Multiple Entry Visas For Kenya ?
 

Our East Africa Trip is booked for September and our itinerary has us flying into NBO and on safari in Kenya for six days,then onward to Rwanda via NBO for four days,then back through NBO to same-day transfer to JRO-Tanzania for nine days,then back to Kenya-NBO,and a day room in Nairobi prior to our same day flight back through London to Canada.What do we need for Kenyan Visas?-single entry,double entry,transit??-please advise.Many Thanks

Single entry, which is good for travel over the period the Kenya visa is valid.

You are best to get a Multiple Entry Visa ask at your nearest Kenyan Embassy
each transit visa costs $US20 plus you would also need a Tourist visa for the 6 days US$50
so totally you would be up for US$90
US$50 for the tourist visa plus two transits visas @US$ 20 each
The Multiple entry visa would also save a few hassles at each border

I repeat, you only need a single entry visa.

OP is going to Rwanda though, so I think <i>technically</i> that would require another visa when re-entering Kenya, does it not? I believe you can depart and re-enter Kenya on the same single entry visa (within the validity period) if you stay within Kenya/Tanzania/Uganda or does that include Rwanda now too? Can anyone who has returned to Kenya from Rwanda confirm?

For your same day KGL-NBO-JRO transit, as long as you're not leaving NBO and your bags are through checked to JRO, you won't pass by Kenyan immigration at all. In that case, nothing is needed on that day regardless.

For you day room in Nairobi, <b>if</b> you require another visa, you can get a transit one for $20. You're coming back from Tanzania, so maybe they won't notice if you've been in Rwanda. I can't remember if the landing cards ask you to state which countries you've been in or simply which country you're arriving from.

To summarize, I <i>think</i> at most what you would need is one single entry ($50) and one transit ($20) visa and perhaps you could even get away with the one single entry. I'd be interested in further clarification on that myself.

In any case, I probably wouldn't bother getting a multi entry ($100) before hand and would just see how it goes.

BTW are you totally confused now? ;)

I dont know about BTW BUT I am pretty confused and I got out of bed on the right side this morning

Thanks for the info-seems the answer to my question is as clear as mud!Sounds like the best thing to do is get a single entry visa and wing it from there!(no pun intended!) BTW I love this site,and have gleaned all sorts of great info from all of you veteran Fodorites-Thanks!!!

When I wasn't sure what to do with my Kenya visa situation, I emailed the Kenya High Commission (in Canada) for clarification. They emailed an answer within 24 hrs = peace of mind.

Yup. Patty is correct. When re-entering Kenya from Rwanda, a &quot;new&quot; visa is required (at least as of last August).

when i entered kenya at the airport this past june, i paid $50 and my passport stamp was good for unlimited re entry for a period of 3 months.

i am not sure what it is officially called, but why not get one of these?

kerikeri :)

I believe kerikeri is correct, that even if going to Rwanda, you'll be fine with the $50 single entry visa. Visa is good for the term of it's validity.

Of course, it may depend on the individual who processes your documents.

The visa is certainly good for the 6/days in Kenya; transiting at the airport returning from Rwanda on way to Tanzania; return to Kenya for last day in NBO before heading home. At most, they could charge $20 as a Transit Visa, but doubt it.

The following is copied from Wikipedia: &quot;The East African Community (EAC) is a customs union in East Africa, consisting of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; Burundi and Rwanda will join on 1 July 2007.&quot; Because some posters on Trip Advisor wanted an answer, I specifically asked a Kenyan immigration official last August if I could use my entry visa (coming in from Heathrow) to re-enter Kenya after I traveled on to Rwanda. He explained that, because Rwanda is not an East African Union member, I could not.
Kenya being Kenya, different people may have different experiences; but the immigration guy was correct. We had to buy another visa for Kenya when we returned from Rwanda.

Thanks for all the ongoing info on this visa issue.While we're on this topic is their any word on the proposed East African Union tourist visa yet? I gather until this is in effect,we will still need single visit tourist visas for Kenya and Tanzania-correct?

According to an e-mail from Kennedy this week, the EAC visa is still in the talking stage...nothing yet. Yes, you will need a visa for both Kenya and Tanzania.

<b><font color="red">
Did anybody ever get a multi-entry Visa for Kenya?
</font></b>
Have bthey changed their policy??
some years ago all kinds of people have tried and failed
A Safari-company owner through a brother having an influential post within the Kenya Immigration failed ...
(for many years i used to come to Kenya a number of times every year. &amp; basically didn't want to waste my passport's pages &amp; time. I failed)

The governments of Kenya, Tanzania &amp; Uganda are working on a complete program including the Multi-country Visa, standards of lodging, pricing, park fees, etc. etc.

As it seems now, the effective date is 2010. Whether this date includes the total program undertaking (maybe the multi-visa will be sooner), beats me.

They initiated planning for this program in 1999. With a completion date of 2010. Pole pole!

Hey ToonTownDoc, your itinerary sounds identical to ours (except for the going to Canada bit) - and we're going in September.

What complicates my Visa query is that I'm also going to Tanzania in July - flying in and out of Nairobi.

I'd guess that multiple entry would be the best for that.

I just received the letter/forms from my TA suggesting a multi entry visa before we leave for Kenya/Rwanda. We have 3 separate ov-nights in NBO and since we have a consulate here in LA, I might just take our passports there-think someone else mentioned that they had used the Los Angeles consulate too?

I'm volunteering in Kenya with a gal who got a multiple entry visa at the New York consulate...so, yes they do happen. I just wish I had gotten one...I'm heading to Nairobi in a week to get a visa extension. For those of you have never been to Nyayo House (immigration), count yourselves lucky.

As others have covered, a single entry visa is fine for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. I've bounced from one to the other with ease.

I've never been to Rwanda (I hear good things), but Kenya and Tanzania are wonderful. I also highly recommend Uganda. Enjoy your trip toontowndoc!

How about this scenario -
We'll be flying into NBO, then transiting directly to SEZ (Seychelles) w/out leaving the airport. After we come back to NBO from SEZ, we'll leave the airport and spend 6 nights in Kenya. So, what visa(s) will I need for this trip? Will I need a visa for the first leg of the trip (stopping in NBO on the way to Seychelles)? If so, perhaps I'll try to purchase the $50 and hopefully those will cover me for the return trip, when we're actually going to spend time in Kenya.
Thanks for the help,
Bostonbali

Bostonbali -

If arriving NBO and remaining in transit area of airport before flying to SEZ, no Visa is required for Kenya. Then when returning from SEZ for your 6/day stay in NBO, you will have to obtain a Single Entry Visa ($50) for this portion of your strip.

If arriving/departing NBO and going to Tanzania between, you only require a Single entry Kenyan visa (Multiple not needed), as long as the return from TNZ is within the time Kenyan Visa is in effect... believe it's 6/months.

Sandi -
Thanks, make sense. I appreciate your help!

OK, I'm facing this same issue now. Do I get a single or multiple entry visa for Kenya? I arrive Nairobi, overnight there, go to Tanzania for a week, then Rwanda for three days, then back to Nairobi for a day before flying home.

By reading this post, I think I learned that I previously would have needed a multiple entry visa to come back into Kenya from Rwanda, but as of the first of this month Rwanda should have joined the East African Community (EAC) and thus a single entry visa for Kenya is all that is needed.

Does anyone know if Rwanda did in fact join the EAC and if now I can get by with a single entry visa for Kenya? I want to get my Tanzanian and Kenyan visas before I leave to make things easier for my family when we get there.

sevendown -

Can't answer whether Rwanda is now included along with Tanzania and Uganda.

Regardless, you only need a single entry visa for Kenya @ $50/person. This will allow you to enter Kenya day/night of arrival, next day head to Tanzania, then to Rwanda and finally back to Kenya for your homebound flight. In fact on return from Rwanda, if not leaving the airport you'd be in the transit lounge so no visa actually required.

You never did require a multiple entry visa (these are more for business people, not tourists visiting for short period of time). The single entry Kenya visa is all you need.

We had no problems going from Nairobi to Tanzania, then back to Nairobi on a single entry visa. You just need to make sure that the Kenya visa covers the entire period. We opted to get our visas for Kenya and Tanzania at the airports and did so without any problems. My sister and I were 2nd and 3rd in line at Nairobi. It was quick and we didn't need to stand in the Immigration line afterwards. We had filled out the visa form prior to leaving the States, but were given the same form on the plane into NBO. We did the same for Tanzania, although we weren't given the visa forms by Precision Air, but we had already filled them out in advance. Again, it was quick and we didn't need to stand in the Immigration line at JRO.

OK, it makes sense as sandi says to get a single entry visa. We will be visiting Nairobi for 10 hours and thus entering the country (Kenya) when we return from Rwanda, so we will not be in the NBO transit lounge for 10 hours. If it turns out we need another visa upon returning from Rwanda, we can buy it at that point. But it sounds like it will not be necessary, so why pay for it before we need it.

Thanks all.

I suggest explaining your situation to the immigration official on arrival and ask what you need. It's really easy to get your visa on arrival and they process your immigration at the same time. Those that already have visas use a different line. As you'll be in business class, you'll be one of the first at the visa counter. We've taken the KL flight 3 times and never waited more than 5 minutes (we're usually first in line). Just print out the application form from the embassy website and fill it out on the plane. Since your 2 Kenya entries are only for an overnight and 10 hours, you could also get 2 transit visas at $20 each.

Thanks Patty. I have just always gotten my visas in advance for Kenya (twice) and Tanzania (twice) (and for other countries requiring them for that matter) so I am not familiar with getting them on the spot.

It really does reveal what a money-making thing it is. I thought visas were issued in advance by the embassy here so that the country could at least do some minimal investigation to make sure you are not on some black list and shouldn't be allowed in the country. If you can do everything right there, there can't be a whole lot of investigation. But the money still gets paid!!

We are leaving for Kenya - Rwanda-Tanzania-Kenya October 1st return October 20th. What Visas will we need?
Thanks for your help.

I just emailed the embassy with the same question...Ill arrive in kenya for an overnight, then on to rwanda, then back kenya for about a week, then tanzania for two weeks and finally back to kenya to catch my flight home. This was their response:

&quot;We acknowledge receipt of your email. From your explanation you would need both single and transit visa. Please call the Consulate on 323 939 2408 for further clarification.&quot;

Hope this is helpful to some of you!

jen -

When you arrive Kenya, get a regular $50 visa and this will be good on our return from Rwanda, while in Kenya and returning from Tanzania. A single entry visa. Yes, you'll be going back and forth, but the multiple entry visa is basically for business persons (also at a higher rate)

There's really no reason for a Transit Visa. The Regular single entry tourist visa is good for 3 (or 6) /months.

Sandi,
Have you had clients who successfully re-entered Kenya from Rwanda on the same previously purchased single entry Kenya visa? Earlier posts in this thread indicated that a new visa was required when re-entering Kenya from Rwanda but that a possible change was coming in July 2007. I knew you could always cross back and forth between Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda on the single entry visa but it seemed like Rwanda wasn't included in this (maybe it is now).

jenbertoni,
Could you update us on what was necessary when you get back? Thanks!

Of course I will Patty...although I'm not going until February. Hopefully someone else who has a similar itinerary might be able to confirm before then, but if not I will surely post the final outcome!

Patty -

Thanks for catching that. My Rwanda paxs usually come in directly from KGL to TNZ, few pass thru NBO. Those who do transit thru NBO are on their homebound flights so remain in secure area.

Sorry, jen -

then, yes, the Transit visa @ $20; then on arrival back at NBO, the regular visa @ $50.

Why is this so complicated?
Flying into Dar Es Saalam (Tz) then flying to Nairobi. Safari from Kenya into Tanzania and back into Kenya.
Double Entry or single entry for each country? Get ahead time or on arrival, particularly for Tanzania?
Any proofs of vaccinations required?
Thanks for the help!

Hello All,
Since I started this post months ago,and have since just returned from East Africa (trip report soon),I felt compelled to respond.For all of you from Canada or the US at least,please heed Sandi's advice and I repeat-Do not pre-purchase your visas for Kenya or Tanzania-get them when you arrive!Like us if you are travelling in and out of Kenya,get a single-entry visa for 50.00US upon arrival-tell them it is for the entire length of your stay.Each time you exit Kenya they will stamp your passport-no problem.When you re-enter go to the non-E Africa immigration line-not the visa line-show them your single entry visa,and they will let you in.This is how it worked for us in Kenya.For Tanzania,if you are from Canada,fee is still 50.00US.If from US,fee is now 100.00-not sure why they did this,but the day it changed,a fellow from the states got charged the 100.00,and we right behind from Canada,still 50.00-go figure!We only entered and exited Tanzania once,so can't comment on any multiple tourist entry for that country.Hope this helps!

USCfemme,
You only need a single entry visa for each country. I'd get them on arrival. I've never been asked for proof of vaccinations. Remember if you're a US citizen, the Tanzania visa is now $100. Kenya is still $50.

Tanzania raised their visa cost for US visitors to their country, because the US raised the visa cost for Tanzanian visitors to the USA. What goes around comes around.