Kenya offers two types of electronic tourist, business, and medical visas- single and multiple entries. On this page, you will get all the necessary information on the multiple-entry e-visa.
What is a Multiple-entry e-Visa?
As the name suggests, a multiple-entry visa is issued to people who want to enter Kenya repeatedly. They can frequent Kenya for business, medical, or tourism-related activities within the allotted e-visa validity period.
This visa is approved by Kenya’s Director of Immigration Services, located in Nairobi. However, applicants do not need to visit the embassy or consulate to obtain the visa. They must register on this website, access the online visa form, complete the required fields, upload the documents, and pay the visa fees. This is a highly convenient option for obtaining an e-visa.
Can You Switch a Single-Entry Visa with a Multiple-Entry Visa?
If you are present in Kenya on a Tourist e-visa that allows a single-entry travel authorization, which means it is a single-entry visa, it is possible to obtain a multiple-entry visa. For this purpose, you must fill up the Kenya visa application form available on this website.
You will then visit the Immigration department headquarters in Nairobi to apply officially. You will visit the office the next day to collect your multiple-entry visa. However, keep in mind that this service is entertained on certain weekdays, so you must contact the headquarters before visiting in person.
You can also send your application through courier. If you opt for sending it via courier, it is essential to do it well in advance. Ensure there are no delays in the application reaching the Immigration department. Securely close the envelope containing the application, and your address in Kenya is clearly written as this is the address where the department will send the approved multiple-entry visa.
Multiple-Entry Visa Requirements:
- The applicant must possess a valid passport with a minimum of six months validity left.
- An onward or return ticket.
- Means of Payment (i-e, a debit or credit card)
- A recent passport-size photo.
Multiple-Entry Visa Validity
A Multiple entry visa validity could be between three to twelve months, depending on the applicant’s purpose of travel and nationality. The validity will start from the date it was issued. Once the visa is issued, the tourist/traveler will have 6 to 12 months to make the first trip to Kenya, and they can frequently enter the country as per their requirements.
Visa Processing
If you have applied for the visa in person, you will typically receive it the next day. So, if you have applied before 12:30 pm on a business day or working day, you can collect it the next day after 2 pm. However, this applies to applications that are perfectly completed. If the visa application has mistakes or information discrepancies are found, the visa may be delayed.
If you send the application via courier, it may take a lot of time to process. Sometimes it may take up to 2 months. Therefore, it is important to apply well before your travel date.
The easiest way to apply for a multiple-entry visa is by sending an application online. This process is way more straightforward and hassle-free than the regular visa, and you can get it within three business days or 72 hours. An urgent visa facility is also available, which allows you to receive the visa within 24 hours. The approved visa is sent directly to the applicant’s inbox.
Multiple-Entry Visa Requirements for Business Travels
The requirements for business-related travel differ considerably from touristic travel. Here are the documents needed to apply for a business multiple-entry e-visa.
- Company’s official letter or employer’s signed letter explaining why the traveler needs to visit Kenya repeatedly. The letter must include the visa duration for which it will stay valid, which is 6 to 12 months.
- A visa invitation letter issued by the Kenyan host or organization where the applicant intends to visit on their trip. The school’s recommendation letter is sufficient if the applicant is a student.
- A copy of the employee’s identification card or original employment contract.
- Registration certificate of the host company in Kenya. You will require a scanned copy of the certificate.
- At least three previous visas if the applicant has made business trips previously. If it is their first time, this isn’t necessary.
Documents Required for Family Visa
- Family/host’s invitation letter
- Passport or identity card or entry permit of applicant’s host
Documents Required For Tourist Visa
- Complete travel itinerary
- Proof of hotel booking
- Passport
- Identity document
- Passport size photograph
Foreign travelers who cannot produce any of the abovementioned documents cannot apply for a multiple-entry business visa. They should apply for a single-entry e-visa, which will allow them to stay in Kenya for up to three months.
Multiple Entry E-Visa Fees
We currently offer three different visa processing packages, including:
- Standard: Visa costs $$ and is issued within () days.
- Rush: Visa costs $$ and is issued within () days.
- Super Rush: Visa costs $$ and is issued within () hours.
Remember that the charges include visa service fees as well. Moreover, the cost of a multiple-entry e-visa to Kenya will be higher than a single-entry travel permit. That’s because the visa will have longer validity, and there’s no restriction on the number of entries the traveler can make to Kenya. This is a better option because applying for a single-entry visa multiple times would prove costlier than obtaining a multiple-entry visa.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
An electronic or evisa is a digitally generated travel authorization. It is issued in a PDF file, and applicant receives it in their email inbox. The e-visa has to be printed and shown to the immigration official at the point of entry to gain permission to enter the Republic of Kenya.
The Kenyan government has the necessary methods in place to verify the e-visa. As soon as you land at the airport, the immigration officials will check the issued visa’s printed copy or digital image and verify it through an electronically managed system. They will stamp the passport and allow you to enter the country if verified.
An e-visa is generally declined if the applicant didn’t provide accurate information in the application form or made a mistake. Matching the information entered on the application form with the passport’s biodata page is necessary. Both documents’ information must match. Otherwise, the application will be rejected. Another reason the visa may get rejected is providing incomplete documents. Always check the data before submitting the application form to avoid delays and rejection.
The e-visa is typically processed within three business days. If you need the visa urgently and have selected the Super Rus option, you will get the visa within 24 hours. But this happens if you have fulfilled all the application form requirements and meet the eligibility criteria for a Kenya e-visa.
You can easily track your visa application status by entering your application ID and passport number. The approved visa will be emailed to the applicant, after which they can take its print and make travel plans.