Kenya Visa Requirements & Document Checklist

Processing timeConfirmed for your nationality

Visa feeQuoted before you apply

ValiditySet by the mission on approval

Entry typeDepends on the category granted

Fees, processing times and validity for Kenya depend on your nationality, the category you apply under and the mission handling it — and they change. Rather than print a figure we have not confirmed, we give you the real one for your passport when you enquire. The checklist below is useful to you right now.

About the Kenya Tourist Visa

Kenya's Tourist Visa (available as an eVisa) is intended for leisure travel, sightseeing, safari holidays, and visiting friends or family. Most nationalities apply online before departure rather than at an embassy counter.

Categories under this visa

Single-entry Tourist eVisa
East Africa Tourist Visa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda — multi-entry)

Who can apply

Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry
Proof of return or onward travel
Sufficient funds to cover the stay
No history of visa violations in Kenya

Where you apply

Kenya's Tourist eVisa is processed online — no in-person embassy appointment is required for most applicants. Business and long-term visa categories may require an appointment at the High Commission.

High Commission of Kenya

Centres we file through

New Delhi
Mumbai
Chennai
Kolkata
Hyderabad
Bengaluru

We are a private visa consultancy, not a government body or an embassy. Addresses and counter hours change — we confirm the current one for your case.

Get my requirements

Tourist Visa

Document checklist

A preparation checklist, not a legal requirement list. It covers what a tourist visa application is built from, so you can start gathering today. The definitive list — exact photo specifications, financial thresholds, and what must be original, translated or apostilled — comes from the mission handling your nationality. Ask us and we will confirm yours.

Applying with

Tailor to

0 of 23 gathered

Passport & identity

Current passport Most missions want validity well beyond your return date (six months is the common benchmark) and at least two blank facing pages.
Previous passportsOften requested Evidence of your travel history, and of visas you have held and complied with before.
Passport photographs Photo rules differ by country — size, background colour, headwear and how recent. Get the destination's exact specification before you have them taken.
National identity documentOften requested Government photo ID from your country of residence, plus proof of address where asked.

The application

Completed application form Signed, and consistent with your supporting documents — mismatched dates and spellings are a common cause of delay.
Visa fee payment receipt Fees are usually non-refundable, including if the application is refused.
Appointment confirmationOften requested Where the mission or visa application centre requires you to attend in person.

Your travel plan

Travel itinerary A booking or reservation showing entry and exit. Consider a held reservation rather than a paid ticket until the visa is granted.
Accommodation for the whole stay Hotel bookings, or the address and contact details of the person hosting you.
Travel medical insuranceOften requested Compulsory for some destinations and merely advisable for others — but worth having on any international trip.

Funds — Indian documents

Bank statements, last 6 months On bank letterhead or stamped and signed at the branch. A downloaded PDF with no bank mark is refused more often than people expect.
ITR-V acknowledgement, last 2–3 years The income tax return acknowledgement is the standard proof of income from India, and carries more weight than a salary slip alone.
Form 16 For salaried applicants, covering the same years as the ITR.
Salary slips, last 3–6 months They should reconcile with the credits showing in the bank statement.
PAN card Routinely asked for alongside financial documents.
Aadhaar cardOften requested Commonly accepted as proof of address. Consider masking the number where the form does not require it in full.
Sponsor's ITR, bank statements and affidavitOften requested Where a parent, spouse or employer is funding the trip.

Funds

Bank statements Usually the last three to six months, stamped or issued by the bank. A balance that appears suddenly before you apply invites questions.
Proof of income Payslips, tax returns or business accounts, depending on how you earn.
Sponsor's financial documentsOften requested Where somebody else is funding the trip: their statements, proof of income and a letter accepting responsibility.

Purpose of your visitSpecific to this visa

Day-by-day planOften requested A short outline of where you will be and when. It makes an itinerary credible rather than notional.
Evidence of ties to home Employment, property, family or study commitments that show why you will return. This is what most visitor refusals turn on.
Previous travel historyOften requested Earlier visas and entry stamps, particularly to countries with comparable entry requirements.

Indian applicants — also expectIndia

Employer NOC or leave sanction letter On company letterhead, naming the travel dates and confirming you return to the role.
Proof of ties to India Property papers, continuing employment, or family responsibilities — the heart of a visitor application from India.
Previous visas and entry stampsOften requested A clean travel history to countries with comparable entry rules helps considerably.

If you are employed

Leave approval letter From your employer, covering the exact travel dates.
Recent payslips Usually three to six months.
Employment confirmation Role, joining date, salary and that your position is held open.

If you are self-employed

Business registration Incorporation or trade licence in your name.
Business tax returns Typically the last two to three years.
Business bank statements Separate from your personal account.
Who is running things while you travelOften requested Useful where the trip is long and you are the sole operator.

If you are a student

Enrolment certificate Confirming you are currently registered.
No-objection letter from your institution Approving the absence and confirming you are expected back.
Parent or guardian's financial documents With a letter confirming they are funding the trip.

If you are retired

Pension statements Or other regular income, for the same period as bank statements.
Proof of retirementOften requested A retirement order or service certificate.
Evidence of assetsOften requested Property or investments, where income alone is modest.

If the applicant is under 18

Birth certificate Showing both parents' names.
Parental consent Signed by both parents, notarised in many cases — and normally required even when one parent travels with the child.
Parents' passports or identity documents Copies of the photo pages.
Custody documentsOften requested Where the parents are separated, or one has sole responsibility.

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Before you submit

Names and dates must match across every document, including the spelling in your passport.
Keep a full copy of what you submit — you will need it for renewals and later applications.
Do not book non-refundable travel until the visa is in your passport.
Never submit a document you know to be false. A refusal for deception follows you across countries for years.

Step by step

How the application runs

1Create an account on Kenya's official eVisa portal
2Complete the online application and upload required documents
3Pay the visa fee online
4Receive the approved eVisa by email and carry a printed copy while travelling

Tourist Visa questions

Can I apply for a Kenya visa on arrival?

Kenya has moved to an eVisa-only system for most nationalities — apply online before you travel rather than on arrival.

How long can I stay in Kenya on a Tourist Visa?

The permitted stay is whatever is printed on your approved eVisa, which is not always the maximum the category allows. Read the dates on the grant rather than assuming, and confirm the current rule with us before booking.

Is travel insurance mandatory for Kenya?

It isn't always a strict eVisa requirement, but Convercession recommends travel insurance for every international trip.

Worth knowing

Visa rules change periodically — always confirm current requirements with Convercession or the High Commission before booking travel.
Yellow fever vaccination proof may be required depending on your travel history.

Travel advisory

Check the latest government travel advisory for Kenya before finalising travel plans.

Travel advisories →

Processing timeConfirmed for your nationality

Visa feeQuoted before you apply

ValiditySet by the mission on approval

Entry typeDepends on the category granted

About the Kenya Business Visa

The Kenya Business Visa is for travellers attending meetings, conferences, negotiations, or exploring business opportunities — it does not permit local employment.

Categories under this visa

Single-entry Business eVisa
Multiple-entry Business Visa (select nationalities)

Who can apply

Valid passport (6+ months)
Invitation letter from the Kenyan business host
Proof of employment/business ownership in the home country
Sufficient funds for the trip

Where you apply

Applied for online via the eVisa portal; multiple-entry business visas may require supporting documentation review at the High Commission.

High Commission of Kenya

Centres we file through

New Delhi
Mumbai
Chennai
Kolkata
Hyderabad
Bengaluru

We are a private visa consultancy, not a government body or an embassy. Addresses and counter hours change — we confirm the current one for your case.

Get my requirements

Business Visa

Document checklist

A preparation checklist, not a legal requirement list. It covers what a business visa application is built from, so you can start gathering today. The definitive list — exact photo specifications, financial thresholds, and what must be original, translated or apostilled — comes from the mission handling your nationality. Ask us and we will confirm yours.

Applying with

Tailor to

0 of 25 gathered

Passport & identity

Current passport Most missions want validity well beyond your return date (six months is the common benchmark) and at least two blank facing pages.
Previous passportsOften requested Evidence of your travel history, and of visas you have held and complied with before.
Passport photographs Photo rules differ by country — size, background colour, headwear and how recent. Get the destination's exact specification before you have them taken.
National identity documentOften requested Government photo ID from your country of residence, plus proof of address where asked.

The application

Completed application form Signed, and consistent with your supporting documents — mismatched dates and spellings are a common cause of delay.
Visa fee payment receipt Fees are usually non-refundable, including if the application is refused.
Appointment confirmationOften requested Where the mission or visa application centre requires you to attend in person.

Your travel plan

Travel itinerary A booking or reservation showing entry and exit. Consider a held reservation rather than a paid ticket until the visa is granted.
Accommodation for the whole stay Hotel bookings, or the address and contact details of the person hosting you.
Travel medical insuranceOften requested Compulsory for some destinations and merely advisable for others — but worth having on any international trip.

Funds — Indian documents

Bank statements, last 6 months On bank letterhead or stamped and signed at the branch. A downloaded PDF with no bank mark is refused more often than people expect.
ITR-V acknowledgement, last 2–3 years The income tax return acknowledgement is the standard proof of income from India, and carries more weight than a salary slip alone.
Form 16 For salaried applicants, covering the same years as the ITR.
Salary slips, last 3–6 months They should reconcile with the credits showing in the bank statement.
PAN card Routinely asked for alongside financial documents.
Aadhaar cardOften requested Commonly accepted as proof of address. Consider masking the number where the form does not require it in full.
Sponsor's ITR, bank statements and affidavitOften requested Where a parent, spouse or employer is funding the trip.

Funds

Bank statements Usually the last three to six months, stamped or issued by the bank. A balance that appears suddenly before you apply invites questions.
Proof of income Payslips, tax returns or business accounts, depending on how you earn.
Sponsor's financial documentsOften requested Where somebody else is funding the trip: their statements, proof of income and a letter accepting responsibility.

Business purposeSpecific to this visa

Invitation from the host company On their letterhead: who you are meeting, why, on what dates, and who is paying for what.
Letter from your employer Confirming your role, salary, approved leave and that you are expected back.
Company registration documentsOften requested Your employer's or your own business's registration, and trade references where relevant.
Correspondence with the hostOften requested Emails or contracts showing the business relationship is real.

Indian applicants — also expectIndia

GST registration certificate Where you own the business. Company applicants should also carry the incorporation certificate from the MCA.
Covering letter on company letterhead Signed by an authorised signatory, naming the host, purpose and who bears the cost.
Import-Export CodeOften requested Where the trip concerns trade.
Business bank statements and business ITR Separate from personal accounts.

If you are employed

Leave approval letter From your employer, covering the exact travel dates.
Recent payslips Usually three to six months.
Employment confirmation Role, joining date, salary and that your position is held open.

If you are self-employed

Business registration Incorporation or trade licence in your name.
Business tax returns Typically the last two to three years.
Business bank statements Separate from your personal account.
Who is running things while you travelOften requested Useful where the trip is long and you are the sole operator.

If you are a student

Enrolment certificate Confirming you are currently registered.
No-objection letter from your institution Approving the absence and confirming you are expected back.
Parent or guardian's financial documents With a letter confirming they are funding the trip.

If you are retired

Pension statements Or other regular income, for the same period as bank statements.
Proof of retirementOften requested A retirement order or service certificate.
Evidence of assetsOften requested Property or investments, where income alone is modest.

If the applicant is under 18

Birth certificate Showing both parents' names.
Parental consent Signed by both parents, notarised in many cases — and normally required even when one parent travels with the child.
Parents' passports or identity documents Copies of the photo pages.
Custody documentsOften requested Where the parents are separated, or one has sole responsibility.

Your ticks stay in this browser — nothing is uploaded and we cannot see them. Clearing your browser data clears the list.

Before you submit

Names and dates must match across every document, including the spelling in your passport.
Keep a full copy of what you submit — you will need it for renewals and later applications.
Do not book non-refundable travel until the visa is in your passport.
Never submit a document you know to be false. A refusal for deception follows you across countries for years.

Step by step

How the application runs

1Gather invitation letter and supporting business documents
2Apply via the Kenya eVisa portal
3Pay the visa fee
4Receive and print the approved eVisa

Business Visa questions

Can a Business Visa be converted to a work permit?

No — a Business Visa does not permit employment. A separate work permit application is required for employment in Kenya.

Worth knowing

Carry the original invitation letter while travelling — immigration officers may request it on arrival.

Travel advisory

Check the latest government travel advisory for Kenya before finalising travel plans.

Travel advisories →

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Thank you for contacting Convercession

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Reference:

Kenya visa requirements & document checklist

About the Kenya Tourist Visa

Categories under this visa

Who can apply

Document checklist

Passport & identity

The application

Your travel plan

Funds — Indian documents

Funds

Purpose of your visitSpecific to this visa

Indian applicants — also expectIndia

If you are employed

If you are self-employed

If you are a student

If you are retired

If the applicant is under 18

Before you submit

How the application runs

Tourist Visa questions

About the Kenya Business Visa

Categories under this visa

Who can apply

Document checklist

Passport & identity

The application

Your travel plan

Funds — Indian documents

Funds

Business purposeSpecific to this visa

Indian applicants — also expectIndia

If you are employed

If you are self-employed

If you are a student

If you are retired

If the applicant is under 18

Before you submit

How the application runs

Business Visa questions

Other guides in this region

Recently viewed

Get Your Visa Assistance

Thank you for contacting Convercession

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