Kenya
Apply for a visa to visit France from Kenya
Visa applicants residing in Kenya and Somalia are received strictly on appointment at the French embassy's visa service provider, TLScontact. Visa applications are then processed by the French embassy where all decisions are taken.
Visa applications must be submitted at least 15 days before the intended date of travel.
Whom should I contact?
Visa applications are submitted through the French embassy's visa service provider, TLScontact, situated at 9 West Building, 4th floor, Ring Road Parklands, Westlands, Nairobi.
Appointments are to be booked on TLScontact'website.
Please note that the processing time for a visa application is at least 15 days from the date of submission at the visa section or with the service provider.
Appointment waiting period
The waiting period for processing a visa application will depend on the time of the year and availability of appointment slots.
Therefore, applicants are strongly advised to submit their applications well in advance. Please note applications for short-stay visas can be submitted up to 6 months before the date of travel.
Beware of scams and unofficial websites proposing to pay for an appointment or for a French visa. Please refer only to the information and the links you will find on France Visas website. You are also strongly advised not to use intermediaries for the constitution of your file.
TLS Centre in Nairobi
Contact details
9 West Building, 4th floor
Ring Road Parklands
Westlands, Nairobi
Kenya
Call center
For Kenya: +254730979902 From Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / For Somalia: +254730979903 From Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Website
https://visas-fr.tlscontact.com/country/ke/vac/keNBO2fr?lang=en-us
Submitting applications
| Monday | 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Collecting passports
| Monday | 08:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 08:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 08:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| Thursday | 08:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 08:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Visa section of the French Embassy in Nairobi
Contact details
Peponi Gardens, off Peponi Road
Westlands
P.O Box 41784 Nairobi
Kenya
Call center
(+254) 20 760 55 55
Website
Submitting applications
(Appointment only)
| Monday | 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
| Tuesday | 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
| Wednesday | 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
| Thursday | 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
Collecting passports
(Without appointment)
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. |
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Closing days in 2025:
- Wednesday January 1st: New Year's Day
- Friday April 18th: Good Friday
- Monday April 21st: Easter Monday
- Thursday May 1st: Labor Day
- Monday June 2nd: Madaraka Day
- Friday October 10th: Moi Day
- Monday October 20th: Mashujaa Day
- Friday December 12th: Jamhuri Day
- Thursday December 25th: Christmas
- Friday December 26th: Boxing Day
Practical information on the appointment and the procedure
- The appointment conformation letter (printed out);
- The passport : the passport number must be identical to the passport number indicated on the appointment confirmation letter;
- The file containing all the required documents presented in the same order as on the list of required documents;
- Payment to cover the cost of the visa.
All visas issued by France are biometric visas.
Any visa applicant aged 12 or older is required to file their first visa application in person. The following biometric data will be required: a photograph, scanned or taken at the time of submission of application, and 10 fingerprints, taken flat and digitised.
However, it is also possible to have your previous biometric data re-used if you were issued a Schengen visa within at least the previous 59 months.
Children under 12 years of age are not required to provide the biometric data; the application must be submitted by the child’s parent/legal guardian. The photograph in the ISO/IEC format (pdf) of the child will be scanned.
When you visit a French Consulate, you must not bring any weapons or dangerous items with you. Security checks will be performed before you are admitted to the premises.
You may collect your passport yourself upon submission of the original tracking form that was given to you when you submitted your application, or have it picked up by a third-party. Your representative should then provide the original tracking form, a written authorization dated and signed by you and the copy and original of his ID.
Particular situations
Holders of diplomatic and service passports are received at the consular section of the French Embassy in Kenya and Somalia strictly on appointment through : visas.nairobi-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr. The email should specify the applicant's full name and file reference on France-Visa and attach the verbal note specifying the dates of travel.
Applications must be submitted at least 15 days before the intended date of travel.
People residing in Kenya and in Somalia
People residing in Kenya or in Somalia should take an appointment at the French embassy's visa service provider, TLS Contact, situated at the following address: 9 West Building, 4th floor, Ring Road Parklands, Westlands, Nairobi
Representation of other Schengen States
France does not represent any Schengen State in Kenya as for the issuing of visas. Please make sure you apply for your visa at the correct Consulate, according to your main destination and duration of stay.
Studies in France
Students should previously book an appointment with "Campus France" Agency in Nairobi.
African State representation
The French Embassy in Nairobi doesn’t represent any African countries.
Fees
The fees required for submitting a visa application are composed of:
- Visa Fees (pdf) collected by the French administration for processing your application. Visa fees are set in euros, paid in local currency at time of submission of the file and are not refundable, even in the case of refusal of visa.
- Service fees collected by TLScontact. Service fees are paid in local currency and online when booking an appointment on TLScontact website.
Help
If you have any problems with your visa application, please contact the French Embassy for assistance:
- by email