Except for several states, Kenyans need a Schengen visa to enter most of Europe. Applying for a visa might look like a complicated process, but if you prepare well to meet the visa requirements for Kenyan citizens, then your chances of success are high. Read on to learn which steps you need to take and which Schengen countries might be easy to get a visa from.
Kenyans in Europe
The continent is the second most in-demand destination for Kenyan expats after the USA. One way to figure out which Schengen visa is easy to get is to look at where Kenyans reside in Europe. The largest Kenyan diasporas are in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, with the latter three belonging to the Schengen Area.
If you are looking for employment opportunities in Europe, Germany might be the easiest to get a Schengen visa from Kenya, thanks to a recently signed bilateral immigration agreement. The document facilitates the employment of skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers, from bus drivers to teachers to IT professionals, in Germany. It eases the visa requirements for Kenyan citizens in certain cases. To secure your job in Germany, read how to make a perfect German CV in our article.
Moreover, Kenya has initiated similar labour agreements with European states like Austria, Poland, and Ireland. If the negotiations are successful, those countries might also relax their Schengen visa requirements for Kenyan citizens taking up jobs there.
Before you apply
Applications can be submitted up to six months and 15 days before the intended trip. It is recommended, however, that you apply in advance to fulfil all visa requirements for Kenyan citizens in time for your journey. Taking the following steps would ensure the easiest Schengen visa application process:
- Know the purpose of your visit, such as tourism, business, visiting family, etc.
- Work out your itinerary and book travel tickets and accommodation.
- If you plan to visit multiple countries in the Schengen Area, define your main destination (where you plan to stay the longest). Applying to the respective embassy or consulate is a must for the easiest Schengen visa from Kenya. Alternatively, your visa should be from the country of your first point of entry to the Schengen Area as per the visa requirements for Kenyan citizens.
- Have your documents ready.
For Schengen countries, it is thought to be easy to get a visa, but preparing an application involves some expenses. There is insurance to be bought, visa fees to be paid, and so on. If you are a Kenyan expat living in Europe and inviting your loved ones to visit you, they might not have the necessary funds. But you can easily help them with a money transfer via Profee, a licensed international remittance provider.
Available as an iOS/Android app and at this web site, the Profee transfer service is very simple, fast and convenient. You get the best euro-shilling exchange rate on the market, and your loved ones have the opportunity to visit you. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to transfer money to Kenya from Germany.
Let us now have a closer look at the papers to have at hand for the easiest Schengen visa application from Kenya.
Required documents
Generally speaking, Schengen visa requirements for Kenyan citizens cover identity, intended route, and financial security. In other words, you need to provide evidence of who you are, where you plan to be, and whether you can afford it. The following documents are considered such evidence and a must for the easiest Schengen visa application:
Completed application form. Some countries, like Germany, only allow you to apply online.
Biometric passport, which is:
- Valid for at least three months after the end of the expected stay in the Schengen Area.
- Issued within the last ten years (note that, according to the Schengen visa requirements for Kenyan citizens, if your passport has been issued in the last three years, you must provide the previous original one).
- Has two empty pages.
- One passport-size colour photo taken in the last six months (you can read more about the required format here)
- Photocopies of:
- All passport pages.
- National ID card (both sides).
- Medical travel insurance covering costs of at least €30,000. To guarantee the easiest application for the Schengen visa from Kenya, the insurance must be bought from any European insurance company or from one on the list of approved insurance companies.
- Ticket and accommodation preliminary bookings.
- Proof of funds sufficient for the duration of your stay in the Schengen Area and return trip (a bank statement for the last three months, salary slips, a letter of sponsorship, etc.) Convincing evidence of your financial security would ensure the easiest Schengen visa application from Kenya.
- Visa fee payment receipt with the passport number of the applicant clearly stated. Keep in mind that the fees vary depending on the country and the type of visa, and in some cases, there might be an additional processing fee. Children up to 5 years old are exempt. The fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application.
If you're applying for a digital nomad visa, read more about it in our article.
Following these steps will ensure the easiest Schengen visa application process in terms of paperwork involved. And any kind of financial challenges are easily solved if you use Profee for your international money transfers. Get the app on Google Play or the Apple Store or visit our website and send your transfer to Kenya with no commission ) and enjoy special promo rates, a generous referral programme, and multiple other benefits of this most customer-friendly service.
