Kenya visa options for Germany passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Electronic travel authorisation (eTA)
Apply online for a quick travel authorisation before you go.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Kenya
eTA applies to most non-African nationalities incl. EU/US/UK/CA/AU; AU member states (except LY/SO) and EAC nationals visa-free / eTA-exempt
- Tourist
eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)
Up to 90 days per entry; eTA valid 90 days from issue
- Insurance
- Recommendedgiven limited public healthcare and high private hospital cash deposits
- Good for
- Tourists and short-term business visitors from non-exempt nationalities
- Requirement
- Passport 6+ months with blank page, photo, accommodation and itinerary, USD 30 fee
- Work
Class D Permit (Employment / Work Permit)
2 years renewable up to max 4 yrs total
- Insurance
- OptionalEmployer-provided health cover standard practice; no statutory traveler mandate
- Good for
- Foreign nationals with Kenyan job offer in role with skills not readily available locally
- Requirement
- Confirmed Kenyan job offer, Form 25 and Form 27, employer docs, qualifications, named Kenyan understudy to train; processing fee KES 20,000 + issuance KES 500,000/yr (EAC nationals gratis)
- Residence
Class K Permit (Ordinary Residents / Income or Pensioner)
1 or 2 years initially, renewable
- Insurance
- RecommendedStrongly recommended; no statutory requirement
- Good for
- Persons 35+ with assured passive income from outside Kenya (pension, annuity, dividends, rental); no work in Kenya
- Requirement
- Min assured annual income USD 24,000 from outside Kenya; documentary proof; processing fee KES 20,000 + issuance fee KES 250,000/yr
- Residence
Class G Permit (Investor)
Typically 2 years renewable
- Insurance
- Recommended(private cover for permit holders and dependents)
- Good for
- Foreign investors, entrepreneurs and business founders in specific trade or business in Kenya (Class B is the agriculture/animal husbandry investor variant)
- Requirement
- Min capital investment USD 100,000 verified via Kenyan bank statement; business plan; KRA PIN; processing fee KES 20,000 + issuance fee KES 250,000/yr
- Residence
Class M Permit (Refugees and Conventional Refugees)
For duration of refugee status, typically renewable
- Insurance
- OptionalVERIFY (refugee health access typically routed through UNHCR partners and public facilities)
- Good for
- Persons granted refugee status in Kenya under Refugees Act
- Requirement
- Recognition as refugee by DRS/UNHCR; refugee ID; no fee
Visa rules change often and depend on your nationality. Last checked: 2026-06. Always confirm with the official immigration service or your nearest consulate before you apply.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Kenya, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
Germany → Kenya: frequently asked
- Do Germany passport holders need a visa to visit Kenya?
- Electronic travel authorisation (eTA). Apply online for a quick travel authorisation before you go. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a Germany passport holder live or work long-term in Kenya?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Kenya has 5 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Kenya?
- Entry to Kenya never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.