How to apply for a Kenyan transit visa

A transit visa is a temporary visa issued to a person who stays in a country for a short period of time during their journey. It’s not required for people connecting flights directly without leaving the airport. A Kenyan transit visa is valid for 3 days (72 hours) and is issued to people connecting through Kenya to other destinations. Kenyan transit visa is non-extendable, non-convertible and not valid for visiting protected/restricted areas.

Eligibility for a Kenyan transit visa

1. Persons connecting through Kenya to other destinations for a period not exceeding 72 hours are eligible to apply for the transits visa, except citizens from countries who are exempt.
2. A list of visa exempted countries can be accessed here.
3. Those connecting flights directly without leaving the airport don’t need to apply for the Transit visas.
4. Children sixteen (16) year and below are exempted from visa payment and are not expected to make visa application.

Requirements for a Kenyan transit visa

1. Two copies of valid passport/travel document with a validity of at least 6 months.
2. Two visa application forms to be duly filled, signed and dated.
3. Two copies of onward ticket/itinerary to a third destination or round ticket.
4. Two passport size photos of the applicant, taken within 6 months.
5. At least one blank page in the holder’s passport.

Fees for a transit visa

• A transit visa in Kenya will cost you $20.
• All evisa applications attract a $1 service charge.

How to apply for a transit visa in Kenya

To apply for a Kenyan transit visa, follow these steps.

1. Go to eCitizen.
2. Under “eVisa Visitors”, click on “Create an Account”.
3. You will need to fill in your personal information so to register for an eCitizen account. This includes your passport number, name, email address and nationality to complete the registration.
4. Once you have registered you will then need to login to your eCitizen account and navigate to “Department of Immigration Services” and select “Submit Application”.
5. Under the “Kenyan Visa” tab, select “Apply for a Transit Visa”.
6. Read the instructions carefully; make sure you have all the requirements to make the application and then click on the “Apply Now” button which will direct you to the online application form.
7. Fill in the online application form with all the required details and upload supporting documents.
8. Once done, click on the “Submit” button.
9. You will be directed to the next page where you are supposed to make payment for the transit visa. Make your payment using the provided payment methods provided and click on the “Submit” button. A fee of USD $ 21 is charged for the transit visa.
10. You will receive a notification of payment receipt in your email address confirming payment.
11. Once the visa is approved, the Transit Visa will be made available in your eCitizen account. You will also receive a notification email in your email address once your visa is available. This is usually after a period of two (2) days.
12. You must print a copy of the visa from your eCitizen account and carry it with your passport when you travel to Kenya.
13. When you arrive in Kenya, you must have your visa printout with your passport and present it to the immigration officer at the port of entry.