Kenya Visit Visa For Uae Residents
Residents of the UAE are the most privileged when it comes to visa-free movements across the globe. For example, residents can travel to Kenya visa-free for 28 days. Kenya Visit Visa For Uae Residents
Do you want to visit Kenya but don’t know how to get a visit visa? It’s not hard at all to obtain a Kenya Visit Visa for UAE residents. The process is simple and straightforward, and involves multiple steps. Below, you’ll find information about the process of obtaining a Kenya Visit Visa, including entry requirements, medical requirements, and more information to help you carry out your visit.
Visas to Kenya have been available for United Arab Emirates residents and Nationals (UAE Residents) since September 2016. Emiratis and residents of the UAE can now visit Kenya visa-free, and may enjoy a stay of up to 30 days.
For those intending on traveling to Kenya, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the government of Kenya has been gracious enough to relax its visa requirements. The bad news is that this is only applicable for UAE residents.
Kenya Visit Visa For Uae Residents
With the online application for the Kenyan visa from the Emirates, whether the reason for a trip is a safari, business, or medical treatment, UAE applicants wishing to obtain an electronic visa to Kenya will not have to go through slow waiting lines upon arrival.
The eVisa for Kenya allows Emiratis to stay for up to 30 days. The visa can be extended twice, for an additional 5 months, should they wish to spend more time exploring Kenya.
Do UAE Passport Holders Need a Visa for Kenya?
Emiratis must hold a valid visa in order to enter Kenya. Fortunately, they are among the nationalities eligible for the eVisa, the fastest and easiest permit to obtain for Kenya.
UAE visitors should note that in order to obtain an online visa, they are required to have the following ready:
- Valid Emirati passport
- At least one blank page on the passport
- A digital photo
The Kenyan electronic visa for UAE nationals can be used for tourism, medical treatment, and business. Travelers wishing to enter Kenya for other reasons may have to apply for a different type of visa. The electronic visa is not a multiple-entry permit. In fact, each time that UAE nationals want to enter Kenya, they must apply for another visa.
In case citizens of the United Arab Emirates need a multiple-entry visa, because of business purposes or visiting families, for instance, it has to be asked at the Immigration HQs (Nairobi) by providing extra documentation, such as an invitation letter for the Kenyan company or family, a proof of applicant’s employment and a copy of registration or incorporation certificate.
The electronic visa has a validity of 3 months from the date of issue. The Kenya eVisa can be extended by Emiratis directly at the Immigration Headquarters in Nairobi and the Immigration Office in Mombasa.
Apply for a Kenya eVisa as an Emirati
All that is needed to apply for a Kenya eVisa is a valid email address, access to the internet, and a credit or debit card for the fee, on top of the necessary documentation as outlined above.
After compiling the application form with the information and the documents required, the processing times associated with the Kenyan eVisa are usually of 3 business days. The travel document will be sent to the email address provided by the traveler in the application form.
In case the visitor from the UAE fails to provide correct and complete information or part of the documentation is missing, they may be contacted to submit the necessary details. This may result in significant delays. For this reason, the Kenyan government recommends applying well in advance.
For those who need a visa in order to transit through Kenya while en route towards a different destination, the requirements can change.
Documents Required for Kenya Visa for Nationals of the UAE
UAE citizens must provide certain documents as part of the visa entry requirements for Kenya. These are:
- An Emirati passport with a minimum of 6 months of validity left
- A picture of the UAE applicant that follows the relevant photo Kenyan visa guidelines
- Application form completed with personal data such as complete name, age, gender, and place of residence
A visa is a personal document and each Emirati intending to travel to Kenya must have it. In the case of a family visiting Kenya together, each member must be in possession of the electronic visa and personal passports, including minors.
Applicants of the United Arab Emirates should check whether there are more documents needed according to the different purposes of their trip to Kenya, as there are different document requirements depending on the travel reason.
The documents needed for an eVisa are not the same as those for Emiratis with business relationships with Kenyan companies. For instance, a letter and tax identification number of the foreign company will be required in the last case.
Traveling from the United Arab Emirates to Kenya: Key Details
Emirati holidaymakers who wish to fly to Kenya should ask themselves the following questions to properly organize the trip:
- Is Kenya the final destination of the UAE passenger’s trip?
- Which parts of Kenya will Emiratis be visiting?
- Are vaccinations necessary to enter Kenya from the United Arab Emirates?
If Kenya is not the final destination, and UAE citizens travel to Kenya due to a connection flight, the tourist visa for Emiratis is not necessary. Those Emiratis who wish to leave the airport during their transit or would like to avoid long queues at the airport can ask for a 3-day visa transit (72 hours) online.
Overall, Kenya is a very safe country for Emiratis, although it is advisable to steer clear of certain areas. Those taking part in an organized trip from the UAE can rest assured that tourist guides will stay away from troubled regions.
Emiratis traveling to Kenya should be informed about eventual vaccines depending largely on their specific circumstances and recent travels. It is advisable to seek medical advice from a physician 6 to 8 weeks before leaving the UAE.
eVisas are sent to Emirati visitors via email. It is advisable to print a copy of the eVisa and carry it to the Kenyan border to show it to the immigration authorities together with the AUE passport used during the online application.