The procedures described below are the only ones that will allow a visa to be issued for Italy.
ANYONE WHO PROMISES TO FACILITATE THE SCHEDULING OF APPOINTMENTS, EXPEDITE OR SECURE THE ISSUANCE OF A VISA IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY, IS TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES TO BE CONSIDERED A FRAUDSTER. SUCH INCIDENTS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES, AS WELL AS TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS AMBASCIATA.NAIROBI@ESTERI.IT
IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED NOT TO RELY ON INTERMEDIARIES WHO PROMISE FACILITATED ROUTES TO OBTAINING A VISA.
All decisions regarding visa applications are always exclusively made by Embassy staff.
- TYPES OF VISAS
For any information regarding visa applications for entry into Italy, please consult the “Visa for Italy” portal.
The Visa Office of the Embassy of Italy in Kenya is connected to the Visa Information System (VIS), a central database for the exchange of biometric and biographical data of short-stay visa applicants with other Schengen states..
- APPLYING FOR A VISA
- BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT
To apply for a visa, it is necessary to book an appointment on the website of VFS Global, the agency responsible for the service of receiving visa applications.
Due to the high number of applications, applicants are encouraged to ascertain the availability of an appointment at least 60 days prior to scheduled departure, whenever possible.
In any case, in order to ensure proper handling of the application, a period of at least 15 days between the appointment date and the expected departure date must be allowed. In the absence of this time period, even with a valid appointment, the Embassy’s Visa Office reserves the right to refuse the visa application.
In cases of proven and documented urgency, a request can be sent to visti.nairobi@esteri.it, attaching the supporting documentation.
For information regarding the appointment system, please contact the Call Center at +254 205 147 906, or email info.itke@vfshelpline.com and/or visit the website: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ken/en/ita .
On the day of your appointment, you must present your original passport and all required documentation in paper format. Your passport cannot be returned until the processing procedure is completed.
- VISA APPLICATION FOR NON-RESIDENTS IN KENYA.
The Italian Embassy Visa Office in Kenya receives and processes visa applications from residents of Kenya or the Seychelles. In exceptional and duly justified cases, the Embassy reserves the right to accept applications for “D” type visas for Family Reunion (Long-Term Visa) from citizens who are not permanently resident in Kenya.
For non-residents of Kenya applying for a “D” type visa for Family Reunion (Long-Term Visa), appointments to submit the application must be booked in person, presenting a valid Nulla Osta (within the 6 months from the date of issue), every Thursday from 12:00 to 15:00 at the VFS Global offices in Nairobi.
- a) Cases of proven and documented emergency
In cases of proven and documented emergency, a request can be sent to visti.nairobi@esteri.it, attaching all supporting documentation.”.
- WHERE TO APPLY
On the day of the appointment, it is possible to go to the offices of VFS Global, which operates through two visa application centers:
- NAIROBI, located on the fifth floor of the Park Field Building, Muthangari Drive, opposite SAFARICOM House on Waiyaki Way, in Westlands, P.O.Box 25180, 00100 Nairobi.
- MOMBASA, located on the ground floor of Sheetal Plaza, Modar Mohammed Road Off Moi Avenue, near Uhuru Gardens.
At both centers, applications can be submitted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Collection of passports is usually from 11 a.m. to 3p.m., also Monday through Friday.
- ACQUISITION OF BIOMETRIC DATA
Since November 2013, all applicants for a Schengen visa (Type C) must provide their biometric data (fingerprints of all ten fingers and a photograph) when applying for a visa.
Please note that, due to the Legislative Decree 145 of October 11, 2024, from January 11, 2025, the acquisition of fingerprints will also be mandatory for national entry visas (Type D).
Therefore, all applicants must appear in person when applying for a visa. This is a simple procedure that takes only a few minutes
- VISA FEES
Depending on the type of visa for which an application is submitted, applicants will have to pay the following fees at VFS Global in local currency (KES), at the exchange rate updated on a quarterly basis, as shown in the following table:
| SCHENGEN VISA– TYPE “C” (up to 90 days) | Euro | KES (*) |
| Applicant aged 12 years and older | 90 | 12600 |
| Applicant aged between 6 and 12 years | 45 | 6300 |
| Applicant aged between 0 and 6 years | Free of Charge | |
| NAZIONAL VISA – TYPE “D” (over 90 days) | Euro | KES (*) |
| All applicants | 116 | 16240 |
| Applicant aged between 6 and 12 years | 50 | 7000 |
(*) Amounts calculated according to the exchange rate of the second quarter (valid from 01.01.2025 to 31.03.2025)
In addition to the above amounts, applicants must pay to VFS a service fee of KES 2,885 for both Type “C” and “D” (adult and child) visa applications.
- DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED
For any information regarding visa applications for entry into Italy, please consult the “Visa for Italy” portal.
Please note that, according to Article 12 (a) of Regulation (EC) No. 810/2009, known as the “Visa Code”, the travel document must be valid for at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Schengen Member States.
For Somali passport holders, the travel document must be valid for at least 24 months from the date of visa application.
According to the Kenyan authorities’ notice issued to all diplomatic missions, all Kenyan passports – except for the new East African Community biometric e-passport – are to be considered null and void with effect from 1 September 2019.
Therefore, the Schengen Member States inform the Kenyan public that the new East African Community biometric e-passport is the only one accepted.
In case the type of visa requires the presentation of travel insurance, this Embassy accepts policies preferably from the insurances companies mentioned listed here.
- Foreign family members of Italian/EU citizens
The legislation (Directive 2004/38/EC and Legislative Decree 30/2007) facilitates the access to the visa office and simplifies the required documentation for foreign family members of Italian/EU citizens.
The public are informed that with effect from 1st June 2024, as stipulated in D.I. 850/2011 Annex A point 10, foreign family members of Italian/EU citizens who travel to Italy for the purpose of family reunification will be issued a national visa (type “D”) for “family reasons”.
Family members who have the right of family reunification are exclusively those identified in Article 2 of DL 30/2007:
- spouses;
- partners who are in a registered partnership with the EU citizen on the basis of the legislation of a Member State, if the legislation of the host Member State equates the registered partnership with marriage and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the relevant legislation of the host Member State;
- direct descendants under the age of 21 or dependants, including those of the spouse or partner referred to in (b);
- dependant direct ascendants, including those of the spouse or partner referred to in (b).
Finally, adoptees/adopters and minors subject to guardianship/permanent foster care under orders issued by L. 184/83 are also equated with the direct descendant/ascendant.
The visa is issued free of charge (art. 5 paragraph 3 of DL 30/2007) and there is no authorization of the SUI. The visa will last 365 days with multiple entries and the family member, within 8 working days of entering Italy, will must apply, by filling out in the appropriate kit at Post Offices, for a residence permit for “family reasons” (Ministry of the Interior Circular No. 400.B/2023/1 Prot. No. 84545 dated 8/19/2023).
Documentation to be submitted:
- letter of invitation of the Italian/EU family member from which the intention to exercise the right of family unity is clear, accompanied by a valid identity document;
- documentation proving the status of family member in accordance with Art. 2 of D.L. 30/2007, translated and certified, or deed of marriage or civil union registered in Italy;
- in cases where the verification of dependency is required: proof of economic remittances from the Italian/EU citizen. The economic support must be of structural nature (no minimal duration is required) and must enable the beneficiary, considering his/her financial and social conditions in the State of origin or provenance, to meet his/her essential needs.
To visit the portal “Visa for Italy” for more details, applicants are advised to use the following check-list:
Please note that foreign family members of Italian/EU citizens are entitled to priority processing of their applications. Therefore, if you encounter difficulties booking an appointment through the VFS Global platform (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ken/en/ita), you may request a priority appointment by emailing visti.nairobi@esteri.it. In order to prove your family relationship, you must present your identification document and, as applicable, a marriage certificate, certificate of kinship, or birth certificate, registered with the competent Italian authorities and already legalized.
- NOTICE OF DENIAL.
Please note that any notice of denial is a formal administrative act that outlines the reasons for the visa refusal. The applicant is advised to carefully review this notice to consider any subsequent actions.