Visit the Kenyan Embassy's Visa Information page at kenyaembassy.com and determine which visa category applies to your planned visit. A single-entry visa will allow you to enter the country once. A multiple-entry visa will allow for entry more than once. A transit visa will allow you to leave the airport while waiting for a connecting flight. If you are catching a connecting flight at a Kenyan airport but will not be leaving the airport, a visa is not necessary.
Fill out the specific form online that conforms with your travel needs. Once completed, print the form and sign it. Even if you are a U.S. resident, you may have to apply for a Referred Visa if you are a passport holder of any of the following countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cameroon, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Nigeria, North Korea, Senegal, Syria, Palestine, Tajikistan or Yemen. Referred Visa applicants will have their applications sent to the Director of Immigration Services in Nairobi, Kenya, which will lengthen the processing time.
Compile all necessary documents. In addition to the signed visa form, include a valid passport, not a copy of your passport. You must also include your travel itinerary or a letter from a travel agent confirming a booking and two passport photographs. Include visa fees of the exact amount in the form of cashier check or money order only. No cash will be accepted. The fee will depend on which type of visa you seek (a single-entry visa costs $25, a multiple-entry visa costs $50, a transit visa costs $10 and expedited services cost an additional $20 as of spring 2010).
Provide a self-addressed, pre-paid and certified return envelope. The envelope must be from the following mail providers or services: FedEx, Express Mail, Certified Mail or Priority Mail. If applying for a Referred Visa, also include a letter of invitation from a Kenyan host and the $5 processing fee.
Mail the entire package to the Kenyan Embassy in Washington, D.C. or the consulate in New York or Los Angeles, depending on which is closer to you. It will take approximately 14 days to process the visa request. Once granted, you can travel to Kenya.
