The new year in Kenya for foreigners and those working in tourism not only corresponds to the high holiday season, but also to the first renewals for many holidaymakers who every year decide to stay in the African country in correspondence with the cold Italian winter.

The first ones arrived at the end of October and in a few weeks they will be faced with the renewal of their tourist visas, according to a modality that changed last March, after the changes to the entire visa and permit system introduced by the new government, which also changed the country's entry visa to the electronic travel authorisation (eTA).

It is therefore advisable to follow the following warnings, so as not to spend more than necessary and above all not to find yourself in trouble when leaving Kenya.

RENEWAL IS NO LONGER FREE

Originally, when foreigners staying more than three months in Kenya were still obliged to get an ‘Alien Card’, i.e. a provisional non-resident ID card, renewal for another three months cost 2200 Kenyan shillings (Kes).

Since 2022, Alien Cards for non-residents have been abolished (and those who have had them ‘poached’ risk criminal sanctions) and consequently renewal has become free of charge, although some immigration officers ask for a ‘gratuity’ (read ‘consultation’) to affix the stamp.

As of March 2024, renewal has reverted to a fee, even without an ID card, and costs $50 (compared to entry into Kenya, which has decreased by $20).

RENEW ONLINE FIRST!

Since the advent of the online renewal system (as with any government service), it is not enough to go to the immigration office of the place where you are staying and get stamped with an expiry date of another 90 days. First it is compulsory to open a file online, on the immigration website fns.immigration.go.ke, which can also be accessed through the e-citizen portal, if you already have an account.

It is only online that you have to pay the $50 renewal fee and get a receipt to keep, either by printing it out or saving it as a PDF on your mobile phone. With that you will then go to the immigration office to get your passport stamped WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL PAYMENT.

WHY ISN'T THE STAMP IN THE PASSPORT ENOUGH?

No matter what anyone may tell you to the contrary, out of self-interest or superficiality, the official stamp in your passport without the online paperwork is illegal!

And most importantly, the $50 must be paid directly to the government, not to the local immigration office.

When you return to Italy, airport officials may ask you for a receipt of payment or to see if the stamp in your passport matches the online paperwork, or if the stamp is fictitious and unregistered.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN?

Almost all the Italians who ran into trouble on departure from Kenya had the immigration stamp but not the online renewal. So on checking by the authorities they were found to be ‘illegal’ in the country. Online visas and renewals were introduced to tackle corruption, as anyone paying could obtain a false stamp, as Somali nationals can do in order to enter the country illegally. Remember that Kenyan law punishes not only the corrupt but also the corruptor, and if checked, you would be illegal in the country from the date your first visa expires.

CAN ONLY RENEWAL BE DONE ONLINE?

As a rule, only online renewal should suffice, to be shown on the way out, preferably with a printed receipt. With that, exactly as on the outward journey, the authorities should stamp the exit. But since the rule is not clear, it is better to get your passport stamped beforehand (which is also used to circulate in Kenya during the renewal period). In addition, given the slowness of the connections and the authorities' predisposition to look for the hair in the egg (to put it mildly), without the stamp you risk misunderstandings.

In case you are unfamiliar with online services, there are agencies that can help you or you can ask the immigration office itself for assistance. The important thing is to be sure that you have the online renewal and not just the stamp, which without it, as already mentioned, is worthless.