Kenyans traveling to Ireland will face increased fees of Ksh9,700 following changes in visa application procedures announced by the Irish Embassy in Nairobi.
The Embassy of Ireland in Kenya issued a notice on Friday, May 22, revealing a collaboration with international outsourcing company VFS Global, requiring all Kenyan applicants to use the firm’s services for their visa applications.
The embassy announced that this new system commenced on May 15, 2026, replacing the previous method where applicants directly scheduled appointments at the embassy.
According to the embassy statement, “As of May 21 2026, the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya has transferred to a partnership with VFS Global. Kenyan and Kenyan Resident visa applicants will submit their supporting documents at the VFS submission centre in Nairobi. Visa appointments at the Embassy will no longer be offered.”
Under the updated requirements, Kenyan citizens and residents applying for Irish visas must now submit their supporting documents at the VFS submission centre in Nairobi, discontinuing the former process of embassy-based visa appointments.
This change introduces an additional service charge of €63.80, equivalent to approximately Ksh9,700, which applicants must pay in addition to standard visa fees.
Current pricing shows a single-entry Irish visa costs about Ksh8,991 (€60), while a multi-entry visa is priced at approximately Ksh15,000 (€100).
The VFS service fee exceeds the cost of a single-entry visa itself. Consequently, travelers to Ireland will need to pay up to Ksh18,600 in total, while multi-entry applicants will face approximately Ksh24,000 including VFS charges.
The embassy maintains that the partnership aims to enhance visa services and improve application processing efficiency.
“This new arrangement is designed to enable applicants to secure document submission appointments more rapidly and access a broader selection of personalized services,” the embassy explained in an additional statement.
The embassy further clarified that admission to Ireland remains subject to the authority of immigration officers at border control.
Processing durations will vary depending on the visa category and the completeness of submitted documents. Completed applications will have passports returned via VFS.
Applicants whose visa applications are rejected retain the right to appeal, with appeal procedures outlined in refusal letters issued by the embassy.