Sep 1, 2015, 3:14 pm
Last edit by: B747-437B
Kenya: new Visa Rules Requiring e-Visa Prior to Arrival 1 Sep 2015
Visa on arrival is no longer an option
Visa on arrival is no longer an option
Effective 01 September 2015, you may be denied boarding on your flight to Kenya or denied entry to Kenya if you do not have your printed copy of your e-visa with you. Visa on arrival is not available any longer. according to the Kenyan government.
How do I Apply
You need to:
- Click register on www.ecitizen.go.ke.
- Select Register as a Visitor.
- Once Logged in, Select Deparment of Immigration services.
- Select submit Appplication.
- 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 eVisa from your eCitizen account.
- Present your printed eVisa to the immigration officer at the port of entry.
See full USA citizen requirements and "normal" visa app post #8.
Conditional, The traveler will need to hold travel documents as detailed below.
Kenya - Destination Passport
Important:
Visitors holding damaged passports and/or passport replacing documents will be refused entry.
Kenya - Destination Visa
Visas can be applied for by U.S. citizens at https://www.kenyaembassy.com/dcservi...isaonline.aspx . Effective from 1 September 2015, the visa on arrival facility will be fully replaced by e-visas.
Additional information:
Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay (at least USD 500.-) and documents for their next destination.
Final authority for entry lies with border and immigration officers.
A valid "East African Tourist Visa" issued by Rwanda or Uganda is accepted provided having first entered the country that issued the visa. The visa is valid for 90 days and multiple entries/re-entries.
Additional information:
Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay (at least USD 500.-) and documents for their next destination.
Final authority for entry lies with border and immigration officers.
A valid "East African Tourist Visa" issued by Rwanda or Uganda is accepted provided having first entered the country that issued the visa. The visa is valid for 90 days and multiple entries/re-entries.
Asante sana to roadwarriorafrica for bringing the to everyone's attention. retitled the thread for the announced date (to and from IATA) this requirement is in effect now 1 Sep 2015).
New Visa Rules on Arrival for Kenya (effective 01 Sep 2015
Aug 31, 2015, 8:42 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Lubbock, TX
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 35
I was under the impression that I would need to have the visa to pick up my bags and recheck them on Kenya airways. I've heard you can just pay one of the workers to pick up your bags, but $40 seems like cheap insurance (considering what the ticket cost) to be sure I won't have any problems.
Sep 3, 2015, 8:33 pm
#49
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Online
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, UA Premier Platinum
Posts: 23
FWIW, I know of six people including myself who applied on the GOK ecitizen site and 5 had visas approved in less than 24 hours and the the last in about 40 hours from the time they applied. The service works well and do appreciate it very much that it was quick and efficient.
I'm confident the tour operators are going to have to adjust for this when they sell the last minute packages. Again, well done!
I'm confident the tour operators are going to have to adjust for this when they sell the last minute packages. Again, well done!
Sep 6, 2015, 4:22 am
#50
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Spent this week in Nairobi. Applied for the visa online and it was approved within 15 minutes. So much easier, quicker at immigration and no need to take up a whole passport page with the sticker.
The downside was leaving Nairobi yesterday I arrived at immigration where there was already a lengthy line. We stood, and stood and stood. Turned out the system was down, and for almost an hour between 9.30am and 10.30am not a single person passed through border control for their flights. No-one explaining what was happening, while the staff at the desks showed their empathy by reading the paper and eating biscuits. Passengers including elderly, women and children treated like cattle and the queue eventually snaked back all the way through the KQ terminal before they were back and running.
Amazingly there was no back up/off line plan either and we just had to stand and wait.
A reminder that even with some automation Kenya remains firmly rooted in the third world.
The downside was leaving Nairobi yesterday I arrived at immigration where there was already a lengthy line. We stood, and stood and stood. Turned out the system was down, and for almost an hour between 9.30am and 10.30am not a single person passed through border control for their flights. No-one explaining what was happening, while the staff at the desks showed their empathy by reading the paper and eating biscuits. Passengers including elderly, women and children treated like cattle and the queue eventually snaked back all the way through the KQ terminal before they were back and running.
Amazingly there was no back up/off line plan either and we just had to stand and wait.
A reminder that even with some automation Kenya remains firmly rooted in the third world.
Sep 6, 2015, 1:08 pm
#52
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Seniors Bus Pass
Posts: 5,530
I suspect that simons1 was not relating the story as an equal opportunity discussion, but that elderly folk and mothers with children face often different travel problems than single young folk with lots of time and an iPad for company. This may be TMI, but at my age I require a regular "comfort break" 
and an extra unplanned and potentially unquantified hour or so in a queue can place me in a strained situation. Mothers and children may have similar issues, more elderly travellers shorter time limits or just physical capacity to stand in a queue for extended duration.
Out of curiosity, did the airlines wait until the problem was resolved or just continue to fly without many of their passengers?
and an extra unplanned and potentially unquantified hour or so in a queue can place me in a strained situation. Mothers and children may have similar issues, more elderly travellers shorter time limits or just physical capacity to stand in a queue for extended duration.Out of curiosity, did the airlines wait until the problem was resolved or just continue to fly without many of their passengers?
Sep 6, 2015, 2:00 pm
#53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 529
elderly, women and children
Maybe immigration officers should learn to sing and dance so passengers with short attention spans can be kept entertained when systems are down. Or just waive everyone through....
Sep 7, 2015, 11:28 pm
#54
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Sep 7, 2015, 11:33 pm
#55
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
I suspect that simons1 was not relating the story as an equal opportunity discussion, but that elderly folk and mothers with children face often different travel problems than single young folk with lots of time and an iPad for company. This may be TMI, but at my age I require a regular "comfort break" and an extra unplanned and potentially unquantified hour or so in a queue can place me in a strained situation. Mothers and children may have similar issues, more elderly travellers shorter time limits or just physical capacity to stand in a queue for extended duration.
Out of curiosity, did the airlines wait until the problem was resolved or just continue to fly without many of their passengers?
and an extra unplanned and potentially unquantified hour or so in a queue can place me in a strained situation. Mothers and children may have similar issues, more elderly travellers shorter time limits or just physical capacity to stand in a queue for extended duration.Out of curiosity, did the airlines wait until the problem was resolved or just continue to fly without many of their passengers?
For airlines it was each to their own - KQ delayed a couple for sure - I noticed they changed 'final call' back to 'boarding' on the screen.
Sep 8, 2015, 12:13 am
#56
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 529
Nairobi does not have a hot climate.
Sep 8, 2015, 7:19 am
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Johan
Sep 30, 2015, 1:20 pm
#60
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
Posts: 3,467
Man, that was slick. Twenty minutes and I had two transit visas. Could have done it in twelve, if the basic data was saved from one visa to the next. I wish other countries would adopt this approach/implementation.