Check if Your Kenya Visa Is Real for Smooth Travel
If you plan to travel to Kenya, you must have a Kenya visa. However, more and more travelers are encountering fraud lately. That’s why it is so important to know the differences between a real and fake visa to Kenya.
What is the Kenya Visa?
Instead of visas, the Kenyan authorities introduced the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to guarantee security and get a database of all travelers entering and exiting the country.
Kenya eTA is a pre-approval from the Kenyan government for traveling to Kenya. From a legal perspective, the only difference between an eTA and a visa is that now a visa sticker is no longer put in the passport.
It is not possible to enter Kenya without a valid e-Visa, therefore all travelers must apply beforehand. The exemption applies only to citizens of Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
It is also not required for Kenyan citizens, holders of Kenya permanent residence, Emergency Certificate, or valid Work Permits and Passes.
Kenya eTA is a single-entry visa. It can be issued for tourism and business. In this case, the validity and permitted stay is 90 days. Also, you can apply for a transit Kenya eVisa for a visit of up to 72 hours.
How to Check Kenya Visa Validity on the Official Website
You can check your Kenya eTA validity on the official website of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Directorate of Immigration Services.
To verify the status of your existing application, visit the website and follow the steps below:
- Enter your passport number
- Choose your date of birth
- Provide the application reference number (or additional passport details)
- Click “Check the status”
- Review the presented information.
If your Kenya visa application is not found, thoroughly check whether you provided all the details in the correct way. Any typo can cause issues in that matter, so make sure that you don’t substitute letters with numbers and vice versa.
What are the Security Features of the Kenya Visa?
Once you receive the eTA Kenya approval, you need to examine your document to see if it is genuine. A real e-Visa to Kenya contains the official Commonwealth Coat of Arms and security features, such as a unique reference number and a QR code.
The further information that must be present in the Kenyan visa includes:
- Applicant’s first and last name
- Applicant’s date of birth
- Travel Authorization type
- Applicant’s passport number
- Applicant’s nationality
- Start validity date
- Date of visa expiry
- Allowed number of entries
- Purpose of visit
What to Do if I Suspect My Kenya Visa is Fake?
If your Kenya visa seems to be counterfeit, you need to request verification from the Kenyan authorities. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate.
Alternatively, you can use the official website of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Directorate of Immigration Services to check your Kenya visa online.
Make sure you verify your eTA to Kenya soon enough. If your visa turns out to be fake, you will still have time to apply via a secured source.
How to Choose a Reliable Visa Agent?
As you can see, it is extremely important to apply with a reliable visa agent since it may prevent you from fraud schemes. When deciding which company to choose, you need to consider its reputation, reviews, and accreditations. Be cautious of unrealistic promises, unverified contact information, and suspicious payment requests or methods.
Our company has been operating on the market since 2016, ensuring our customers have a smooth travel experience. We take all the necessary steps to protect your data and guarantee the highest protection standards. The Kenya eTA application process on our website is easy, effortless, and safe. If case of issues from our party, your payment will be refunded or the corrections can be made without any extra costs from visa applicants.
Conclusion
- In 2024, Kenya announced that the eVisa system would be replaced with the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
- The eTA for Kenya is required for citizens of most countries (except for those who have visa-free access).
- The Kenyan eTA applications are made online and the approval is sent to the applicant’s email.
- To verify the visa to Kenya, you need to visit the website of the Kenyan Directorate of Immigration and Citizen Services or contact the embassy.
- Save the reference number of your application, as it is necessary to check if the visa is genuine.