As of May 2026 – Fees verified. Confirmed: Schengen Visa €90 (children €45), National Visa (D) €75 (minors €37.50) , Opportunity Card €75, Residence Permit/EU Blue Card max. €100, Settlement Permit €113–147. Please verify amounts for blocked account/living expenses as well as current requirements with the German Embassy in Nairobi or the Federal Foreign Office before submitting your application.
Kenyan nationals require a visa for every entry into Germany and the Schengen Area—both for short stays of up to 90 days (Schengen visa, Category C) and for longer stays (national visa, Category D).
The German Embassy in Nairobi is responsible for all applicants residing in Kenya as well as for many applicants in Somalia, Burundi, Eritrea, and the Seychelles. Schengen visas are applied for exclusively through the external Visa Application Center of TLScontact in Nairobi; national visas (D visas) are applied for either through TLScontact (for many standard categories) or directly at the Embassy (for certain special categories).
The main visa categories for Kenya are:
- Schengen visas (tourism, visits, business trips).
- National visas for study, language courses, training, and qualification programs.
- Work visas for skilled workers with vocational training or a university degree, job seekers, Blue Card, Opportunity Card, short-term employment, and special categories (e.g., religious/charitable work).
- Family and spousal reunification, reunification of children, family reunification for persons entitled to protection.
- Au pair visas, visas for volunteer services, researchers/scientists, internships, and school attendance.
- Long-term residence permits (residence permit, Blue Card, settlement permit) after entry into Germany.
The legal basis is the Residence Act (AufenthG); national visas serve as entry stamps and are converted into a residence permit at the Foreigners’ Registration Office upon arrival in Germany.