kenyan Visa as well as the type of Visa. Applicants will also need to scan the main page of your passport and re-upload your passport photo

Payment for the Visa will also be done through Visa card, MasterCard or other debit card – Visa will cost Kshs 5,100 (US $51).

The launch of the much anticipated e-visa that serves 132 countries is seen as a big and much needed push for the Kenyan Travel and Tourism industry, and promises to bring to an end the hassle that visa application is associated with.