Visa Requirements for Citizens of Kenya

Discover visa requirements for citizens of Kenya for all of the world’s countries.

Visa Requirements for Kenyan Citizens

Visa requirements for Kenyan nationals are the rules and regulations concerning the travel documents needed by citizens of Kenya in order to visit other countries.

The Kenyan passport is currently ranked as the 72nd most powerful passport in the world by the Henley Passport Index. It permits entry to over 70 different countries and territories without a visa in advance.

Before traveling to another country, Kenyan citizens should check the visa requirements of their destination.

There are different visa requirements for Kenyans depending on the country they are planning to visit.

Many sovereign states also have different visa options for different purposes of visit (e.g. for business, tourism, relocating to the country, etc.). Sometimes, different visas may be required for different lengths of stay.

Some countries allow Kenyan citizens to enter without a visa for a certain period of time (this can vary between 7 days and 1 year, depending on the country).

In order to visit certain destinations, travelers from Kenya may apply online for an electronic visa (eVisa) or electronic travel authorization (ETA). These are typically quicker and easier to obtain than traditional consular visas, which must be acquired from an embassy.

Kenyan nationals can also apply for a visa on arrival at the international border when traveling to under 30 countries, but this may involve waiting in long lines at an immigration checkpoint.

List of Visa Countries for Kenyan Passport Holders in 2021

While there are a number of countries around the world to which citizens of Kenya can travel visa-free, there are others for which it is necessary to meet the visa requirements for Kenyan passport holders.

Over 20 countries have an online system available to Kenyan visitors. Using this, travelers can apply for either an eVisa or eTA, depending on the country.

Kenyan passport holders must apply for a visa in person at an embassy in order to travel to over 150 different countries. In order to move to or work in the majority of countries, Kenyan citizens must also go to an embassy to obtain the relevant visa and permits.

A number of countries have a visa on arrival option for nationals of Kenya. This often involves waiting in long queues at the border. Where there is the option of applying for an eVisa beforehand, this is highly recommended to avoid long waiting times at immigration control.

All travelers from Kenya must apply for the correct type of visa or travel authorization for the length of time they intend to stay in their destination country and for the purpose of their visit, for example, a tourist visa, business visa, or transit visa.

Find all the countries for which Kenyan nationals require a visa or travel authorization below.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization

Electronic visas (eVisas) and electronic travel authorizations (ETAs) are becoming more and more popular and many countries around the world now have online systems in place to process applications for these digital visas and visa waivers.

Over 20 different countries have either an ETA or an eVisa that Kenyan nationals can apply for by completing and submitting a simple online form.

The digital nature of eVisas and ETAs means that Kenyan travelers do not have to go to an embassy belonging to the destination country to apply for a visa or travel authorization. Instead, they can apply from their own home or office.

ETAs and eVisas for Kenyan travelers are often valid for multiple entries to the destination state. Some permit visits of more than one purpose. For example, it is common for an eVisa to function as both a tourist visa and a business visa. The types of visits permitted by an eVisa or ETA vary depending on the country.

Most eVisas and ETAs allow Kenyan visitors to stay in another sovereign state for a certain period of time. For longer stays, it may be necessary to go to an embassy and apply for a different type of visa.

If a destination also has the option of a visa on arrival, applying for the eVisa prior to traveling is recommended. This is because in the unlikely event that there are problems approving the visa, applying for an eVisa in advance allows time to solve the issue, whereas waiting to apply for a visa on arrival could result in the traveler being denied entry to the country.

Check the list below for all the countries that Kenyan passport holders can visit with either an eVisa or an ETA.

Visa On Arrival

A visa on arrival for Kenyan citizens is a type of visa that does not have to be obtained in advance of a trip. Instead, travelers apply for this visa at the border of their destination country.

Over 25 countries around the globe currently have a visa on arrival option available for nationals of Kenya.

In order to acquire a visa on arrival, Kenyan travelers must complete an application form at an immigration checkpoint. This usually involves waiting for a while at the border as there are frequently long lines to fill in a visa on arrival form.

The conditions of a visa on arrival vary from country to country. Some visas on arrival permit more than one entry, while others only allow the Kenyan traveler to enter a single time. The length of time they can stay in the destination country with a visa on arrival also varies.

Several countries with a visa on arrival scheme available to Kenyan nationals also issue eVisas as an alternative. Applying for an electronic visa prior to the trip is generally preferable as it eliminates the need to wait in line to apply at the border.

See below the list of countries that offer a visa on arrival to citizens of Kenya.

Visa On Arrival: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Angola
  • Bolivia
  • Burkina Faso
  • Comoros
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Macau
  • Maldives
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Nigeria
  • Palau
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Lucia
  • Samoa
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tuvalu

Embassy Visa Required

An embassy visa for Kenyan nationals is a type of visa that is obtained prior to traveling to the destination from an overseas diplomatic mission belonging to the country (an embassy or consulate).

Embassy visas are a requirement for citizens of Kenya in order to visit over 150 different countries and territories for any reason and length of stay, including for short-term touristic visits.

Many embassies ask that visa applicants make an appointment to submit their application. A number of countries ask that Kenyan travelers download and complete the application form beforehand and bring it to the embassy along with supporting documents, such as their passport.

In order to live, work, study, or stay for long periods in most countries, Kenya nationals must apply for the relevant type of visa or permit at an embassy, such as a residence visawork visa, or student visa. These types of visas are usually only issued by diplomatic missions.

Short-stay embassy visas from different countries permit Kenyan passport holders to spend different lengths of time there. Some are single-entry visas, while others are multiple-entry.

Check the list below to see which countries require Kenyan travelers to apply for an embassy visa in advance for any type or length of visit.

Embassy Visa Required: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Afghanistan
  • Aland Islands
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • American Samoa
  • Andorra
  • Antarctica
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Aruba
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bhutan
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Brazil
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Chile
  • China
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos Islands
  • Congo
  • Cook Islands
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Curacao
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Estonia
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Finland
  • France
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Greenland
  • Guadeloupe
  • Guam
  • Guatemala
  • Guernsey
  • Guyana
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Ivory Coast
  • Japan
  • Jersey
  • Jordan
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonia
  • Mali
  • Malta
  • Marshall Islands
  • Martinique
  • Mayotte
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Montserrat
  • Nauru
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Niue
  • Norfolk Island
  • North Korea
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Norway
  • Palestinian Territory
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Reunion
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Helena
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • San Marino
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia
  • Seychelles
  • Sint Maarten
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Suriname
  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Tokelau
  • Tonga
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • United States Virgin Islands
  • Uruguay
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Wallis and Futuna
  • Yemen

Visa Not Required

Kenyan passport holders currently enjoy visa exemption for entry to over 35 countries; that is, they can visit these destinations without a visa or electronic travel authorization.

Most of these countries have a limit on the length of time that Kenyan nationals can stay visa-free. In most cases, the maximum period is between 30 and 90 days, although one country currently permits Kenyans to stay for up to one (1) year.

Visa exemption for citizens of Kenya generally only applies for visits for leisure and tourism and, in some cases, for business. It is also possible to transit through most of these countries visa-free.

However, in order to live, work, or study in most countries, Kenyans must apply for the required visa and/or permit at an embassy before making the journey to their destination.

In order to enter one of these countries without a visa, Kenyan travelers must simply present a valid Kenyan passport.

See below the list of countries that Kenyan nationals are able to visit visa-free.

Visa Not Required: Country list

Click on the links below to find out more about each country
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Barbados
  • Benin
  • Botswana
  • Burundi
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Ethiopia
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Haiti
  • Hong Kong
  • Indonesia
  • Jamaica
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Mauritius
  • Namibia
  • Panama
  • Philippines
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Senegal
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Uganda
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

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