General Reports

[Mahku]

And now that it's December 27th, the site now says it will be ready in 'a few days. ' It also makes clear that the site as it exists now is just a dummy site. If you try to apply as it is now, it won't be processed. Great. So my departure is Jan. 4th. Evisa site has been down. Apparently this ETA site processing will be at least 3 business days. I may be in a fix for my flight. I think I may just get a cheap onward ticket from Nairobi to show to the airline checkin to avoid offloading.

[Slowalk]

Hi Slowalk. Maybe I ask where you got this information?

I opened the link and tried to fill out my info. The website states it in the rotating header.

[Mahku]

You apply for the eVISA before 27 December. You apply for the eTA 27 December onward.

There's supposed to be a mobile app.

Hi Slowalk. Maybe I ask where you got this information?

[Slowalk]

You apply for the eVISA before 27 December. You apply for the eTA 27 December onward.

There's supposed to be a mobile app.

[Leblon]

Oh, that's great. I'm planning to arrive on the 5th of January. Will I still need a visa? Or an Electronic Travel Authorization? The main evisa site seems to be down. I clicked on one of the travel agent sites and asked them about the coming visa free changes. They said they hadn't heard anything official.

So. What do people in my shoes do? Just trust that I can get in with no issues? Probably not. Can't get onto the main site now. Should I just got ahead and try to get a visa from one of these 3rd party sites?

True, that site is down now. I just processed visa and it was approved, I got it yesterday or day before. It was 51 dollars as before. What was new was that there is now expiry date for visa, 3 months.

So I was lucky with my timing.

I wonder if there are just technical problems in website? They should have some service up soon, Kenya gets so much money from tourism.

By the way, I see sometimes that people get nervous with E-visa and hotel confirmation. I did not got any confirmation from my hotel when I was filling visa application. So I copied emails where I had been discussing about reservation to text editor, removed all the "maybe I am coming" and similar stuff, and then took screenshot of it, hotel confirmation have to be in. Jpeg mode. It was accepted, I got visa. One other time I took screenshot of the whatsapp chat of the same hotel manager and put that to application, no problem.

So this hotel confirmation part of the visa application don't have to be so official.

I wonder if visa on arrival is still accepted? Well even if it is, it may be that airline company don't let you checkin, if you don't have visa with you.

[Neddy69]

Oh, that's great. I'm planning to arrive on the 5th of January. Will I still need a visa? Or an Electronic Travel Authorization? The main evisa site seems to be down. I clicked on one of the travel agent sites and asked them about the coming visa free changes. They said they hadn't heard anything official.

So. What do people in my shoes do? Just trust that I can get in with no issues? Probably not. Can't get onto the main site now. Should I just got ahead and try to get a visa from one of these 3rd party sites?

Pray. I'd not use any paysite. Why? Guess where they apply for the eVisa. Wait and try again. After the complete UTurn of the kenyan government they will start to roll out eTA. There's already a non functional test site:

https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en

When that will go live anyone's guess. But they hired a professional company which already had an off the shelf IT solution. That's how they'll roll it out quickly. People like you might be left out in the cold. TIK. The new eTA is supposedly easier to use. There'll be an app. Read the information. 30 $. Single entry only. That means. Hop over the border to TZ and come back again. Another 30 $. The immigration officer determines the length of stay. Nobody knows what the policy be. I figure 3 M. 3 months. And then?

Mwalimu.

[Mombie75]

https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en

I guess this will go live soon. $30.

[Mahku]

Not free.

A play on words, scrapped in all but name.

It is being replaced by an Electronic travel authorization, same price though could be reduced to $30.

Oh, that's great. I'm planning to arrive on the 5th of January. Will I still need a visa? Or an Electronic Travel Authorization? The main evisa site seems to be down. I clicked on one of the travel agent sites and asked them about the coming visa free changes. They said they hadn't heard anything official.

So. What do people in my shoes do? Just trust that I can get in with no issues? Probably not. Can't get onto the main site now. Should I just got ahead and try to get a visa from one of these 3rd party sites?

[Mombie75]

I wonder why no one mentioned this here.

First they wanted to charge 100 $, but now they decided for free is better:

https://www.trtafrika.com/africa/ken...gners-16205325

Since next year. We will see.

Not free.

A play on words, scrapped in all but name.

It is being replaced by an Electronic travel authorization, same price though could be reduced to $30.

[DzikaBomba]

I wonder why no one mentioned this here.

First they wanted to charge 100 $, but now they decided for free is better:

https://www.trtafrika.com/africa/ken...gners-16205325

Since next year. We will see.

[Pcdilwj]

They have always done the scanning of your carry on luggage on the small x ray machine as you leave the baggage hall for many years now but not your checking in hold luggage.

The checked in hold luggage is scanned before the carousel and you are able to collect it. They were marking cases with an X that they wanted opened.

However, I have heard they have stopped this the last few weeks? Hopefully someone can update on if this is accurate.

The KS is 192 v GBP, unheard of in my 20 years in Kenya. Average is about 140. It will be 200 by Christmas.

When I left on Nov. 15 I was able to get 156 us dollars to KS life is good my first thip in 2018 I was only getting 100 to the ks the most I paid for company was 2400 on this most girls I would give 1800 to 2 k.

[World Jockey]

They have always done the scanning of your carry on luggage on the small x ray machine as you leave the baggage hall for many years now but not your checking in hold luggage.

The checked in hold luggage is scanned before the carousel and you are able to collect it. They were marking cases with an X that they wanted opened.

However, I have heard they have stopped this the last few weeks? Hopefully someone can update on if this is accurate.

The KS is 192 v GBP, unheard of in my 20 years in Kenya. Average is about 140. It will be 200 by Christmas.

I too will like to know if this is suspended as I'm flying down in a few days.

With Christmas coming I'm sure they want to get that money.

In either case I'm going to be taking anything I have out of the box. Even if its under 500 and hope for the best.

[Mombie75]

PersonalAnd to add to the luggage-checking-at-Kenya-Airport, the evening of my arrival Customs ushered all travelers thru checkout very quickly. They actually told us NOT to put big luggage in the scanner, just small bags. I guess we all dodged a tariff bullet that night.

They have always done the scanning of your carry on luggage on the small x ray machine as you leave the baggage hall for many years now but not your checking in hold luggage.

The checked in hold luggage is scanned before the carousel and you are able to collect it. They were marking cases with an X that they wanted opened.

However, I have heard they have stopped this the last few weeks? Hopefully someone can update on if this is accurate.

The KS is 192 v GBP, unheard of in my 20 years in Kenya. Average is about 140. It will be 200 by Christmas.

[Rwenotmen]

Personal Update: I'm back in the land of the mongerers' playground! Let's see if this el nino mini-rainy season will improve the chances of getting the ladies over for netflix & chillin'!

And to add to the luggage-checking-at-Kenya-Airport, the evening of my arrival Customs ushered all travelers thru checkout very quickly. They actually told us NOT to put big luggage in the scanner, just small bags. I guess we all dodged a tariff bullet that night.

As for currency exchange, just wanted to share that today I got rate 152.80 KSh to one Dollar -- using (transfer) Wise. That's the service I use to transfer cash from personal bank account directly to my MPesa. Thus, no need for ATM card while in Kenya.

Anybody experienced getting a better rate when going to a exchange shop and presenting hard greenbacks?

[Rwenotmen]

Lots of arrivals have had their bags checked and had to pay tax already. Even a KQ captain!

It is "supposed" to be on new items worth more that $500. This is Kenya, meaning they will make it up as they go along. New / old what it is worth decides upon how much the customs officer wants to try and shake you down. Someone has took the new gazzette to court and it is supposed to be suspended. We shall see.

Good to know someone will be fighting to remove / reduce the 'tariff'.

Mombie or anyone, did you see how they're are officiating the 'tariff' - do we pay in cash, cough-cough, or do they writeup an actual receipt?