Kenya Launches e-Visa Application: Hopes to Boost Tourist Numbers
The launch of the much anticipated e-visa that serves 132 countries is seen as a big and much needed push for the Kenyan Travel and Tourism industry, and promises to bring to an end the hassle that visa application is associated with.
Kenya has moved its visa application from the tedious and time-consuming visits to the embassy to the more convenient and cashless e-Visa application under the Department of Migration. This recent achievement marks yet another achievement in a country where Information and Communication Technology is ranked as an independent sector.
Visitors can access the site by logging on to www.ecitizen.go.ke: click on services; go to Immigration Department; chose to Apply Now and select Kenyan Visa. The portal contains description of different Kenyan visa, but while entries for single journey and transit visa are already active, provisions for diplomatic, courtesy and East Africa tourism visa are still pending (marked on site as ‘coming soon’).
An application fee will be paid via acceptable debit cards enabling the visitor to receive an approval mail which should be printed and presented to the immigration officer at the port of entry. The traditional requirements however remain unaltered, including size and resolution of passport photos to be uploaded as well as any supporting document such as letter of invitation.
Commenting on the importance of this development, Estelle Verdier, Managing Director for Jovago.com observed that, “This is yet another initiative in making Kenya a tourist-friendly nation. The launch of the e-visa system is an important element in promoting e-tourism in both Kenya and Africa at large”
The e-citizen portal was launched in 2014 and currently provides official information, guidelines and submission of applications for twenty-one government services touching on various subjects including land, marriage, driving licenses and business registration.
Processing of manual visas is however still acceptable for the period running up to 1st September 2015.