Kenya - Apply for a Short term Journalists visa

ProcedureEdit

All journalists must apply for Journalist visa regardless of purpose of travel to Kenya.

The procedure is divided into two stages:

Stage 1 (before arrival)

You need to visit the nearest Kenyan Embassy and apply for journalist short term visa. Nearly all applications are approved without any difficulties.
The embassy then requests the "approval" from the Foreign Media Department in Nairobi.
The Foreign Media Department then sends the approval to the embassy, together with the customs clearance (for the equipment to be brought into the country).
Then you need to re-visit the embassy to provide a list of all the equipment to be brought into Kenya.
Finally the embassy issues the visa stamp and the customs clearance for the equipment.

Stage 2 (after arrival)

With the visa stamp in your passport you travel to Kenya.
After arrival in kenya, your first point of contact is the FMD (Foreign Media Department) in Nairobi, to provide them with a full list of all the sites you would like to visit or film.
Finally, the Foreign Media Department will issue the necessary paper work: 'permission' to film the listed sites, and an 'ID', which you must carry with you at all times.

Required DocumentsEdit

Scanned Valid National Passport (minimum period validity 6 months at the time of travel)or any acceptable Travel document;
Printed copy of a completed Online Visa Application Form(with one passport size photograph attached), and a copy of Payment Confirmed page;
A letter of invitation from local contact(s) in Kenya;
A letter of introduction from the organisation(s) that journalists work for or represent;
A copy of itinerary while on duty in Kenya;
List of equipment accompanying applicant(s);
Scanned copy of your passport's bio data page (the page with your photo).
Your profession.
Estimated date of arrival.
Payment.Visa Fee (cash only)Paid in advance
Application form
A valid Passport.
Two recent passport photos.
Visa reference number (from Kenya).
Letter from employer.

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Department of Immigration Services - Head Office
Nyayo house
Passport Section Ground Floor,
Kenyatta Avenue/ Uhuru Highway
P.O. Box 30191, 00100 Nairobi.
Tel: +254-20-2222022, +254-20-2217544,+254-20-2218833
Email: [email protected]
Website:Ministy of Immigration Contacts

eCitizen -Department of Immigration Services :eCitizen

EligibilityEdit

One must be a journalist visiting Kenya on the short term mission of not less than 6 weeks gathering news or capturing news or Filming sites in Kenya on behalf of the foreign organization. This Visa is granted to the following category of people.
Only Journalist accreditation is required. Visiting crew must pick up and sign for the accreditation in Nairobi.
All Kenyan visa applications must be accompanied by a valid passport form the applicant's country of origin. For candidates who are living in a country which is not their country of origin, proof of residence must also be supplied. In all cases, passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the duration of the visa. Where candidates are applying for Kenya Tourist visas, a letter from the Tourist contact in Kenya will be required. The letter must detail the proposed duration and purpose of the trip to Kenya.

FeesEdit

Aliens Card - of US $100.00 at the prevailing exchange rate.

Residence/Work Permit of US$250.00 at the prevailing exchange rate.

Regularization/Multiple Re-EntryVisa Fees range from Ksh 1000-1500 depending on the nationality of the applicant. In addition, film crews are to pay a fee of US $150.00 per filming day and US $200.00per day for commercial or promotional films respectively (in foreign currency only)

Fee: Ksh. 7600+ Ksh 200.

ValidityEdit

This journalist visa is valid for 3 months only with a single entry. Regardless of the entry status, it can be renewed upon request.

Documents to UseEdit

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Sample DocumentsEdit

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Processing TimeEdit

Processing time take less than a one month but because of the complexity it can exceed that time. Visas for journalists cannot be fast-tracked and may take longer than five (5) working days to process;

A Journalist Visa is normally issued in 2 working days, exclusive of the day on which application is made. If the journalist intends to make documentaries in Kenya, six weeks are required to process the application.

InstructionsEdit

If you intend to visit or film sites in Kenya, then you need to obtain a journalist Visa which include those sites in the list of the sites you intend to film.
If you secure permission from the Foreign Affairs Media Department for the whole list (as of the above procedure) then you can visit and film in all the sites approved in list.
It is therefore necessary to include all the sites you intend to visit in the list before you submit it to the Foreign Affairs media Department.
If you need business visas then a local Kenyan sponsor company will need to apply for you.

Required InformationEdit

Documents customs clearance for the equipments to be brought into the country.
A list of all the equipment to be brought into Kenya.
A valid passport for less than 6 months to expire.

Need for the DocumentEdit

Journalists on short-term visits for periods of not more than 6 weeks require NO work permits. However, they will only be accredited for the duration and purpose of their assignment in Kenya.

Information which might helpEdit

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External LinksEdit

http://www.kenyaembassy.com/visa.html

http://www.information.go.ke/

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2013/03/kenya-warns-unaccredited-foreign-journalists/

OthersEdit

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