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VISAS AND RED TAPE |
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Check that your passport will remain valid for at least six months
beyond the end of your projected stay in Kenya, and ensure it has plenty
of spare pages for stamps if travelling further afield in Africa.
Nationals of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa,
all EU countries and Japan all need visas to visit Kenya. Requirements
change however, and you should always check in advance with a Kenyan
embassy, consulate or high commission to confirm the current situation
Visas and visitor's passes
Visas can be obtained in advance from any Kenyan embassy, consulate or
high commission (sometimes from a British embassy in countries where
Kenya has no diplomatic representation). Visas normally take 24-48 hours
to process, require two passport-size photos and usually an air ticket
out of the region (not just to Uganda or Tanzania). This requirement is
usually waived if the embassy is satisfied of your alternative
arrangements or financial responsibility. A single-entry visa costs
£35/$50 and is valid for three months. Multiple entry visas cost roughly
double that. Remember that Kenyan diplomatic missions are closed on
Kenyan public holidays. Transit visas (valid for seven days) can be
bought on arrival for $20. Visas are normally valid for entry within
three months of the date of issue.
It's possible to get a visa on arrival at the airport (sterling or
dollars cash only), though it's best avoided if you're arriving at
night. Although this is generally a hassle-free formality, it does leave
you open to potential problems caused by corrupt officials preying on
your fear of being refused a visa. It also generally requires you to
stand in line and can take up to an hour, so if you do decide to take
this option, get off the plane quickly.
On arrival in Kenya you'll be issued with a visitor's pass usually
limiting the length of stay to three months, though various factors may
determine the length of time granted, including your appearance, how
much money you have and (fortunately) how long you actually want to stay.
Your visa allows re-entry to Kenya after visits to Uganda or Tanzania (assuming
of course you have a visa for these countries). For other trips outside
Kenya, you'll need to reapply for a visa to get back in.
Customs
Duty free allowance is one bottle of spirits or wine, and one carton of
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or half a pound of tobacco.
If you're stopped at the customs benches, you will normally be asked if
you have any photographic equipment, video camcorders, cassette players
and so on. Unless you're some kind of professional, with mountains of
specialist gear, there shouldn't be any question of paying duty on
personal equipment, though some customs officers like to make notes of
it all in your passport to ensure it is re-exported. If you have friends
in Kenya, however, and are taking presents for them, you are likely to
have to pay duty if you declare the items. Even if you have nothing to
declare, corrupt customs officers may ask you for a bribe before
clearing you: you can of course refuse, and they will usually give up on
you after half an hour; alternatively, you can kick up a fuss
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