Visa for Germany from Kenya: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. A Schengen short-stay Type C visa is mandatory for Kenyan nationals visiting Germany as tourists. It allows a stay of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area. No visa is issued at the border.

• Government fee90 EUR
• Application centre feeCapped at €45
• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
• ExtrasVariable

Prepare a valid passport, the signed form, a biometric photo, travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000, accommodation and flight bookings, plus proof of funds and of employment in Kenya. The visa fee is normally €90 for an adult, excluding service charges. Confirm the amount on the Federal Foreign Office website.

You apply in Kenya at the VFS Global centre appointed by the German Embassy in Nairobi. Complete the form, book an appointment, then attend in person for fingerprints and photo. Some categories may be asked to attend the embassy directly, so check the instructions before booking.

• Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If Germany is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
• With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
• If Germany has no consulate in Kenya, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Kenya, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Kenya 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.

Processing usually takes 15 to 45 days, so apply at least three weeks before departure. A yellow-fever vaccination certificate may be required from travellers coming from Kenya, so keep your international card to hand. Do not buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is granted.

The classic error is applying to the Schengen country where you will spend the least time: Germany handles the file if it is your main destination. Non-compliant insurance or insufficient financial proof frequently cause refusal. Check passport validity (at least three months beyond your intended return date).