Kenya
Apply for a visa in Kenya to visit France.
Visa applications submitted in Kenya are processed by the French Embassy in Nairobi, sole responsible for the processing of the visa applications.
Visa applications must be submitted at least 15 days before the intended date of travel and no more than 6 months before the travel date.
Whom should I contact?
Visa applications must be dropped at the French Embassy in Nairobi, only after obtaining an appointment by e-mail. Your message must precise :
- the number of travellers,
- their full first name and surname ;
- the date of travel ;
- the purpose of travel (if professional, enclose a letter of invitation or a supporting document).
It is recommended to request an appointment as soon as the travel date is known, to obtain a slot on a date set at least 15 days before departure.
In case of difficulty, users may contact the visa section either by telephone on (+254) 20 760 55 55 or by e-mail.
Appointment waiting times
Applications cannot be submitted more than 6 months before your planned departure, but it should be at least two weeks before the intended departure dat
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 2024:
- Monday January 1: New Year's Day
- Friday March 29: Good Friday
- Monday April 1: Easter Monday
- Tuesday April 9: Eid-al-Fitr
- Wednesday May 1: Labor Day
- Monday May 20: Whit Monday
- Thursday October 10: Moi Day
- Monday October 21: Mashujaa Day
- Thursday December 12: Jamhuri Day
- Wednesday December 25: Christmas
- Thursday December 26: 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 can collect your passport yourself, or have it collected by a third-party.
Particular situations
People residing in Kenya
People residing in Kenya can visit the visa section of the French Embassy in Nairobi, only after making an appointment by calling (+254) 20 277 80 00 or by e-mail.
People residing in Somalia
Applications for a Schengen visa or long stay visa must be submitted at the French Embassy in Nairobi.
Applicants are required to come in person in order to have their fingerprints and picture taken by the visa officer.
Representation of other Schengen States
France does not represent any other Schengen State in Kenya as for the issuing of visas.
Studies in France
Attention : students must previously make an appointment with "Campus France" Agency in Nairobi.
Holders of diplomatic passports or South African service passports
Visas issued to holders of official and diplomatic passports (i.e. related to their functions) are free of charge.
Applicants must carry a Note Verbale from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Visas issued by France for other destinations (Burkina Faso, Central African Republic and Togo)
The French Embassy in Nairobi represents Burkina Faso, Central African Republic and Togo and is entitled to issue short stay visas on their behalf.
Nationals of the following countries who need visas to Burkina Faso will have to apply upon arrival at the borders of Burkina Faso.
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, The United States of America, France, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New-Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, the UK, Saint-Martin, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Applications for visas are received through appointment only. To book your appointment, please call: (+254) 20 760 55 55 or send an e-mail mentioning your phone number.
For Kenyan citizen, Visas are issued in a minimum period of 4 working days. For other citizens please contact the Embassy.
Fees
Fees are seen in Kenyan shilling (KES) by the French administration for the processing of your application. The rates are indicated in euros (€), to get the price in local currency (KES), please convert the amount indicated in the table by applying the rate of Chancery: 1€ ≈ 123.02 KES.
The amount received is kept by the administration, even in the case of refusal of Visa.
Help
If you have any problems with your visa application, please contact the French Embassy for assistance:
- by email