Kenyans pay KSh 3,000 for a single-entry China visa; reduced fees run to 31 December 2026

Kenyan passport holders applying for a Chinese visa in Nairobi pay KSh 3,000 for a single entry, KSh 4,500 for two entries, KSh 6,000 for a six-month multiple-entry visa and KSh 9,000 for a one-year multiple-entry visa, according to the Chinese Embassy in Kenya. The embassy has extended these reduced rates to 31 December 2026.

The embassy announced the extension on 26 December 2025, saying it wanted to make travel between China and other countries easier. The notice is a fee table in Kenyan shillings.

The full table for Kenyan nationals:

• Single entry: KSh 3,000
• Two entries: KSh 4,500
• Six-month multiple entry: KSh 6,000
• One-year multiple entry: KSh 9,000
• Group L (tourist group) visa: KSh 2,400

The same table sets lower fees for third-country nationals applying in Nairobi: KSh 2,300 for a single entry, KSh 3,400 for two entries, KSh 4,500 for six-month multiple entry, KSh 6,800 for one-year multiple entry and KSh 1,800 for a group L visa. Some nationalities have their own rates in the notice; US citizens, for example, pay KSh 18,500 for visas other than the J visa. For visas not listed separately, the notice puts the urgent and express fees at KSh 3,700 and KSh 2,500.

The embassy issued a second notice the same day on fingerprints. From that date until 31 December 2026, applicants for short-term visas, meaning a stay of 180 days or less, do not have to give fingerprints. Applicants for D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 and Z visas, which require a residence permit after arrival in China, still do.

Applications are handed in at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Nairobi. The centre is on the 7th floor of The Chancery, Valley Road, Milimani. It takes in and hands back applications, normal and express, from 08:00 to 15:30 on weekdays except public holidays.

The centre's website asks applicants to select a passport type and the passport's validity period, give the date of arrival in China and select the purpose of the visit, for example (L) Tourism, (M) Commercial trade, (Z) Work or (X2) Short term study of no more than 180 days. It recommends applying three months before coming to China.

The centre handles only regular passports. It warns that a passport valid for less than six months risks a refused visa or refused entry, and that the passport must have at least two blank pages.

The centre's website also lists a VIP service at KSh 4,958, with a VIP lounge it describes as comfortable, quiet and private, no waiting in a queue and dedicated staff.

Questions can go to the centre on +254 790 487 260 (08:00 to 15:30, Monday to Friday except public holidays) or [email protected]. The embassy's consular enquiry lines are +254-717070214 for Chinese, answered on weekdays from 08:30 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:30, and +254-795016109 for English; its email is [email protected].