Kenya - Clearance
PORTS OF ENTRY
- Clear in to Kenya in either Shimoni or Kilifi as they are geared to facilitate yachts. Do not attempt to clear in at Mombasa as this is consistently problematic.
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
On approach, call Port Control on VHF channel 16.
In all ports report first to Port Health, Kenya Revenue Authority (Customs) and then Immigration, if the officials do not visit the boat first.
Remember: It is no longer possible to apply for a visa on arrival. All visas must be applied for and secured prior to arrival in Kenya. See Immigration for details.
Domestic Cruising:
When travelling inter-port domestically within Kenya it is necessary to get a Transhire document, submitting your crew list and issued by Kenya Revenue Service (Customs). The Transhire is however not a requirement when traveling within the same county jurisdiction (i.e between Watamu and Kilifi) as they are both in Kilifi county. Sailing from Lamu south without a Transhire is an invitation for problems.
DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
Visit first Customs, Immigration followed by Port Health.
Port Health will issue a ships port health clearance certificate.
Last updated: September 2022
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Trusted Travel Codes
As of Monday, January 11, all travellers entering or departing Kenya must present a digitally-verified negative COVID-19 test.
Departing travellers: Starting on January 11, 2020, outgoing travellers must obtain a negative COVID-19 certificate in accordance with the trusted Traveller (TT) Initiative (www.africacdc.org/trusted-travel) and the PanaBios system (www.panabios.org).
Travellers who intend to depart Kenya must first visit an authorised laboratory (according to the government of Kenya, all PCR COVID-19 testing laboratories are now part of the TT system), obtain a PCR COVID-19 test with a negative result, and be issued a TT code that be verified by airlines and immigration authorities. The traveller will receive a text message (SMS) from PanaBios as well as an email from the testing laboratory and/or from admin@panabios.org with a link to guide the traveller on how to generate a Travel Code at trustedtravel.panabios.org. If the test results meets Kenya’s exit requirements, a Travel Code is issued to the traveller online.
All COVID-19 testing laboratories, starting on Saturday, January 9, 2021, must use the TT process when issuing COVID-19 testing certificates.
Arriving travelers: The government of Kenya also announced that, starting on January 11, 2021 this new TT electronic verification system will also apply to the negative COVID-19 certificates that are already required for travelers who are entering Kenya; however, details are not available at this time. The Embassy is seeking clarification of this new requirement for incoming travelers and will report any additional information to the U.S. citizen community.
No More Kenya Visa on Arrival to Kenya
Effective January 1, 2021, Kenya has banned all visas on arrival.
You must apply for your visa wall in advance of your intended travel to Kenya. Fortunately you can apply for your visa to Kenya online and the Kenya e-visa costs only US $51 in total to get in about 48 hours.
Click here to apply and create your eCitizen account: http://evisa.go.ke/evisa.html