As I'm only three weeks away from my Kenya trip, on Thursday I started printing up copies of all the paper work I would need to take with me (airline tickets, camp reservations, visa form etc.). When I couldn't quickly find a blank visa form on my computer I went to google to print one up. Well, most websites including safari companies and the Kenyan Embassy in Washington have taken down their Form V visa form.
The Embassy stated you would need to obtain you visa "before entering Kenya', fill out an online form, submit it to them, get a confirmation number and then mail in your passport with at least six months remaining on it along with other paper work they require. Some websites also said you could no longer get a visa at JKIA!!
Now I had a problem. My passport is due to expire in November. Thus I would need to get new passoprt photos, send for the new passport, when I get that back send it out again to the Kenyan Embassy for the visa. I panicked. How was I going to get that all done as well as working, doctors appointments, etc. before I leave and be reassured I'd have everything back within three weeks?
I wrote the Managing Director of Southern Cross Safaris in Mombasa and asked him to have their JKIA airport representative go in and check with Customs there. This is the reply I got:
"Just got hold of Benson who went to see customs this morning to clarify. The airport customs have confirmed that it is no problem at all for Americans to get visa on arrival at the airport as usual.
In addition they have said for visa on arrival there is no restriction of 6 months on passport validity. As long as your passport is valid for the duration of your stay (i.e does not expire while you are in country) then they will give you a visa no problem.
Benson will be on ground to meet you, and both customs officials and Benson confirm you will have no problem with getting visa and entering Kenya".
Thus I just wanted to share the information with anyone else who might be going through the same
situation. Visas for US citizens are still available at JKIA. I don't know if this service is still available to all countries, so be sure to check before you go.
