The Schengen area consists of 24 countries of the 27 EU member states.
These countries have done away with passports and other types of border control regulations that govern entry into the country within their mutual borders.
This also means that Schengen citizens can travel across these countries without a visa.
Countries within the Schengen area are;
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
The Schengen area also comprises countries that are not part of the EU states. These countries are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Apart from the countries listed above, a Schengen visa is valid in the following non-EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area:
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Ireland
- Romania
Foreigners, that includes Kenyans, visiting the Schengen area countries, are required to go through the border control just once when they first enter the area.
From there, they are able to move around the Schengen countries without being required to present their Schengen visa.
The following are the types of Schengen Visas offered in Kenya.
- Visitor visa
- Tourist visa
- Business visa
- Student visa
- Medical visa
- Official visit visa
- Transit visa
- Cultural exchange visa
There are no online applications for Schengen Visas in Kenya. The following is a list of agencies that offer the Schengen Visa.
1. Visa Advisory Services Limited
Location: Karuna Road, Nairobi
Phone: 0723 445 003
Website: http://www.visadvisory.com
2. Spain Visa Application Centre
Location: Eldama Ravine Road, Nairobi
Phone: 0720 735 457
Website: https://kenya.blsspainvisa.com
3. Visa Experts Kenya LTD
Location: Chaka Place, 2nd Floor
Phone: 0729 851 732
Website: https://www.visaexpertskenya.co.ke
4. Travel Visa Tours & Travel
Location: Koinange Street, Nairobi
Phone: 0722 622 194
Website: https://www.travelvisa.ke
5. TLScontact – Visa Application Centre Nairobi
Location: Parklands Road, Westlands, Nairobi
Website: http://pos.tlscontact.com
6. Victoria Visa Consultancy
Location: Kimathi Street, Nairobi
Phone: 0705 758 432
Website: https://victoriavisaconsultants.com
7. VFS Global
Location: Visa Application Center, Ring Road, Parklands, Nairobi
Phone: 0800 720 214
Website: https://visa.vfsglobal.com
8. Chatters World European Agency Kenya
Location: Moi Avenue, Veteran House, 7th Floor Room 567L, Nairobi
Phone: 0722 543 617
9. Sydd Travel Agency
Location: Ambank House, 14th Floor, Next to Anniversary Towers along Nairobi University Way, Nairobi
Phone: 0702 393 226
Website: https://syddtravel.com
10. Kenya Immigration Consultancy and Assistance
Location: Park Road, Nairobi
Phone: 0708 603 007
Website: https://kenyaimmigrationandvisaservices.business.site
11. Polish Embassy, Consular Office
Location: Nairobi, Redhill Road 58, Off Limuru Road
Phone: +254 20 712 0019 / +254 20 712 0020
Website: https://www.gov.pl
12. Hisbah Consultants
Location: Corner Plaza First Floor, Parklands Road, Westlands
Phone: 0734 163 163
Website: http://www.hisbahconsultants.com
13. Visa Portal Solutions
Location: Westlands Arcade, Waiyaki Way, Ring Road, Nairobi
Phone: 0791 863 389
Website: https://visaportal.co.ke
You can also apply for a Schengen visa at any of the Schengen area states embassies in Kenya.
For a successful application, you are required to apply for the visa in advance, at least 15 days prior to your scheduled trip, but no more than 6 months before. This allows the agency to process the visa and schedule interviews in time.
The visa validity is determined by the embassy and the number of entries to be made depending on purpose of the visit. However, you can be allowed a maximum stay of 90 days so long as they are within a 180-day period.
