How to get a Thailand visa from Kenya
Visa types, fees, processing times and application requirements for Kenyan passport holders travelling to Thailand.
Visa types & fees
5 visa options for travelling to Thailand.
Business visa
Processing time15 days
Validity90 days
Fee (approx.)$100
Journalist visa
Processing time15 days
Validity90 days
Fee (approx.)$100
Student visa
Processing time15 days
ValidityMore than 90 days
Fee (approx.)$100
Tourist visa
Processing time15 days
Validity90 days
Fee (approx.)$40
Transit visa
Processing time15 days
Validity90 days
Fee (approx.)$40
Application requirements
Documents Kenyan applicants need to provide.
- A Kenyan passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
- Duly completed and signed visa application form.
- If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- Passport-size photographs (35 x 45 mm).
- Travel document.
- Original bank statement of the applicant showing a balance of at least $1,000 per person or $2,000 per family during the past 6 months.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
- Copy of travel itinerary.
- Copy of return flight ticket.
Visa type details
Tourist visa
- The Thailand tourist visa is issued to Kenyans who are visiting Thailand for the purpose of sightseeing, personal enlightenment, recreation, and relaxation.
- The visa is also eligible for Kenyans intending to travel for medical purposes.
- A big percentage of Thailand's revenue is gotten from the tourism industry.
- You will need a passport valid for at least 6 months following your departure date. It is also recommended that your valid passport have at least 2 remaining unused pages for any necessary entry and exit stamps that may be issued.
- Travelers are required to bring one passport-sized (4 x 6 cm) photograph.
- There are two types of Thailand tourist visa:
- Single-entry tourist visa- this visa is valid for three months. However, the permitted length of stay is 60 days.
- Multiple-entry tourist visa- this visa is valid for six months.
- The Thailand tourist visa is valid for 30 days. Although, the visa is extendable to 60 days.
- It is important for applicants to show proof of financial stability to cover their entire stay in Thailand. Applicants should have at least 20,000 baht per person or 40,000 baht per family.
- Currency exchanges are available near the Visa on Arrival sections in the airports. No ATMs are available, so make sure you have THB or at least some form of major currency such as Dollars or Euros on you.
- Vaccinations for the following is required; hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, and meningitis.
- If you are traveling with a life-partner, try not to show public affection in Thailand. It is greatly frowned on.
- It is not common in Thailand to shake hands to greet people. It’s just not how the Thai people do it. Instead of shaking hands, you can do the traditional Thai greeting called ‘wai’. All you have to do is put your palms together in front of your body and you just did a wai.
Business visa
- The Thailand business visa allows Kenyans to start-up or conduct business and work in Thailand.
- The Thailand business visa is valid for 90 days. There are two types of business visa:
- Single-entry visa: this visa valid for 90 days.
- Multiple-entry visa: this visa is valid for one year.
- If the applicant has previously worked in Thailand, the copy of Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labour is required.
- Applicants should submit a copy of educational records of the applicant and letters of recommendation from the prior employers, identifying the job description and length of service time
- Thailand’s continuous economic progress can be attributed to the presence of sufficient infrastructure and an efficient workforce, backed by strong support from the government.
- Thailand allows foreigners to start up business in their country.
- Before starting a business in Thailand you must go through the following:
- You must create a cooperate name, and it must be approved within 30 days by the Business Development Office in the Ministry of Commerce.
- A Memorandum of Association to be filed with the Business Development Office must include the name of the company that has been successfully reserved, the province where the company will be located, its business objectives, the capital to be registered, and the names of the seven promoters.
- A statutory meeting must be set up. Within three months of the date of the Statutory Meeting, the directors must submit the application to establish the company. Company registration fees are 500 baht per 100,000 baht of registered capital. The minimum fee is 5,000 baht; the maximum is 250,000 baht.
- Businesses are liable to income tax registration.
- Applicants traveling for the purpose of attending a business meeting require the following documents:
- A business letter written in your company’s letterhead is required.
- Printed flight and hotel reservation under the applicant's name. It must show flights entering and exiting Thailand.
- A copy of your bank statement is needed. Photocopy of the applicant's most recent bank statement as proof of sufficient funds ($700 per person - single entry and $7000 for multiple entries).
Student visa
- The Thailand student visa allows Kenyans to visit Thailand to study in one of the institutions of learning in the country.
- The visa is also known as an education visa.
- Applicants of this visa can attend training sessions, cooking classes, martial arts classes, participate in projects or seminars, or study as a foreign Buddhist monk.
- The student visa also allows foreigners to undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or a specialist.
- There are two types of Thailand student visa:
- Single-entry visa: valid for 3 months.
- Multiple-entry visa: valid for one year.
- A letter of acceptance from the academic institution you have been accepted to. The letter should be written on the institution's letterhead and should state the course you have been accepted to.
- Certificates and transcripts of previously attended institutions by the applicants of this visa.
- Foreign students are allowed to work part-time for a period of up to 20-hours per week when school is in session and full-time when school is on break.
- Qualified applicants can obtain an additional one-year stay permit counting from the date of entry in the country pertaining to the Office of the Immigration Bureau’s regulation on the extension of stay.
- Students should show proof of financial stability. Students should have 15,000 – 25,000 Baht monthly. (Equivalent to 390 – 650 Euros).
Journalist visa
- This visa allows Kenyans to work as a film-producer, journalist, or reporter.
- A letter of invitation from the company you will be working with in Thailand. The letter should state the duration and purpose of the applicant’s visit to the country.
- A letter from your employer in Kenya stating the purpose and duration of your visit to the country. The name of the company and the job position should be stated in the letter.
- If you are traveling with a minor, the original copy of your birth certificate is required. A notarized consent signed by both the parents of the applicant is required.
- Single-entry and multiple-entry visas are valid for three months. The multiple-entry visas could also be valid for one year.
- This visa can be extended for an additional one-year stay counting from the date of entry in the country.
- Foreigners should ensure they are vaccinated against yellow fever before they travel to the country.
- A copy of the applicant’s stay permit in Kenya is required.
- Proof of payment of paid visa application form should be presented.
Transit visa
- Foreigners who intend to board a connecting flight from Thailand to their destination country are eligible for this visa.
- Kenyans can also join up with a crew ship at a seaport in Thailand.
- The Transit Visa does not allow foreigners to take up paid or unpaid employment while they are in the country.
- Applicants of this visa cannot take up short courses in Thailand.
- Receipt of paid visa application form is required.
- Visa and other entry permits of the destination country should be provided.
- Flight ticket of the applicant’s destination country is required.
- This visa cannot be extended.
- Applicants are advised to be vaccinated against yellow fever.
Where to apply
Thailand embassy & visa application centers in Kenya.
Nairobi
AddressRode Avenue, off Denis Pritt Road, Nairobi, Kenya.
Phone+254 20 271 5800, +254 20 271 4276
Email[email protected]
| Day | Opens | Closes |
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| Mon | 09:00 | 12:30 |
| Tue | 09:00 | 12:30 |
| Wed | 09:00 | 12:30 |
| Thu | 09:00 | 12:30 |
| Fri | 09:00 | 12:30 |
| Sat | — | — |
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best time of the year to go to Thailand
Although the climate varies throughout Thailand, you can visit all year round. The best time to travel is during the cool and dry season between November and early April.
What is the passport validity for Thailand
The passport validity for Thailand is 30 days. Your passport must be original.
How much money do you need per day in Thailand
Living in Thailand per day costs $30-35 per day depending on how much food you consume and how many days you spend on the islands, where costs are higher.
Do they speak English in Thailand
Most Thai people speak English. Except the uneducated ones, although they may understand it but will not speak due to shyness.
Is Thailand safe to travel
Thailand is generally a safe country to visit, but it is smart to exercise caution, especially when it comes to dealing with strangers.
Visa fees and rules change often. Confirm the latest Thailand visa
requirements with an official embassy or consulate before booking travel.