Kenya is represented in the United Kingdom and Ireland by the High Commission in London and the embassy in Dublin. However, tourists and business travellers do not need to visit either the embassy or the High Commission, as they can apply for their Kenya visa online.

Embassy tasks

The Kenya embassy in Dublin and the High Commission in London have a wide range of tasks. These include representing Kenyaʼs interests in the UK and Ireland, providing consular services to Kenyans in these countries, and promoting trade and bilateral relations between Kenya and the UK and Ireland. Travellers to Kenya do not need to visit the embassy, however, as they can easily apply for their Kenya visa online. The tasks and responsibilities of the Kenyan embassy and High Commission in Dublin and London are:

Consular services
Kenyans can contact the High Commission in London or the embassy in Dublin for consular matters, including applying for a certificate of good conduct, emergency travel documents, legalisation of documents, regaining or renouncing Kenyan citizenship and registration of Kenyans abroad. The offices also grant licences to individuals and film crews who want to film in Kenya and to people who want to import animals from Kenya. Both the High Commission and the embassy also process passport applications. This can also be done online.

Economic relations
The European Union is Kenyaʼs second-largest market after African countries. In 2004, 27.9% of Kenyaʼs exports went to the European Union. Conversely, most of Kenyaʼs imports come from the European Union. The United Kingdom is an important trading partner of Kenya. Among European countries, the UK is the leading market for Kenyan exports, with a market share of 39.6%. This makes the UK second only to Uganda. In turn, the UK is the largest European investor in Kenya.

Bilateral relations
The High Commission also maintains relations between the Kenyan and British governments. Over the years, the UK has intensified its development aid to Kenya. The UK is involved in projects to combat drought, develop water facilities, urban development, infrastructure development and agricultural research. Through the Department for International Development, the British government supports Kenya’s development, promoting political and economic stability, and social development. The High Commission also works closely with EU institutions such as the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA).

Apply for a visa online rather than at the embassy

Since 2021, all visas for Kenya have to be applied for online rather than at the embassy, including the East African Visa (the visa allowing travel to Kenya as well as to Rwanda and Uganda), the multiple-entry visa and visas for people with the nationality of one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Iraq, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Tajikistan and Yemen.

For tourists and business travellers who enter Kenya only once, the eTA (electronic Travel Authorisation) is usually sufficient. This visa can easily be applied for online on this website. Once granted, the eTA Kenya is electronically linked to the passport of the applicant. This means that the eTA does not need to be printed.

Contact the High Commission and Embassy in London and Dublin

The Kenyan High Commission in London can be contacted by telephone, e-mail or fax. A personal visit to the embassy is possible by appointment only. The High Commission is open Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 13:00, and 14:00 and 16:00 (note: for passport services, 10:30 to 13:30). The consular section of the embassy in Dublin is open Monday to Thursday between 10:00 and 12:30, and between 14:00 and 15:30, as well as on Friday between 10:00 and 12:30. An appointment must also be made to visit the embassy in Dublin.

Address of the Kenya High Commission in the UK

Address of the Kenya Embassy in Ireland