Is that London trip worth KES 23,000 if you get the paperwork wrong?
A UK visa for Kenyans means the Standard Visitor visa. It costs £135 (about KES 23,000) for up to six months. Decisions usually take three weeks. You apply online on GOV.UK, then give fingerprints at VFS Global in Nairobi or Mombasa. Kenyans cannot use the new UK ETA.
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- Visit visa fee£135About KES 23,000, stay up to 6 months
- Decision timeAbout 3 weeksFaster options in some cases
- Apply from3 months beforeEarliest date allowed
- Visa centresNairobi and MombasaRun by VFS Global
- UK ETANot for KenyansKenyans need a full visa
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A UK visa for Kenyans is needed for every visit, whether you are going for a holiday, a graduation, a family visit or a business meeting. Kenya is not on the list of countries that can use the new Electronic Travel Authorisation. So you need the Standard Visitor visa before you board.
The fee rose to £135 in April 2026, so a mistake now costs more. This guide covers the fees in shillings, the documents that carry weight, how long it takes and how to avoid the common refusal reasons. Visa rules change. Authentic Adventures checks the current rule on GOV.UK when you book.
Highlights
- Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for up to six months
- Long term visit visas cost £506, £903 or £1,128 for 2, 5 or 10 years
- Decisions usually take three weeks after your biometrics
- Apply online on GOV.UK, no earlier than three months before travel
- Biometrics at VFS Global in Westlands, Nairobi or Kizingo, Mombasa
- Priority and super priority decisions cost £500 and £1,000 extra where offered
- The UK ETA is for visa free nationals only, not Kenyans
UK visitor visa fees for Kenyan applicants
| Visa type | Fee in GBP | About in KES |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor, up to 6 months | £135 | KES 23,000 |
| Long term visitor, 2 years | £506 | KES 87,500 |
| Long term visitor, 5 years | £903 | KES 156,000 |
| Long term visitor, 10 years | £1,128 | KES 195,000 |
| Priority service, about 5 working days | +£500 | KES 86,500 |
| Super priority, next working day | +£1,000 | KES 173,000 |
- Shilling amounts are rounded at about KES 173 per pound and move with the exchange rate.
- Fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.
- Each long term visa still allows up to six months per visit.
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Do Kenyans need a visa for the UK?
Yes. Kenyan passport holders need a UK visit visa for tourism, family visits, business meetings and short study. You cannot get one at Heathrow or Gatwick.
You may have heard about the UK ETA. It costs £20 and replaces the visa only for visa free nationals such as Americans and Europeans. Kenya is not one of those countries. If a website offers Kenyans an ETA, it is wrong.
How much does a UK visa for Kenyans cost?
The Standard Visitor visa costs £135 since the fee rise of 8 April 2026. That is about KES 23,000 at current rates. It lets you stay up to six months per visit.
If you visit often, long term visas save repeat applications. A 2 year visa costs £506, a 5 year visa £903 and a 10 year visa £1,128. Each visit is still capped at six months. VFS Global also sells optional extras. You never have to buy them for the visa to be processed.
How long does a UK visa for Kenyans take?
The UK Home Office aims to decide visit visas within three weeks of your biometrics appointment. Summer months can be slower, so allow extra time for July and August trips.
You can apply up to three months before you travel. For some applications you can pay £500 for priority, usually about five working days, or £1,000 for super priority, usually by the end of the next working day. Ask at booking whether these are open for visit visas in Nairobi at that time.
UK visa for Kenyans: what documents do you need?
The visa officer wants to see that you can pay for the trip and that you will go home. Upload or bring clear scans.
- Current Kenyan passport with a blank page and your old passports
- Bank statements for the last six months showing a steady pattern
- Payslips and an employment letter, or business registration, KRA PIN and tax compliance if self employed
- Where you will stay: hotel booking or invitation letter from your host
- Host documents if staying with family: their passport or BRP and proof of address
- Trip plan and dates, with a return flight reservation
- Proof of ties to Kenya such as a job, business, property, school or family
Where do Kenyans apply for a UK visa?
You fill the form and pay online on GOV.UK. You then book a slot at a visa application centre run by VFS Global. Kenya has two: Principal Place in Westlands, Nairobi and Imaara on Dedan Kimathi Avenue, Kizingo, Mombasa.
At the centre you show your passport and give fingerprints and a photo. You normally take your passport home the same day. The decision comes by email and you return to collect the visa.
Why do UK visit visas get refused?
Most refusals come from doubts about money or your plan to return. Fix these before you apply.
- Large cash deposits just before applying with no clear source
- A trip cost that looks too high compared with your income
- Gaps or mismatches between your form and your documents
- Not mentioning an earlier refusal from any country
- A vague purpose or no clear end date
Is it better to apply for a UK visa or a Schengen visa first?
Apply for the one you need first, or the one with the longest wait. The two visas are separate and one does not replace the other. A good UK travel history can help a later Schengen application. The reverse is also true.
If your trip covers London and Paris, see our Schengen visa guide for Kenyans and plan both appointments together.
How Authentic Adventures helps Kenyans visiting the UK
We do not decide visas. Only the Home Office does. What we do is plan a trip that makes sense on paper: matching flights, refundable hotels, a clear itinerary and proper insurance. Our guide to travel insurance for Kenyans explains the covers that suit long haul trips.
You can spread the cost through our holiday payment plans. Short on time for a long visa wait? Look at our visa free countries for Kenyans list for trips you can book this month.
Questions people ask
How much is a UK visit visa from Kenya?
The Standard Visitor visa costs £135, about KES 23,000, for stays of up to six months. Long term visit visas cost £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years and £1,128 for 10 years. The fee is paid online on GOV.UK and is not refunded if the application is refused.
How long does a UK visa take in Kenya?
Most decisions arrive within three weeks of your biometrics appointment at VFS Global. Peak summer months can take longer. Priority options at £500 and £1,000 extra may be available for faster decisions. Apply as early as allowed, which is three months before your travel date.
Can Kenyans use the UK ETA instead of a visa?
No. The UK ETA is only for nationals who do not need a visa, such as Americans, Canadians and Europeans. Kenyans must apply for a full Standard Visitor visa. Ignore any site that offers Kenyans an ETA for a UK holiday.
How much money do I need in my bank account for a UK visa?
The Home Office does not set a fixed amount for visitors. It checks whether you can afford the trip without risk to your normal life. Show six months of statements with steady income. If a relative is paying, include their letter, statements and proof of how you are related.
Where is the UK visa centre in Nairobi?
The UK visa application centre in Nairobi is run by VFS Global at Principal Place in Westlands. There is a second centre in Mombasa at the Imaara building on Dedan Kimathi Avenue, Kizingo. You book your slot after completing the online form on GOV.UK.
Can I travel to Europe with a UK visa?
No. A UK visa does not allow entry to Schengen countries such as France or Germany. You need a separate Schengen visa. The reverse is also true. Plan both if your trip covers London and mainland Europe. Leave enough time for two appointments.
Sources we checked: GOV.UK: Standard Visitor visa fees and how to apply; GOV.UK: visa processing times for applications outside the UK; GOV.UK: faster decision options and fees; GOV.UK: electronic travel authorisation (ETA); VFS Global media release: UK visa centres in Nairobi and Mombasa; UKCISA: UK visa fees rising from 8 April 2026. Rules and fees change, so we confirm them again when you book.
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