Updated 2 November 2026
A UK visit visa from Kenya costs £135 for a Standard Visitor visa that lets you stay up to six months. Kenyan passport holders must apply online, book a biometrics appointment at a UK visa application centre and usually get a decision within three weeks. Frequent travellers can buy a 2-year (£506), 5-year (£903) or 10-year (£1,128) long-term visa instead. Since 2025, successful applicants get an eVisa rather than a sticker in the passport.
Updated November 2026 from GOV.UK’s Standard Visitor and faster-decision pages. Fees are set in pounds sterling; your card is charged in KSh at your bank’s rate on the day.
UK visit visa from Kenya: fees
| Visa | Fee | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa | £135 | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor visa for medical reasons | £234 | 11 months |
| Standard Visitor visa for academics | £234 | 12 months |
| 2-year long-term Standard Visitor visa | £506 | 6 months per visit |
| 5-year long-term Standard Visitor visa | £903 | 6 months per visit |
| 10-year long-term Standard Visitor visa | £1,128 | 6 months per visit |
Faster decision options
- Priority service: an extra £500, with a decision usually within 5 working days.
- Super priority service: an extra £1,000, with a decision usually by the end of the next working day after your appointment (two working days for weekend or bank-holiday appointments).
Each family member applies and pays separately, including for priority services. Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused or if you are given a shorter visa than you asked for.
Who needs a UK visit visa?
Kenyan citizens need a visa to visit the UK for tourism, family visits, business meetings, short courses of up to six months or medical treatment. Nationals of some other countries only need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), but Kenya is not one of them. If you hold another passport, check the GOV.UK visa checker first.
What you can and cannot do on a visitor visa
- You can: holiday, visit family and friends, attend meetings, conferences and interviews, take a course of up to six months, and get private medical treatment.
- You cannot: do paid or unpaid work for a UK company, live in the UK through frequent or back-to-back visits, claim public funds, or marry without the right visa.
Documents and information you will need
Your passport must be valid for your whole stay. In the online form, GOV.UK asks for:
- Travel dates and where you will stay.
- How much you expect the trip to cost.
- Your home address and how long you have lived there.
- Your parents’ names and dates of birth.
- Your yearly income, if you have one.
- Any criminal, civil or immigration offences.
Depending on your situation, you may also need your travel history for the past 10 years, your employer’s address and phone number, your partner’s details, details of anyone paying for your trip and details of family in the UK. A tuberculosis test certificate is needed only if you are visiting for more than six months.
Supporting documents that strengthen an application
- Recent bank statements and payslips showing you can pay for the trip.
- A letter from your employer confirming your job and approved leave, or business registration documents if self-employed.
- Proof of ties to Kenya, such as property, family or a course you are enrolled in.
- An invitation letter and the host’s details if you are staying with family or friends.
- Hotel bookings or an itinerary.
Documents not in English must have certified translations. For how to show money in the bank without raising red flags, see our proof of funds guide; the same principles apply to visitor visas.
How to apply step by step
- Apply online on GOV.UK, no earlier than three months before you travel.
- Pay the visa fee and any priority fee online.
- Book a biometrics appointment at the UK visa application centre in Nairobi.
- Attend the appointment with your passport and documents. Your fingerprints and photo are taken and you get your passport back the same day.
- Wait for the decision email, usually within three weeks.
- If approved, create a UKVI account, confirm your identity and link it to your eVisa before you fly.
Common reasons UK visit visas are refused
- Not showing enough money, or large unexplained deposits just before applying.
- Weak evidence that you will return to Kenya (job, business, family or studies).
- Gaps or mistakes in travel history, or past overstays.
- A trip that looks like work rather than a visit.
Beware of agents promising “guaranteed” visas. Learn how to check an agent in how to verify a study abroad agent in Kenya.
Planning to study or work instead?
A visitor visa does not let you study long courses or work. Read the UK student visa guide for Kenyans, or compare with the Canada student visa.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How much is a UK visit visa from Kenya?
£135 for a 6-month Standard Visitor visa. A 2-year visa is £506, a 5-year visa £903 and a 10-year visa £1,128.
How long does a UK visa take from Kenya?
Usually within 3 weeks of your biometrics appointment. Priority (£500 extra) aims for 5 working days, and super priority (£1,000 extra) for the next working day.
Can I get a UK ETA with a Kenyan passport?
No. Kenyan citizens need a Standard Visitor visa. The ETA is only for nationalities that do not need a visa.
Do I get my passport back after biometrics?
Yes, the same day. If approved, you get an eVisa that you access through a UKVI account.
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