Obtaining Visas for Your Vacation at Diani Beach

Entry visas to Kenya are the first travel requirements you have to fulfill before travelling to Diani Beach.

You have three options, getting a visa online, visiting your nearest Kenyan Embassy or travelling and applying for the visa on arrival at the immigration offices at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Moi International airport.

Each option has its pros and cons. For those who like travelling with minimal delays you can obtain your visa from your country of origin which could take 1 – 3 months depending on the embassy’s location. The US and UK embassies are pretty efficient and it takes less than five working days to get your visa processed.

The online option is convenient but could take almost the amount of time it takes to acquire your visa through the embassy.

The first and last options are your safest bet though the last option is the most preferred for those with very busy schedules or without quick access to an embassy to serve them. Business and tourist visas can be issued upon arrival as long as you have the relevant documents ready. It takes approximately 20 minutes. Visas can be obtained by most nationalities on arrival.

Visas processing on arrival can delay the passenger if the currency the passenger uses isn’t convertible or the Passport isn’t valid for the period of stay.

It is therefore advisable to obtain a visa in the country of origin to avoid inconveniences and delays on arrival. A transit visa costs $10. Required by all passengers are onward or return tickets, documents needed for next destination and sufficient funds for length of intended stay (at least US$500).

Visas cost between $25 -$50 (including processing fees) for single entry options and are valid for a period of 3 – 6 months while the multiple entry visas cost $100 – $150.

The following are the Kenya entry requirements listed by country:

1. Americans: United States citizens require a valid passport and a visa.
2. UK nationals: British citizens require a valid passport and a visa.
3. For Canadians: Canadians require a valid passport and a visa.
4. Australians: Australians require a valid passport and a visa.
5. South Africans: South Africans must have a valid passport. No visa is required for a stay of up to 30 days.
6. New Zealanders: New Zealand citizens require a valid passport and a visa.
7. Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a valid passport and a visa.

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