Kenya visa requirements for South African citizens - Fee & Service

Kenya visa for South African citizens: There are many people who dream of visiting exotic and beautiful African nations like Kenya, and the good news is that South African travelers do not need to worry too much about cumbersome Kenya visa requirements. In fact, applying online for a Kenya e visa for South African citizens is straightforward and can be completed in a few days and right from your home. With the right preparation, South Africans can make their dreams of visiting the wonderful Kenya country reality in no time.

Kenya visa for South African citizens - How to get a Kenya e visa from South Africa?

Kenya Immigration Services will provide an overview of the Kenya e visa requirements for South African citizens, including the Kenya e visa fees, services and types currently available, as well as the Kenya e visa processing time. We will also provide tips and advice for making sure the Kenya visa application process for South African citizens is as easy and fastest as possible. Let's get started!

Let’s Check Kenya Visa Requirements For South African Citizens

• South Africa is not on the exempt country list for Kenya visas, so a Kenya visa is REQUIRED for South African passport holders.

• Depending on the purpose and length of your stay in Kenya and the relevant documents available, South African citizens can apply for the appropriate type of Kenya visa.

South African citizens can apply for a Kenya visa in several ways:

• Kenya visas must be obtained prior to arrival in Kenya and can be acquired from the Kenya embassy in South Africa or consulate nearest.

• Applying online for a Kenya e visa for South African citizens through our website.

To apply for a Kenya visa, South African applicants must submit the following documents:

• A completed Kenya visa application form
• Two passport-sized photographs
• A valid South African passport which is valid for at least 6 months from the first entry date.
• A scan of the biographical page of the South African passport.

Check Kenya e visa requirements for South African citizens

Need To Know All Types Of Kenya Visas For South African Citizens Currently Available

South Africans seeking to travel to Kenya will need to obtain the relevant Kenya visa in order to enter the country. There are several different types of Kenya visas available for South African citizens, depending on their travel purpose.

The most popular is the Kenya e visa for South African citizens, which can be applied for and obtained online before your trip. This type of Kenya visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days and is suitable for people coming to Kenya for leisure, business, or transit purposes.

Currently, there are four (04) types of Kenya e visa available to South African citizens, depending on the purpose of the visit:

• Kenya Tourist e visa

Mainly used for traveling and sightseeing purposes. Kenya tourist eVisa for South African citizens only allows a single-entry, and you can stay in Kenya for up to 90 days.

• Kenya Transit e visa

Used when South Africans need to cross Kenya before taking another flight to a different country. Kenya transit eVisa is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance, allowing South African travelers to have a short trip in Kenya for up to 07 days.

• Kenya Business e visa

This is crucial for your work trip to Kenya. South African workers will have 90 consecutive days in this country with a Kenya business e visa.

• East Africa Tourist e visa

This East Africa tourist visa is one new type of Kenya e visa. With East Africa tourist eVisas allow South Africans traveling around 03 countries: Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. With this type of Kenya tourist eVisa, South African tourists can visit these countries freely and remain there for a total of 90 days.

South African citizens needing a multiple-entry Kenya visa are required to apply for a necessary Kenya visa at the nearest consulates or embassies of Kenya in South Africa.

Apply Kenya Visa For South African Citizens Right From Your Home

• Kenya e visa is an official online Visa system by the Kenya Government, launched in 2015 to allow citizens of eligible countries to enter Kenya legally, including South Africa.
• Although the Government does not require South African applicants to submit their documents at the Kenya embassy, they will ask you to scan some documents to process your Kenya e visa application.

Therefore, as South African nationals applying for a Kenya eVisa, you should have certain documents ready to go to ensure a smooth process.

Apply a Kenya e visa for South African citizens online

Required documents to apply for a Kenyan visa include:

• South African passport is valid for at least 06 months beyond the intended arrival date in Kenya and has at least two pages for immigration stamps when entering and leaving Kenya
• A scan of South African passport’s biographical page
• A valid email address to receive notifications and Kenya visa approval information.
• Passport photo of the South African applicant taken as recently as possible.

In addition, depending on the type of Kenya e visa you apply for, there are some extra documents that South African travelers need to provide.

About Kenya tourist visa requirements for South African citizens

South African travelers need to provide your travel itinerary. A hotel booking, flight tickets, or an invitation letter from a Kenyan host is also required to obtain a Kenya tourist visa for South African citizens.

About Kenya business visa requirements South African citizens

South Africans are required to provide an invitation letter from the company or invitation letter for business visits, a Certificate Of Incorporation of the company, and your staff ID card/Passport.

Apply Kenya e visa for South African residents by following these steps

• Step 1: Fill out the Kenya e visa application form with basic information, including your full name, date of birth, nationality, as well as the passport number. South African applicants should carefully check the accuracy of the information provided to avoid errors during the Kenya visa application process.
• Step 2: Choose the payment method for the Kenya visa fees and provide some additional documents as required.
• Step 3: With system tab check Kenya e visa status allows South African citizens to track the status of Kenya e visa application process at any time. South African applicants will receive a Kenya e visa by email in a maximum of 03 business days.

South African citizens should download and print out their Kenya e visa. Then bring your Kenya e visa with you to show the Kenya immigration officers upon arrival.

Learn More About Kenya Visa Fees And Services For South African Citizens

Various types of Kenya visas are available, each with a different number of entries and staying time. Kenya visa fee for South African citizens is solely determined by the type and service of your Kenya visa chosen.

Kenya e visa fee for South African citizens

• To obtain a Kenya e visa for South African citizens, you have to pay two kinds of fees, which are called the Kenya visa fee and Kenya Government fee.
• More about how to make payment Kenya e visa fees for South African citizens, and Kenya visa services cost here.

In addition, Kenya Immigration Services currently also provide other package services to assist South African citizens while traveling to Kenya such as Kenya travel insurance, Car pick-up service in Kenya and Kenya eSim.

Lean about Kenya e visa fees for South African citizens

Kenya e visa services for South African citizens

Kenya Immigration Services is currently offering 03 options of Kenya e visa services for South African citizens depending on your needs.

• Normal Kenya e visa service

Used in most cases, South African travelers will get a Kenya eVisa approval in a guaranteed maximum of 03 business days.

• Urgent Kenya e visa service

Used in some special cases, South African citizens can get this Kenya eVisa in a guaranteed maximum of 24 hours

• Super Urgent Kenya e visa service

This is the fastest Kenya visa service available, used in emergency cases. South Africans can get a Kenya eVisa in a guaranteed maximum of 05 business hours

Apply for a Rush Kenya e visa for South African citizens here.

Consider to buy Kenya e visa with Kenyan travel insurance for South African citizens

Although Kenya travel insurance is not one of the mandatory Kenya visa requirements for South African citizens, it is an essential recommendation for your trip from the Kenya Government.

• When visiting a country like Kenya, South African travelers should be ready for unforeseen events such as trip cancellation or interruption, accident, sickness, or loss of baggage. The Kenya travel insurance will help you partially reduce damages during the trip
• Kenya Immigration Services believe that travel insurance Kenya is essential for South African citizens to have peace of mind and enjoyment of their trip to Kenya.

South African citizens can take benefits and Kenya travel insurance information here.

Apply for necessary Kenya visa at Kenya embassy in South Africa

On public holidays in South Africa and Kenya, the Kenya embassy's offices in South Africa may be closed.

High Commission of the Republic of Kenya in Pretoria, South Africa

• Address: 302 Brooks Street, P.O. Box 35954, Menlo Park, 0081, South Africa.

• Link the consulate and embassy of Kenya in South Africa here.

Kenya consulate/embassy office’s hours in South Africa

• Morning: 09.00 - 12.30
• Afternoon: 13:30 - 16:00

Normally, the Kenya Embassy office in South Africa is open Monday to Friday.

Note about Kenya e visas for South African citizens

• South African passports must be valid for at least six (06) months to enter Kenya.
• Please notice that German citizens need to download and print out your Kenya e visa, then bring it with you to show the Kenya Immigration officers upon arrival.

Kenya Visa Requirements for South Africa Citizens FAQs

Do South Africans need a visa for Kenya?

Holders of South African passports do not need a visa for stays in Kenya of less than one month (30 days). They need to obtain Kenya visas for trips that are longer than 30 days. Nationals of South Africa who want to extend their stay for more than 30 days can apply for a Kenya visa online . This is the fastest and most convenient way to get a visa for Kenya from South Africa, helping travelers save an amount of time.

Kenyan Government requires certain foreign nationals to have a visa before traveling to this country. Fortunately, a new visa system, called Kenya electronic visa, was launched in 2015 that can help simplify the process of getting a visa. Citizens of more than 150 countries, including South African nationals, can take advantage of an eVisa to visit Kenya for tourism, business, or transit purposes.

It is very straightforward to get a Kenya visa from South Africa. First of all, they should make sure that they meet the Kenya visa requirements for South African citizens. After that, they will complete the application form with some necessary information and make an online payment for the visa fee. Within a few days after the visa application has been submitted, South African citizens can receive their visas via email.

Is Kenya visa free to South Africa?

 Yes. South African citizens are permitted a visa-exempt stay in Kenya of up to 30 days. That means South African nationals whose trips are less than 30 days can visit Kenya without obtaining a visa.  However, if South Africans want to explore more things in Kenya, they can apply for a Kenya eVisa which allows them to stay there longer. 

The electronic visa system offers a quick and uncomplicated way to obtain permission to visit Kenya. South African travelers no longer need to visit a diplomatic office to apply for a visa on paper because they may now apply online. The validity of an electronic visa for Kenya is within 90 days from the issued date and the duration of stay is also up to 90 days. 

The visa application process will be taken within 15 minutes from anywhere as long as the applicant has a computer or other internet-connected device. Travelers from South Africa are recommended to submit the application at least 07 days before their departure. A Kenya eVisa is frequently granted in a maximum of 03 business days. However, South Africans who need their visa in case of emergency can choose the Rush Visa service provided by Kenya Immigration Service. With this service, it takes only 05 hours to process their visa application.

Can I travel to Kenya from South Africa?

 Yes. South African citizens are allowed to travel to Kenya since this country opened its borders to international travelers in 2020. 

Blessed with stunning natural features, pleasant weather all year round, and a diverse range of species, Kenya is one of the most popular destinations for many tourists in the world. The number of visitors to Kenya is expected to increase from 900,000 recorded in 2021 to more than 1 million owing to the reopening of tourism. Traveling to Kenya, South African travelers have opportunities to enjoy unique safari tours, bask in the beauty of nature, and explore the natural habitats of wild animals such as elephants, rhinos, African buffalo, and giraffes. 

 

To have a trip to Kenya, South Africans must consider obtaining a visa before departing. A visa-exempt of up to 30 days is granted for South African citizens, so they do not need to get a visa for trips less than 30 days. However, an eVisa is available for South African nationals who intend to remain in the country longer and explore the peaceful landscapes that Kenya has to offer.  

 

In addition, South Africans are recommended to purchase travel insurance before traveling to Kenya because it can help protect their benefits during their Kenya trip. Up to US$ 50,000.00 (Fifty thousand US Dollars) is covered by this travel insurance, offering affordable emergency protection for medical, transportation, or trip interruption should unexpected occurrences happen during their Kenya trip. 

How much is Kenyan visa from South Africa?

 For South African travelers intending to visit Kenya and staying there longer than 30 days, a visa will be required. Traveling to Kenya is easier than ever before thanks to Kenya eVisa which is issued by the Kenyan Directorate of Immigration Service. 

After 15 minutes of completing the application form, South African nationals can apply for a visa for Kenya and get it after a few business days. Importantly, for the eVisa to be processed, the applicants must pay the visa fee as a mandatory step. Citizens of South Africa applying for Kenya eVisa on Kenya Immigration Service must pay 02 types of visa fees: the Government and the Service Fee. 

 

Depending on the type of visa South Africans apply for, they must pay a different amount for the Government fee. South African citizens requesting a tourist or business visa for Kenya must pay US$ 95.00 for the government charge. This fee is higher if their visa application is for the East Africa visa. An amount of US$ 65.00 must be paid to the Government for a Kenya transit visa.

 

There are 03 different types of visa processing time, which may determine the visa service fee that South African nationals have to pay. 

• Normal: Get an eVisa within 03 business days with a fee of US$59.00.
• Urgent: South Africans can expect to receive their eVisa in 24 hours by paying a higher fee. They need to pay an additional US$79.00.
• Super urgent: This option is great for South African applicants who require their visa in 05 hours for an extra US$99.00.