A Kenyan traveller who has visited 100 countries has detailed the financial burden of visa applications, disclosing that she spent roughly KSh 500,000 on visa fees over the course of her travels.
Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Maria Kamau said most paid visas cost between KSh 5,000 and KSh 15,000, while fees for more developed countries typically ranged from KSh 15,000 to KSh 25,000. However, several destinations pushed those costs significantly higher.
Most and Least Expensive Visas
The cheapest visa Maria recalls paying for was Japan, at KSh 2,600, which was only charged after her application was approved. At the other extreme, Cameroon required KSh 30,000 (USD 250) for a multiple-entry visa. She noted that when she applied, only the multiple-entry option was available at USD 250, with the single-entry visa priced at USD 125.
Sri Lanka ended up costing her KSh 38,000 in total because she had to pay twice. Her first payment was processed using her sister’s Namibian-issued card, which incorrectly recorded their passport country as Namibia. On arrival, that error invalidated the initial payment, and both had to purchase fresh visas at the border.
Toughest Visa Processes
Beyond cost, Maria highlighted three destinations as particularly difficult to navigate. Vietnam required her to use an online agent, and she ultimately paid USD 175 per person after a local agent had quoted USD 300 per person. She noted that the agent she eventually used no longer processes visa applications for Kenyan passport holders
Angola demanded a contact within the country, an extensive document list, police clearance, and medical-related procedures, all compounded by system failures that meant her visa was not ready before her travel date. She had to reorganise her entire route and cut Angola from that trip, and has since received the visa but must now plan the country as a standalone visit.
Saudi Arabia required government authentication of travel documents for a tourist visa, involving processes at the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as notarised company documents.
Maria also flagged a range of costs that travellers rarely account for upfront: passport photographs with varying specifications per country, pre-screening and agent fees, biometrics for destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, medical reports for Saudi Arabia and Angola, police clearance certificates, document scanning and uploading, passport delivery charges, and multiple in-person visits for processing, follow-up, and collection. She added that New Zealand’s visa processing fee had increased by nearly 60%.
“For many Kenyans, visa costs represent a significant share of the travel budget, paid upfront, and with no guarantee of approval or refund if the application is unsuccessful. Yet a visa is only the first financial hurdle on the journey towards making a travel dream a reality. And with approval odds appearing increasingly challenging for some of the most sought-after destinations, it can add another layer of anxiety: is it even worth starting the process?” Maria said.
