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Visa-FAQs

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about visa

FAQ

Schengen visa (short-term):

* Adult (12 years and above): EUR 80,-

* Minor (6-11 years): EUR 40,-

* Child (0-5 years): exempted

National visa (long-term):

* Adult (18 years and above): EUR 75,-

* Minor: EUR 37,50

Exemption of fees (free visa):

- Spouses of German/E.U. nationals

- Minor children of German/E.U. nationals

- Parents of German/E.U. minor children

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.

You should book your visa appointment online as soon as you get to know about your travel date to Germany.

Short-term visa applicants can schedule their appointment at the earliest 6 months before the date of intended travel. These applicants can book their appointment as soon as they know about their trip to Germany through our service provider’s website, as long as the chosen appointment date is within 6 months to the intended travel date.

Long-term visa applicants can and should book their appointment online at the Embassy Nairobi as soon as you know about your stay in Germany. Click here to go to the online booking portal.

Please note that visa appointments can only be obtained online.

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.

For short-term visa applications, the passport will be returned to TLScontact after a decision was taken. From there, the passport can be conveniently picked up or is send to you by the agreed upon means.

Applicants for long-term visa at the Embassy can have their passport and visa conveniently returned by G4S courier services. Applicants can now purchase prepaid G4S delivery slips at the G4S counter located within the German Embassy (open from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 noon Monday-Friday). The delivery slips have to be handed in together with the visa application form. The delivery slips are available for 300 KSh upwards, depending on the final destination. Delivery usually takes one to two days. Please consult the G4S staff regarding all delivery matters.

Refer here for G4S delivery fees

A visa to Germany will entitle you to travel to any country that is part of the Schengen space. Nevertheless, you might need to prove that you have sufficient funds for travelling outside Germany at some border points (such as airports). It is therefore advised to carry copies of the documents used for your visa application (e.g. bank statements, pay slips, health insurance etc.) when visiting another Schengen country. If in possession of a national visa (cat. D), you are entitled to spend three month in another Schengen state for any six month period.

Please note that the United Kingdom (UK) is not part of the Schengen space. A Schengen visa will not entitle you to travel there. If you plan to travel to UK from Germany, you will need to make separate visa arrangements.

List of Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

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.

Kenyan and Burundian nationals do not require a visa if transit is through one airport only and you do not leave the transit area at the airport. If transit is through more airports in the same country than one Schengen country, a visa will be necessary. You will then have to apply for a Schengen visa category C at the Embassy of the country of your first transit.

Seychellois nationals do not need a transit visa, regardless of the number of transit countries.

Eritrean and Somali nationals will need a transit visa, regardless of the number of transit countries. If the first transit country within Schengen space is not Germany, you will need to apply at the Embassy of that Country.


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

Yes*. For most long term visas (marriage, au-pair, study) you will need to possess some basic German skills and be able to understand and use familiar, everyday expressions. You will need to provide either the A1 certificate from the Goethe Institute, or a KCSE certificate from KNEC with minimum grade of B minus (B-). The certificate should not be older than 4 years and should be TestDAF recognized.

More about the A1 certificate from the Goethe Institute here.

[* Exceptions to the possession of German language skills can be granted for family reunion purposes]





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 6 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.

There are no sworn translators in Kenya nor does the Embassy provide any translation services.

You can find a translator in Germany via the Database of interpreters and translators of the individual states of Germany. The Embassy can give no guarantee for the content, quality nor costs of translation services.

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