Kenyans searching for the cost of a US or Schengen visa mostly find travel agencies quoting a bundled price with the markup buried inside. This page does the opposite: it separates the official government fee from the service fees, for every document a Kenyan traveller needs, and for the permits and eTA that bring people the other way. Fees change and the shilling moves, so confirm the exact amount on the official portal before you pay.
Part A. Your Kenyan passport
Kenya issues a single ePassport, the East African Community biometric booklet, applied for on eCitizen. As of February 2026 there is no longer a choice of size: the only booklet the application form offers is the 66-page C series at KES 12,500.
| Booklet | Fee | Available? |
|---|---|---|
| 66-page ordinary, C series | KES 12,500 | Yes, the only option on the form |
| 50-page ordinary, B series | KES 9,500 | Withdrawn from the portal, Feb 2026 |
| 34-page ordinary, A series | KES 7,500 | Withdrawn, July 2025 |
| Replacement, lost or mutilated | KES 20,000 | Yes, plus a police abstract |
The fee is the same whether it is your first passport or a renewal. For the full application flow, the documents, the biometric appointment and collection, see our eCitizen passport application guide.
Part B. Visa fees by destination
These are the official embassy or government fees. They exclude visa application centre service charges, biometrics where charged separately, mandatory travel insurance, and any agency markup, all of which are extra.
| Destination | Visa | Government fee | What else you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen area | Short-stay Type C | EUR 90 adult, EUR 45 child 6-11, free under 6 | VAC service fee plus mandatory travel insurance covering EUR 30,000 |
| United States | B1/B2 visitor | USD 185 MRV | A USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee at issuance, where the post has switched it on |
| United Kingdom | Standard Visitor, 6 months | GBP 135 (from 8 April 2026) | Longer-validity visitor visas cost more |
| Australia | Visitor, subclass 600 | AUD 200 offshore (from 1 April 2026) | AUD 500 if you apply onshore |
| Canada | Visitor, TRV | CAD 100 | CAD 85 biometrics |
| Qatar | Hayya A1 tourist | QAR 100, about USD 27 | Apply on the Hayya platform. Kenyans are visa-required, no visa on arrival |
| India | e-Visa | USD 25 (30-day) to about USD 80 (5-year) | Applied online; price depends on duration and entries |
| South Africa | Visitor, up to 90 days | Visa-free for Kenyans | Nothing. Carry a valid passport and proof of onward travel |
Destinations where the fee depends on you, not just the country
- Turkey. A Kenyan passport holder can use the e-Visa, at USD 50, but only if they already hold a valid sticker visa or residence permit from a Schengen country, the USA, the UK or Ireland. An electronic visa from those countries does not count, it must be a sticker. Everyone else applies for a sticker visa at the Turkish Embassy in Nairobi.
- China. China sets visa fees reciprocally, so the amount differs sharply by nationality and the figures circulating online are usually US or UK rates. Check the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi for the Kenyan fee rather than trusting a general table.
- UAE and Saudi Arabia. These are the two corridors where agency pricing is murkiest, because airlines, typing centres and agencies bundle service charges into a single quoted price and the underlying government fee is a fraction of it. For Umrah in particular, the visa is the small part and the agency package, flights, accommodation and transport, is the real cost. Compare at least two providers and ask each to itemise the government fee separately.
The two destinations worth reading twice
Schengen. One visa covers 29 European countries, but you apply through the embassy of your main destination and most applications go through a visa application centre that adds its own service fee. Travel insurance covering at least EUR 30,000 is mandatory. The visa fee is EUR 90; the amount that leaves your account is meaningfully more.
United States. The USD 185 is the MRV application fee, paid before your interview and non-refundable whether or not you are approved. The separate USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee was enacted in July 2025 with an effective date of 1 October 2025, and it is charged at issuance rather than application, so a refusal does not trigger it. Collection has been switched on unevenly from consulate to consulate while payment and tracking systems catch up. Ask the US Embassy in Nairobi what you will actually be charged rather than relying on any published figure, including this one.
Where Kenyans travel without paying a visa fee
Kenyan passport holders move freely within the East African Community: Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DR Congo and Somalia. Beyond the EAC, South Africa grants Kenyan passport holders visa-free entry for up to 90 days per calendar year, an arrangement running continuously since January 2023. Several other countries offer visa-free entry, visa on arrival or a cheap e-visa. These policies change often, so check the destination's own immigration site rather than a list that may be a year out of date.
Part C. Coming to Kenya: the eTA
If you are hosting a visitor or bringing family to Kenya, the rules changed. Since January 2024 Kenya no longer issues ordinary visas to most visitors. Almost every foreign national instead needs an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online at etakenya.go.ke before travel.
- The standard visitor eTA costs USD 30, plus a small processing charge.
- Approval usually takes 24 to 72 hours. Apply at least three days before travel.
- An expedited option is available for an additional fee where you need it faster.
- The fee is non-refundable whether or not the application is approved.
- Pay by card or, for Kenyan residents, mobile money.
- EAC citizens and a short list of exempted nationalities do not need one.
You will still find an older eCitizen page listing legacy visa fees: single entry USD 51, transit USD 21, East Africa Tourist Visa USD 101. Those describe the pre-eTA system. The one exception still worth knowing is the East Africa Tourist Visa, a joint 90-day multiple-entry visa covering Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, which remains useful for a tourist touring all three.
Part D. Kenya work permits and passes
For a foreigner who wants to live, work, study or invest in Kenya, the Directorate of Immigration issues work permits (Classes A to M) and passes. Every permit carries a non-refundable processing fee of KES 20,000, and citizens of East African Community states are exempt from fees.
| Permit or pass | Purpose | Issuance fee |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Prospecting and mining | KES 500,000 per year |
| Class D | Employment, specific job and employer | KES 500,000 per year |
| Class G | Specific trade, business or consultancy | KES 250,000 per year |
| Special Pass | Short-term work, up to 6 months | USD 200 per month |
| Student's Pass | Study at a registered institution | USD 100 per year |
| Dependant's Pass, of a citizen | Spouse or child of a Kenyan citizen | KES 20,000 |
| Dependant's Pass, of a permit holder | Spouse or child of a permit or PR holder | KES 10,000 |
Classes B, C, F, I, K and M cover agriculture, prescribed professions, manufacturing, religious and charitable work, ordinary residents and refugees respectively, each with its own fee. Investment-based classes require documented proof of capital. Applications are lodged through the Foreign Nationals Services portal at fns.immigration.go.ke. Permit fees have been revised upward in recent years and can change again, so confirm before you pay.
Part E. The questions people actually ask
Is the fee refunded if I am refused? Almost never. The US MRV fee, the Schengen fee and the Kenya eTA fee are all non-refundable whether or not the application succeeds. That is why the documents matter so much.
Do children pay the same? Not always. Schengen charges EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11 and nothing for under-6s. Most other countries charge the full fee regardless of age.
What is the cheapest way to get a passport? Apply yourself on eCitizen and pay the government fee directly. There is no faster or cheaper legitimate route than the portal. An agent only adds a markup.
Where to go next
- The full passport flow: applying or renewing on eCitizen.
- Paying any government fee: the eCitizen hub and how the e-slip works.
- If the invoice will not generate: what to do.
- Other government payments: good conduct and marriage certificates.
- For visitors spending in Kenya: M-PESA for tourists.
Further reading
Curated external sources we cite. Open in a new tab.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a US visa from Kenya in 2026?
The B1/B2 application (MRV) fee is USD 185, paid before your interview and non-refundable whether or not you are approved. A separate USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee was enacted in 2025 and is charged at issuance, but collection has been switched on unevenly from post to post, so confirm with the US Embassy in Nairobi what you will be charged.
How much is a Schengen visa from Kenya?
EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11, free for under-6s. With the visa application centre service fee and mandatory travel insurance, the all-in cost is well above the visa fee itself.
How much is a Kenyan passport in 2026?
KES 12,500. That is the 66-page C series, and since February 2026 it is the only booklet the eCitizen form offers. The 34-page and 50-page options were withdrawn. The fee is the same for a first passport or a renewal.
Do I need a visa to visit Kenya, and how much is it?
Most visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), not a visa. It costs USD 30, is applied for online at etakenya.go.ke, and is usually approved within 24 to 72 hours. The fee is non-refundable whether or not you are approved. EAC citizens are exempt.
How much is a Kenyan work permit?
Every permit carries a KES 20,000 non-refundable processing fee. Issuance is KES 500,000 per year for Class D (employment) and Class A (mining), and KES 250,000 per year for Class G (business). East African Community citizens are exempt from fees.
Do Kenyans need a visa for South Africa?
No. Ordinary Kenyan passport holders enter South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days per calendar year, an arrangement that has run continuously since January 2023.
Is a visa fee refunded if my application is refused?
Almost never. Most application fees, including the US MRV fee, the Schengen fee and the Kenya eTA fee, are non-refundable whether or not the application is approved.
Sources
- Directorate of Immigration Services, passes and work permits: immigration.go.ke and the Foreign Nationals Services portal at fns.immigration.go.ke.
- Kenya eTA official portal: etakenya.go.ke.
- Kenyan passport fee and the withdrawal of the cheaper booklets: The Eastleigh Voice, Kenyans to pay Sh12,500 as cheaper options disappear from eCitizen.
- US B1/B2 MRV fee and the Visa Integrity Fee: US Department of State, and Greenberg Traurig on the USD 250 Visa Integrity Fee.
- Turkish e-Visa eligibility for Kenyan passport holders: Turkish Embassy in Nairobi, announcements.
- Schengen EUR 90, UK GBP 135 (8 April 2026), Australia AUD 200 (1 April 2026), Canada CAD 100 plus CAD 85 biometrics, Qatar Hayya A1 QAR 100: official immigration fee schedules and embassy portals, 2026.
All fees are the official government or embassy amount as published in September 2026 and exclude service, visa application centre, biometric and insurance charges unless stated. Some figures that appeared in earlier versions of this guide, including specific UAE, Saudi and China visa amounts and the Turkish sticker-visa fee, are not published here because we could not confirm the Kenyan rate against a second source. Visa policies and fees change frequently, so always confirm on the official embassy or government portal before paying. This page is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government or embassy.