No. Unfortunately, only cash payments in Kenya Shilling are accepted at the German Embassy as well as our external service provider for Schengen applications. The German Embassy’s exchange rate of the day will be used for the conversion. The exchange rate is similar to the rate of any Kenyan bank or online conversion service. Please refer to the external service provider TLScontact website for payment options. The Embassy can also accept payment by credit card, but we do experience frequent technical problems.

The German Embassy Nairobi accepts all credit cards that can be used internationally (e.g. outside the country of issuance). If in doubt, please check with your bank if your card is an international credit card.

Unfortunately, the Embassy does not accept M-PESA for payments. You can pay in cash or with a valid credit card.

The best way is to respect the procedures and to provide accurate information and genuine documents. A complete application with all necessary documents in good order will ensure a smooth and fast application process. Applications with unclear information and documents of doubtful origin will delay the process as further background checks might then be necessary. Please note that incomplete applications will lead to immediate rejection.

This will vary from case to case and depend on different factors such as the purpose of the visit, the financing of the trip (self or sponsored by third party), the duration of the stay or the activities and itinerary in Germany. If you are fully paying yourself, you will need to prove that you have enough means to cover all travel and accommodation costs and be able to sustain yourself during your stay in Germany. If your trip is sponsored by a third party in Germany (friend, relative or organization), you will need to provide a formal letter of obligation by the inviting party.

In case your trip is fully sponsored by a third party in Germany (friend, relative or organization), the host will need to send you a formal letter of obligation (“Verpflichtungserklärung”). This is an official document issued by an Aliens Department (“Ausländerbehörde”) in Germany, stating that the host in Germany will cover all costs incurred by your visit. Alien Departments are the German public authority responsible for foreigners. They are usually located in every administrative district (“Landkreis”), mostly in the town hall of the district town (“Kreisstadt”).

As health expenses are very high in Germany, your Schengen health insurance will take care of any unforeseen medical incidents or accidents that might occur to you during your stay. Your health insurance must feature on the list of Schengen approved insurance companies and policies.

Yes. All applicants for a long term national visa (category D) will have to come in person to the German Embassy in Nairobi or the service provider TLScontact to have their fingerprints taken.

This depends on your purpose of stay. Please have a look at our checklists to see if you need to provide a German language certificate or not.

Short term visa (Schengen, cat. C): No. You are not allowed to take on any paid activity with this kind of visa (unless stated otherwise for rare exceptions, such as research work etc.).
Long term visa (national, cat. D): If not stated otherwise, you are allowed to take on a paid activity with this visa. In most cases, you will need an official authorisation from the German Federal Employment Agency and/or the Aliens Department. Studies visa holders are allowed to work 90 days per year (or 180 half-days per year).

No. You will need to re-apply for a new visa for the new purpose of your stay.

If you overstay and do not contact an Aliens Department in Germany before the expiration date of your visa, you will automatically be denied your next Schengen visa. If contacted in time, the Aliens Department will examine the reason (e.g. illness, cancelled flights) and decide on a possible extension based on the extenuating circumstances.

If staying in Germany with a short term visa, you will need to exit Germany when your visa expires and re-apply for a long term visa at the German Embassy Nairobi.

No. Unfortunately, the visa fee is non-refundable.

You will get a letter stating the main reason for refusal and informing you about your legal options to contest the decision. If you want to challenge the decision, you will need to do so within 4 weeks after the refusal, by way of a remonstrance letter.

If you decide to remonstrate against the refusal of issuing you with a visa, you will have to provide new information that was not included in your original application. Any remonstrance letter which only asks for the issuance of a visa without providing new information will not be considered. Remonstration

It can take up to 12 weeks for a decision regarding your remonstrance as your case will need to be re-examined. Unfortunately, your travel date can not be taken into account.

At best, your application will be rejected. At worst, depending on the gravity of your action (e.g. forged documents), you might get arrested and prosecuted under Kenyan law.