Visas for Ireland
As Embassy Nairobi continues to strive to offer efficient and responsive visa services, we are glad to announce our new partnership with VFS Global. This partnership will come into effect from 15 May 2026.
From this date, Kenyan and Kenyan Resident visa applicants will submit their supporting documents at the VFS submission centre in Nairobi.
This new arrangement is in line with the Embassy’s mission to streamline the visa application process, increasing efficiencies and ensuring that quality visa applications can be lodged and decided in the shortest possible timeframe. With this new arrangement, it is intended that applicants will be able to obtain appointments to lodge documents more quickly, and avail of a wider range of personalised services.
Applicants are invited to consult the ‘How to apply' section below for more details.
Who needs a visa
Whether you need a visa to travel to Ireland depends on what country you're from. Visit the Irish Immigration Service Travel Path for more information regarding your personal requirements for travelling to Ireland.
Information on visa requirements for transiting through Ireland is available on IrishImmigration.ie
Please note that Ireland is not party to the Schengen Agreement, and a Schengen visa or residence permit does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.
Unless you qualify for the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme or the British Irish Visa Scheme a valid UK visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa. Further information on these schemes is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
Note: A visa allows you to travel to Ireland only. It does not give you permission to enter the country or to stay here. An immigration officer at border control can refuse entry even if you have a visa.
Remember…
If you're a citizen of a non-EEA country, whether you need a visa or not, you will be subject to immigration control when you enter Ireland.
Types of Visa and Documentation
Full information on the different types of visas, required documentation, and how to apply can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
- Information on applying for a short-stay (less than 90 days) tourist visa is available on the Coming to Visit section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to work in Ireland is available on the Coming to Work section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to study in Ireland is available on the Coming to Study section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to join family in Ireland is available on the Coming to Join Family section of IrishImmigration.ie.
How to apply if you are residing in Kenya
Application form:
Create your online application form on AVATS Online, then print, sign and date your completed form
What supporting documents do I need?
Supporting documents depend on your reason for travelling. Find out more on our visa documentation page.
Where to lodge?
Book an appointment with VFS at your local Visa Application Centre (VAC).
Cost:
- A single entry visa costs €60.
- A multi entry visa costs €100.
Applicants may pay in Kenyan Shillings according to the current exchange rate. The exact cost in Kenyan Shillings will be communicated during the appointment.
Some applicants may be fee exempt. Find out more on the visa fee page
An additional VFS services charge of €63.80/ KES 9730 applies. VFS offers additional services for an additional fee, as outlined here.
Please be aware of scammers who may promise a visa for an additional fee. Please check with the embassy if you have been asked to pay a fee for an appointment from any other source.
How to pay?
Pay visa fee with M-Pesa or by debit card directly to VFS at the time of the appointment.
Passport submission:
Applicants are required to provide their passport to VFS.
Applicants may retain their passport upon payment of an additional fee to VFS. Check here for information on additional services provided by VFS.
How long does it take to get a visa?
Processing times depend on your visa category, whether you are eligible for a visa and whether you have provided the appropriate documents.
During processing, passports will be retained by VFS or may be retained by the applicant, as per additional services provided by VFS.
Passport return:
Passports will be returned via VFS.
If an application is approved and the applicant has opted to retain their passport, VFS will contact the applicant to deliver the passport to VFS offices. Thereafter, the visa sticker will be affixed in the passport by the Embassy and transmitted back to VFS.
VFS will then contact the applicant to collect the passport from the VFS center.
Visa appeals:
If your application is refused and you have been afforded the right of appeal, information on how to appeal will be outlined in the refusal letter.
How to apply if you are residing in Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan
Application form:
Create your online application form on AVATS Online, then print, sign and date your completed form
What supporting documents do I need?
Supporting documents depend on your reason for travelling. Find out more on our visa documentation page.
Where to lodge?
Documents should be couriered to the Embassy of Ireland at:
Embassy of Ireland
4th Floor
Delta Office Suites
Manyani Road, off Waiyaki Way
PO Box 30659-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Cost:
- A single entry visa costs €60.
- A multi entry visa costs €100.
Some applicants may be fee exempt. Find out more on the visa fee page
Please be aware of scammers who may promise a visa for an additional fee. Please check with the embassy if you have been asked to pay a fee for an appointment from any other source.
How to pay?
Applicants from Sudan and Eritrea are required to make payments through the Embassy Euro account. The full account details will be sent directly to the applicant’s email from consular.nairobiem@dfa.ie.
Please deposit the exact amount for the visa fee required plus transaction fees to avoid any inconvenience.
Applicants from Somalia are required to pay by debit card upon submitting their application on AVATS Online.
Passport submission:
Applicants must send their passport along with their documents to the Embassy.
How long does it take to get a visa?
Processing times for Sudanese applicants can be viewed here.
Processing times for Somali applicants can be viewed here.
Processing times for Eritrean applicants can be viewed here.
Passport return:
You are required to arrange for the delivery of the passport and the return of your application by pre-paid courier.
The Embassy will contact you once a decision has been made and will courier the passport with the visa sticker to you in the pre-paid envelope provided.
Visa appeals:
If your application is refused and you have been afforded the right of appeal, information on how to appeal will be outlined in the refusal letter.
Processing times
Kenya and Eritrea
| Visa Category | Processing Time (reflects time from receiving date at VFS center/Embassy to decision date) |
|---|---|
| Visit/Tourist | Minimum of 8 weeks |
| Business/Conference etc. | Approx. 3-4 weeks |
| Employment | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Study | Minimum of 8 weeks |
| Join Family | Forwarded to Ireland for a decision (where applicable). Documents queued as received. |
Fees
- A single entry visa costs €60.
- A multi entry costs €100.
Some applicants may be fee exempt. Find out more on the visa fee page
Kenya
Kenyan/Kenyan Resident Applicants may pay in Kenyan Shillings according to the current exchange rate. The exact cost in Kenyan Shillings will be communicated during the appointment.
Please note: an additional VFS services charge of €63.80/KES 9730 applies.
Please be aware of scammers who may promise a visa for an additional fee. Please check with the embassy if you have been asked to pay a fee for an appointment from any other source.
Sudan and Eritrea
Applicants from Sudan and Eritrea are required to make payments through the Embassy Euro account. The full account details will be sent directly to the applicant’s email from consular.nairobiem@dfa.ie.
Please deposit the exact amount for the visa fee required plus transaction fees to avoid any inconvenience.
Somalia
Applicants from Somalia are required to pay by debit card upon submitting their application on AVATS online.
Visa appeals
If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office telling you why it has been refused and if you can appeal the decision.
Further information on appealing visa decisions is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
All appeals are handled directly by the Irish Immigration Service.
On arrival in Ireland
Further information on what to expect on arrival in Ireland can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
Information on entry for EU/EEA and Swiss nationals is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on entry for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on travelling with children is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on transiting through Ireland is available on IrishImmigration.ie.