Kenya e-Visa for citizens of the United Arab Emirates: online application, fees and processing time 2026
Yes, an e-Visa is required: citizens of the United Arab Emirates apply online before departure, for stays up to 90 days.
Data updated on
Apply online through iVisa
Official fees from €28.
iVisa is a paid service, charged on top of the official fees. Partner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you order, at no extra cost to you.
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Official fee
30-32 USD
Processing time
72 hours
Allowed stay
90 days
Our guide to the Kenya visa from the United Arab Emirates
Travellers departing from the United Arab Emirates must obtain an electronic travel authorization (e-Visa) online before going to Kenya. Nothing done at the airport replaces this prior formality.
Kenya has moved its admission process online: from the United Arab Emirates, the application is completed on the official portal before boarding. The passport must stay valid for at least six months.
Do you need a visa?
Yes. Emirati citizens and UAE residents are not exempt: they must request an electronic authorization (e-Visa) before travelling to Kenya. The application is made ahead of departure; you should not rely on sorting it out on arrival.
How much does an e-visa for Kenya cost from the United Arab Emirates?
30-32 USD
Official government fee only. Providers and visa centres add their own service charge on top.
What does a visa for Kenya really cost?
The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.
- Government fee30-32 USD
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.
We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.
What documents are required for an e-visa for Kenya?
Documents required for an e-visa for Kenya:
- Passport valid 6 months
- Photo
- Accommodation details
Documents and fees
Prepare a passport valid for at least six months, a compliant photo, your itinerary and proof of accommodation. The exact amount is set by the official portal: check it there for the current fee, as it may change. Also confirm whether a yellow-fever certificate is required based on your travel history.
How to apply for an e-visa for Kenya from the United Arab Emirates
- 1Fill in the form on the destination’s official portal.
- 2Upload the required documents (passport, photo, supporting papers).
- 3Pay the fee online by card.
- 4Receive the authorisation by email, usually without a consular visit.
- 5Show the authorisation, printed or on your phone, at boarding.
How and where to apply
The application is fully online, from the UAE, via the official portal etakenya.go.ke. You create an account, fill in the form, upload the required documents and pay online. No consular appointment is needed for the standard process.
Where do you apply for a visa for Kenya from the United Arab Emirates?
An e-visa for Kenya is filed entirely online: there is no counter to visit and no file to hand in. The only address that matters is the official portal.
- The application, the supporting documents and the payment all go through the official portal, from any country.
- Lookalike sites copy the portal’s name and layout, then resell the same application with a margin. Check the domain before you type in a passport number.
- The authorisation arrives by email. Keep a printed copy, some airlines ask for it at boarding.
Using an online service
You never have to use an intermediary. If you would rather have a service fill in and file the application online for you before departure, iVisa does it for a service fee, charged on top of the official fees. It does not change the decision.
File my application with iVisaPartner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you order, at no extra cost to you.
You live in the United Arab Emirates on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in the United Arab Emirates but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does an e-visa for Kenya take?
72 hours
Indicative time, counted from a complete file. Peak season can be longer.
Processing and tips
Processing time is not guaranteed: submit several days before departure to absorb any delay. Keep both a printed and a digital copy of the approval, as it may be requested at boarding and on arrival. Double-check every field before you submit.
Before you fly, and at the border
- Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
- A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
- Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
- Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.
Common mistakes
The main pitfalls: using an unofficial intermediary site that overcharges, applying too late, or travelling on a passport with insufficient validity. Make sure the name entered matches the passport exactly, and confirm health requirements on the official source.
Plan your trip
Nomad Insurance travel cover (SafetyWing)
Medical cover and repatriation, can be taken out mid-trip.
Flights (Trip.com)
Compare flights and airlines for your trip.
eSIM data (Saily)
Stay connected on landing, with no roaming charges. Requires an eSIM-compatible phone.
Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)
Book excursions ahead, with free cancellation on most activities.
Partner links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Other visa types for Kenya
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
Guide generated automatically on July 26, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
eVisa / authorization
Entry regime
eVisa / authorization
Class D Work Permit
Work visa
Duration
2 years
Price
520,000 KES
Processing time
60 business days
Official websiteVerified
Class K Retirement permit
Retirement visa
Duration
2 years
Price
270,000 KES
Processing time
60 business days
Official websiteVerified
Kenya eTA
eVisa / authorization
Entry regime
eVisa / authorization
Duration
90 days
Price
30–32 USD
Processing time
72 hours
Student Pass
Student visa
Duration
Duration of programme
Price
100 USD
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Class G Investor permit
Investor visa
Duration
2 years
Price
270,000 KES
Processing time
60 business days
Official websiteVerified
Spouse permit
Family reunification
Duration
2 years
Price
10,000–20,000 KES
Processing time
60 business days
Official websiteVerified
Apply online with iVisa
Online application for Kenya, with no consulate visit.
- Online filing for e-visa and visa-on-arrival destinations
- Online application tracking
- Paid service, on top of official fees
- Decision made by the country's authorities, not by iVisa
Official fees from €28Start my application on iVisa
Partner link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The visa verdict above does not depend on this partner.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to Kenya from the United Arab Emirates?▾
Yes, an e-visa (electronic visa) is required. It is applied for online before departure and allows a stay of 90 days.
How much does a tourist visa for Kenya cost?▾
The tourist visa costs between 30 and 32 USD in official fees. Service fees may apply when using a provider.
How long does it take to get a visa for Kenya?▾
Usual processing time: 72 hours. Allow some buffer before your departure.
What documents are required for a visa to Kenya?▾
For the tourist visa application, you will need: Passport valid 6 months, Photo, Accommodation details.
How do you apply for a visa for Kenya from the United Arab Emirates?▾
The application is fully online and made before departure: form on the official portal, documents uploaded, card payment, then the authorisation arrives by email. In most cases no consular visit is needed.
How long can you stay in Kenya?▾
The tourist visa allows a stay of 90 days.
What other visa types exist for Kenya?▾
Depending on the purpose of stay, Kenya offers among others: Class D Work Permit, Student Pass, Spouse permit, Class K Retirement permit, Class G Investor permit.
Data verified on 28/10/2026 · Our methodology
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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