Kenya is seeking reciprocal visa treatment for citizens travelling to Nigeria.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei says Kenya is pursuing diplomatic and political action over difficulties facing citizens travelling to Nigeria.
Kenya has protested Nigerian visa requirements, with Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei calling the treatment of Kenyan applicants unacceptable. He said Nairobi was seeking diplomatic and political solutions to the difficulties facing its citizens.
In a statement, Sing’oei said Kenya allows Nigerian citizens visa-free entry, but Nigeria does not offer reciprocal access. He also described the inconvenience facing Kenyan travellers as unjustified and said the government was actively pursuing a remedy.
Nigerian visa requirements draw complaints
The intervention follows complaints from Kenyans about extensive paperwork, including documents from people inviting them to Nigeria. The concerns cover travel for conferences, business and other professional engagements.
One complainant online described the process as more demanding than visa applications for Britain, the United States and the Schengen area. The complainant said a colleague planning to attend a Nigerian conference needed several documents, including the event host’s passport details.
That account reflects an individual applicant’s reported experience, rather than a comparison of the countries’ official visa rules. However, the Nigerian High Commission in Nairobi’s published requirements include documents from both applicants and their hosts.
Business applicants need company and host documents
For business visas, the commission requires an introductory letter from the applicant’s Kenyan company and an invitation from the Nigerian company. Applicants must also supply a return air ticket and a copy of their passport biodata page.
Additional requirements include a yellow fever certificate, passport photographs and the Nigerian host’s or company signatory’s passport biodata page. Meanwhile, the applicant’s passport must remain valid for at least six months and contain blank pages.
The commission lists application submission hours as 10am to 12.30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. It also schedules collection for three to five working days after submission.
Tourist visas also require host information
Tourist visa applicants likewise need an invitation letter and a copy of their host’s passport biodata page. They must also provide proof of funds, travel documents and other supporting papers.
However, Nigeria sets different requirements for different visa categories, so the paperwork depends on the purpose of travel. Kenya’s protest centres on both the difficulties applicants report and the absence of reciprocal visa-free entry.
