Explore Compare Countries JobsUS only Insights Our Mission Find A Visa Sign In

Explore Compare Countries JobsUS only Insights Our Mission

Sign In Find A Visa

Discover the world's visas in one place.

Platform

Explore Visas
Compare Visas
Country Guides
Sponsored Jobs
Global Insights
Our Mission
Contact Us

Legal

Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Not Legal Advice

© 2026 BorderProof™. All rights reserved. Images by Unsplash/Picsum.

Referred Visa

Visas KenyaReferred Visa

Kenya

Kenya•Africa

Open

Referred Visa

Tourist

At a Glance

Processing Time

1–2 months

Estimated Cost

USD $62

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

3 months

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Overview

A Referred Visa is a category for nationals of specific countries, stateless persons, or individuals for whom there is a security or administrative concern. These applications must be referred to the Director of Immigration Services in Nairobi for approval before a visa can be issued.

The Referred Visa is a high-scrutiny entry permit for individuals from specific countries or those flagged for security reasons. Because it requires manual approval from the Director of Immigration Services in Nairobi, it is not available through the automated e-Visa system. Applicants are strongly advised against making travel arrangements until formal approval is received.

Cost Breakdown

Visa FeeUSD $51

Processing FeeUSD $11

TotalUSD $62

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

3 months

Eligible Nationalities (17)

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Armenia

Armenia

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Cameroon

Cameroon

North Korea

North Korea Eritrea

Eritrea

Eritrea

Iraq

Iraq

Kosovo

Kosovo

Lebanon

Lebanon

Libya

Libya

Mali

Mali

Palestinian Territories

Palestinian Territories Senegal

Senegal

Senegal

Somalia

Somalia

Syria

Syria

Tajikistan

Tajikistan Yemen

Yemen

Yemen

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

Class A — Work Permit Class A - Mining and Prospecting (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja A)

Kenya

Class A — Work Permit Class A - Mining and Prospecting (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja A)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Work Permit Class B - Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja B)

Kenya

Work Permit Class B - Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja B)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class C — Work Permit Class C - Prescribed Professions (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja C)

Kenya

Class C — Work Permit Class C - Prescribed Professions (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja C)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class D — Work Permit Class D - Specific Employment (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja D)

Kenya

Class D — Work Permit Class D - Specific Employment (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja D)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class F — Work Permit Class F - Manufacturing (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja F)

Kenya

Class F — Work Permit Class F - Manufacturing (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja F)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class G — Work Permit Class G - Self-Employment / Freelance

Kenya

Class G — Work Permit Class G - Self-Employment / Freelance

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class I — Work Permit Class I - Religious and Missionary Activities (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja I)

Kenya

Class I — Work Permit Class I - Religious and Missionary Activities (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja I)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class K — Work Permit Class K - Ordinary Resident / Retiree (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja K)

Kenya

Class K — Work Permit Class K - Ordinary Resident / Retiree (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja K)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class M — Work Permit Class M - Refugee Employment (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja M)

Kenya

Class M — Work Permit Class M - Refugee Employment (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja M)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

KEP/N — Work Permit Class N - Digital Nomad (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja N)

Kenya

KEP/N — Work Permit Class N - Digital Nomad (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja N)

Validity2 years

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class P — Work Permit Class P - International Organization Staff (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja P)

Kenya

Class P — Work Permit Class P - International Organization Staff (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja P)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class Q — Work Permit Class Q - Charitable Organization Professionals (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja Q)

Kenya

Class Q — Work Permit Class Q - Charitable Organization Professionals (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja Q)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Class R — Work Permit Class R - EAC Nationals (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja R)

Kenya

Class R — Work Permit Class R - EAC Nationals (Kibali cha Kazi Daraja R)

ValidityVaries (Renewable, effective December 2024 at new fee structure)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Student Pass (Pasi ya Mwanafunzi)

Kenya

Student Pass (Pasi ya Mwanafunzi)

ValidityVaries (Valid for length of academic program)

ProcessingVaries

View Visa Details

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be a national of a country on the Referred Visa list or meet specific security/administrative criteria.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Duly filled application forms (often Form 22)

Valid passport (at least 6 months validity)

Cover letter explaining the reason for the visit

Invitation letter from a host in Kenya, including a copy of their National ID/Passport

Proof of travel itinerary

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Allows entry for nationals from restricted or high-scrutiny countries

Worth Knowing

High-scrutiny manual process
Long processing times
Cannot be applied for via the standard e-Visa portal
Security or administrative concerns
Incomplete documentation

Application Process

1

Prepare application documents

2

Submit application through the nearest Kenyan Embassy or Consulate

3

Wait for referral and approval from the Director of Immigration Services in Nairobi

4

Collect visa upon approval

Ready to see if the Referred Visa is your visa path?

Discover how your answers compare with the published requirements. 2 minutes. Free to use.

Start Visa Discovery