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Student visa for Kenya
Money to show for the visa: No fixed amount: a sponsor's commitment letter, and proof of funds if you pay for yourself. Work while you study: Not allowed: working or trading on a student pass is an offence. Checked against the official pages on 7 November 2026.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- No fixed amount: a sponsor's commitment letter, and proof of funds if you pay for yourself
- Visa fee
- Shown on your eFNS invoice; one university lists KES 13,800 (USD 101) a year for non-East African students
- Work while you study
- Not allowed: working or trading on a student pass is an offence
- Stay after you graduate
- No post-study visa found; working needs a work permit
Listed by the Department of Immigration Services for new and renewed student passes.
Kenya Department of Immigration Services: Student Pass, checked 2026-11-07
Citizens of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi are exempt from the pass fee but must still get a pass.
USIU-Africa: undergraduate costs (2024-25), checked 2026-11-07
The pass is no authority for employment, paid or unpaid.
Kenya Department of Immigration Services: Student Pass, checked 2026-11-07
The student pass ends with your course.
Strathmore University: immigration responsibilities, checked 2026-11-07
Worth knowing: Apply for the Student Pass on eFNS three months before your course; East African citizens pay no pass fee, and students may not work in any form.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of Kenya that covers your country, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: fns.immigration.go.ke · usiu.ac.ke · siso.strathmore.edu. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
By nationality
From Algeria
From Armenia
From Azerbaijan
From Bangladesh
From Brazil
From Cameroon
From Canada
From China
From Colombia
From Egypt
From Ethiopia
From Georgia
From Ghana
From India
From Indonesia
From Iran
From Iraq
From Japan
From Jordan
From Kazakhstan
From Lebanon
From Malaysia
From Mexico
From Morocco
From Nepal
From Nigeria
From Pakistan
From Philippines
From Russia
From Saudi Arabia
From Senegal
From South Africa
From South Korea
From Sri Lanka
From Syria
From Tanzania
From Tunisia
From Türkiye
From Uganda
From Ukraine
From United Arab Emirates
From United States
From Uzbekistan
From Vietnam
From ZimbabweQuestions students ask
How much money do I need to show for a Kenya student visa?
No fixed amount: a sponsor's commitment letter, and proof of funds if you pay for yourself. Listed by the Department of Immigration Services for new and renewed student passes. (Kenya Department of Immigration Services: Student Pass, checked 2026-11-07).
How much is the student visa fee for Kenya?
Shown on your eFNS invoice; one university lists KES 13,800 (USD 101) a year for non-East African students.
Can international students work in Kenya?
Not allowed: working or trading on a student pass is an offence.
Can I stay in Kenya after I graduate?
No post-study visa found; working needs a work permit.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.