The total stay in the Schengen area must not exceed 90 days during any 6-month period.
Visa application should be handed in to the Embassy of the Schengen state where the main purpose of your stay is and where you are going to stay the longest. In the absence of a main destination, the application should be submitted to the Embassy or Consulate General of the country that will be the first port of entry into Schengen territory.
The visa section is open Tuesday-Thursday 09.00-12.00 Visa application forms are free of charge and can be collected from the Royal Norwegian Embassy or downloaded from www.norway.or.ke. Visa applications must be filled in completely in block letters. Visa applicants must hand in the visa application in person at the embassy.
The processing time for a visa application will be no less than 2 weeks. In certain cases, the visa application will have to be forwarded to the Norwegian authorities. The processing time will then be 6 months.
Visa applications will be carefully scrutinised by our Visa Section staff and comprehensive checks will be carried out to check the authenticity of the documents.
The final decision for entering the country always rests with the immigration control officials at the border.
A processing fee will be charged when the application is handed in. The fee is for the processing of the application and will not be refunded if the visa is rejected.
General requirements (adopted by all Schengen embassies in Nairobi)
Kindly note that all documents should be submitted in original as well as one clear photocopy
- Visa application, duly completed and signed by the applicant
- Two recent colour photograph (white background, maximum 3 months old)
- Passport or recognised travel document (valid for minimum 3 months after expiry of visa)
- Previous passports, if any
- Kenyan I.D. card, Kenyan resident permit or re-entry stamp in passport for non-Kenyans, valid minimum 3 months after expiry of the visa
- Birth and/or marriage certificate may be required § Invitation/Proof of purpose of travel
- Evidence of accommodation in host country. (E.g. invitation from friends or family, hotel reservations, copy of lease agreement/title deed).
- Proof of sufficient funds or evidence of maintenance in host country.
- Letter from employment, including information on leave of absence, if applicable
- If unaccompanied minor, signed letter of authorisation and parental consent and a copy of parent/guardians passport
- All documents submitted at the time of the application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted
- Proof of airline booking
- Schengen Visa application fee paid, from 1 January 2007 EUR 60, p.t KES 5600/-
If a Schengen visa is granted, the following must be presented prior to the issuing of visa:
- Confirmed return ticket, e-tickets accepted (proof of booking not sufficient)
- Travel medical insurance, minimum coverage EUR 30,000.
Specific requirements/advice (Norway only)
Applicants going for private or business visits must submit
a formal signed invitation from the reference written in English (the invitation should include personal particulars about the applicant, arrival and departure dates, the purpose of the visit, who will be responsible for accommodation and subsistence, the relationship between the applicant and the reference).
The applicant must show proof or provide guarantee that he or she has adequate funds for the whole stay, minimum NOK 500, - per day. A guarantee form can be obtained by your reference in Norway and stamped by the Norwegian authorities.
The applicant may be denied access at the border if he or she cannot show proof of adequate funds.
The applicant MUST present a photocopy of the host-person's passport. If applicable, hotel vouchers invitation to attend a seminar, sporting event, etc.
The letter from the employer should include information about the applicant’s form of employment, position held, monthly salary and leave. If applicant is self employed, proof of employment i.e. business registration, license, bank statement, ownership of property such as title deeds are required.
All accompanied and unaccompanied minors must present original birth certificate and written consent from their parents/legal guardians certified by a Notary Public.
Applicants who wish to travel to Europe for medical treatment must provide the following additional documents:
- A medical certificate issued by their doctor in Kenya
- Written confirmation of an appointment with a hospital/doctor Documentation as to how the costs of the medical treatment will be covered.
Lack of documentation may lead to rejection of the visa application.
Specific requirements for photos
The photos must be
- Sharp focus, clear, with good contrasts
- Printed on good quality photo paper, with high resolution
- Colour
- No more than 35 – 40 mm width
- Not older than 3 months
- Taken from straight forward, and against a white background
- Show all of the head, and the top of the shoulders.
- The face should cover 70 – 80 % of the photo Show the eyes open and clearly visible.
- Hair should not cover the eyes and lips should be together
- No shadows
- Glasses are allowed, but the eyes must be clearly visible.
- No collared glasses. The rims must not cover part of the eyes. No reflection in the glass.
- Headgear is OK as long as the face is clearly visible. No shadows.
Specific requirements for Travelling insurance
The insurance must be valid during the intended stay and it must be valid in Schengen states. The coverage needs to be at least 30 000 Euro, i.e. 3m Ksh. Documentation of the insurance should be presented after the visa is granted.
Click on the link on the right hand side to download the application form.
More information about visa and other permits are available at: www.udi.no