The Royal Thai Embassy on Rose Avenue in Nairobi is Thailand's embassy for Kenya and for ten other countries in East and Central Africa and the Indian Ocean. Nearly everyone who applies here needs a visa. Kenya is not on any of Thailand's visa-exemption or visa-on-arrival lists in force since 15 September 2026.
Applications are online only. The embassy stopped taking paper applications on 1 January 2025 and says physical submissions "are not accepted in all circumstances". It states a processing time of at least 15 working days and sets out detailed extra document rules of its own on top of the portal's list.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official name | Royal Thai Embassy, Nairobi, Kenya |
| Address | Rose Avenue (off Denis Pritt Road), Nairobi |
| Postal address | P.O. Box 58349-00200, City Square, Nairobi |
| Phone | +254 20 291 9100 |
| Visa section phone | +254 20 291 9111 / +254 20 291 9112 |
| Visa email | [email protected] |
| General email | [email protected] |
| Embassy hours | Monday to Friday, 09:00–12:00 and 13:30–16:30 |
| Visa section hours | Monday to Friday, 09:00–12:30 |
| Area covered | 11 countries (see below) |
| How to apply | Online only, at thaievisa.go.th (since 1 January 2025) |
| Stated processing time | At least 15 working days after submission, payment and complete documents |
| Fees (KES, as of 1 October 2024) | Tourist 5,000 single / 25,000 multiple; Non-Immigrant 10,000 single; DTV 50,000 (read 27 Sep 2026) |
Which Areas This Mission Covers
The embassy lists eleven countries in its jurisdiction:
| Mainland Africa | Indian Ocean | |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Seychelles |
| Uganda | Burundi | Comoros |
| Tanzania | Rwanda | |
| Ethiopia | South Sudan | |
| Somalia |
Residents of southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and others) apply through the Royal Thai Embassy in Pretoria instead.
Do You Need a Visa?
Kenyan passport holders: yes. Kenya is not on the 30-day list, the 15-day list, the visa-on-arrival list (now Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia only) or any bilateral exemption. Apply online before you travel. The embassy's Tourist Visa page still carries a generic visa-on-arrival section; it does not apply to Kenyans under the rules in force since 15 September 2026.
Seychellois passport holders are the exception in the district: Seychelles is on the 15-day exemption list since 15 September 2026.
Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DR Congo, Somalia and Comoros are not on the current exemption lists, so their passport holders need a visa. Ugandan nationals should also know that Immigration Division 1 caps tourism extensions at 7 days for nine nationalities, Uganda among them.
Current rules in brief: visa exemption, visa on arrival, the 30-day change. The visa finder checks any passport.
How to Apply
- Create an account at thaievisa.go.th and choose the Royal Thai Embassy, Nairobi.
- Read the embassy's own requirements too. It says to follow both the portal's list and the extra rules on its website.
- Prove your occupation. Under "document indicating current location", the embassy wants evidence matched to your status:
- Employees: employment contract and an employer letter confirming your leave
- Business owners: company registration documents showing you as owner or shareholder
- Freelancers: an affidavit describing your work and clients, sometimes with a client contract
- Retirees, students, officials, unemployed applicants and minors each have their own document
- Pages of your passport showing past travel, stamps and visas
- Show funds. An original, bank-stamped statement with a balance of at least 20,000 THB or equivalent over the last three months (single-entry tourist) or six months (multiple entry).
- Book flights and accommodation. Round-trip reservation in your name, and a hotel booking or an invitation letter with the host's ID and proof of address.
- Pay and wait at least 15 working days. Apply at least one month before departure, but not more than three months ahead.
Uploads must be clear and legible. If the embassy asks you to re-upload, you get one chance. Some cases need approval from Thailand, which takes at least three more weeks. Visa types: Tourist Visa, Transit Visa, Non-Immigrant B, Non-Immigrant O, ED and ED Plus, DTV. Portal help: Thailand e-Visa guide.
Visa fees at the Nairobi embassy (KES)
From the embassy's fee table, "as of 1 October 2024" (page updated 13 August 2026):
| Visa | Single entry | Multiple entries | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist (TR) | 5,000 (3 months) | 25,000 (6 months) | 60 days per entry |
| Tourist, medical treatment (MT) | 5,000 | – | 60 days |
| Transit (TS / S / C) | 4,000 | – | 30 days per entry |
| Non-Immigrant B | 10,000 (3 months) | 25,000 (1 year); 50,000 (3 years) | 90 days per entry |
| Non-Immigrant ED / ED Plus | 10,000 | – | 90 days |
| Non-Immigrant O | 10,000 (3 months) | 25,000 (1 year) | 90 days per entry |
| Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | – | 50,000 (5 years) | 180 days per entry |
Legalisation costs KES 3,000 per stamp. Fees are not refundable in any case.
Practical Notes
Nationalities with extra checks. The embassy lists 28 nationalities with special consideration. From the Nairobi district, DR Congo and Somalia are on it: holders must consult the embassy by email before applying for the DTV, LTR, SMART visa or Thailand Privilege. Yellow fever. Travellers from or through yellow-fever areas must show an International Health Certificate at the health counter on arrival. The embassy recommends registering it in advance at thaihealthpass.com.
Corruption warning. The embassy calls itself a corruption-free zone. Nobody can speed up a visa for extra money, and bribery attempts lead to revocation and blacklisting.
DTV since 31 August 2026. DTV applicants must now apply where they are a national or permanent resident and add a criminal record clearance certificate. A foreign resident on a Kenyan work permit should check with the embassy before paying KES 50,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Kenyans need a visa to visit Thailand?
Yes. Kenya is not on any of the visa-exemption or visa-on-arrival lists in force since 15 September 2026. Kenyans apply for an e-Visa through thaievisa.go.th with the Nairobi embassy as the mission.
How much is a Thai tourist visa in Kenya?
KES 5,000 for a single-entry tourist visa (valid 3 months) and KES 25,000 for multiple entries (valid 6 months), each allowing 60 days per entry.
How long does a Thai visa take in Nairobi?
At least 15 working days after your application is submitted, paid and complete. Apply at least a month before travel. Cases needing approval from Thailand take at least three more weeks.
Can I submit my Thai visa application at the embassy in person?
No. Since 1 January 2025 all applications go through thaievisa.go.th, and the embassy does not accept paper submissions.
Which countries does the Thai embassy in Nairobi cover?
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Seychelles and Comoros.
How much bank balance do I need for a Thai tourist visa from Kenya?
At least 20,000 THB or equivalent, shown on an original bank-stamped statement covering the last three months for a single entry or six months for multiple entries.
Do Seychellois need a visa for Thailand?
Not for a stay of up to 15 days. Seychelles is on the 15-day exemption list since 15 September 2026.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy, Nairobi: Guidelines to Enter Thailand / Visa Application Procedures (updated 6 September 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Nairobi: Tourist Visa / Visa on Arrival (updated 6 September 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Nairobi: Fees and Payment Methods (updated 13 August 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Nairobi: Contact us
- Royal Thai Embassy, Nairobi: Countries in our jurisdiction
- Royal Thai Embassy, Doha: Tourist Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival (list effective 15 September 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Brasília: Summary of the revised visa exemption and VoA schemes, effective 15 September 2026
- Royal Thai Embassy, Brasília: Adjustment of supporting documents for DTV applications (31 August 2026)
- TAT Newsroom: New 30-day and 15-day visa exemption rules from 15 September
