A China visa for Kenyans is applied for online and then submitted in person at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in Nairobi, not at the embassy. The Chinese Embassy in Kenya states that it does not accept visa applications from ordinary passport holders, who must apply through the visa center. This guide covers the visa types, the documents traders need for a business visa, the official fees, processing times and each step of the application. Every rule below comes from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and the official Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Nairobi.
Do Kenyans need a visa to travel to China?
Yes. The Chinese Embassy states that foreign citizens must obtain a Chinese visa before entry into China, except where a visa-free agreement or Chinese regulation applies, and Kenya appears in the visa center’s official fee table for visa applicants.
Check your visa before you fly. The embassy reminds travellers that if the visa has expired or the number of entries has been used, you must apply for a new visa.
Where do I apply for a China visa in Nairobi?
You apply at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center, which the embassy lists at 7th floor, The Chancery, Milimani, Valley Road, Nairobi. It is open Monday to Friday, except public holidays, with submissions from 08:00 to 15:00 and collections from 08:00 to 15:30.
The center’s helpline is +254 790 487 260, open 08:00 to 15:00 on weekdays, and its email is nairobicenter@visaforchina.org. Only holders of diplomatic or official passports can submit directly to the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.
Which China visa type do I need?
Choose the visa that matches why you are travelling: an L visa for tourism, an M visa for business and trade, or an F visa for exchanges and visits. The embassy publishes the full list of Chinese visa types, and the most common ones for travellers from Kenya are below.
| Visa | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| M | Commercial and trade activities, such as buying stock and meeting suppliers |
| L | Tourism |
| F | Exchanges, visits, study tours and other non-commercial activities |
| Q2 | Visiting relatives who are Chinese citizens or permanent residents in China, for up to 180 days |
| S2 | Visiting family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, for up to 180 days |
| X2 | Studying in China for up to 180 days |
| G | Transiting through China |
Longer-stay categories exist too, including Z for work and X1 for study of more than 180 days. Consular officers decide the type, number of entries, validity and duration of stay for each visa they issue.
How do I apply for a China visa from Kenya step by step?
Since the embassy launched online visa applications on 31 March 2025, you first apply and upload documents online, then visit the visa center in person with your passport. There are two review stages, and you visit the center twice: once to submit and once to collect.
- Log on to the official visa center website, fill in the online application form and upload your documents.
- Wait for the initial review. You can log in to check the status and fix or add documents if asked.
- When the status changes to “Passport to be submitted”, go to the center in person with your passport and documents.
- Give your biometric information, such as fingerprints, and pay the visa fees at the center.
- Your application enters the second review stage.
- Once approved, return to the center to collect your passport and visa.
When you collect your visa, check every detail on it straight away. The embassy asks applicants to tell the staff immediately if any information is incorrect.
What documents do I need for a China visa?
Every applicant needs an original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and two blank adjacent pages, a photocopy of the passport data page, the signed online application form and its confirmation page, and a recent colour passport photo. Supporting documents then depend on your visa type.
The official photo rule asks for a recently taken colour photo, bare-headed and full-face, against a light background. If you were once a Chinese citizen, or you have had Chinese visas in an old passport, bring copies of the previous passport and visa pages as well.
What documents do traders need for a China business (M) visa?
If you have visited China before, you need an invitation letter from China and a travel itinerary, and a copy of a previous China visa is the best proof of an earlier trip. First-time travellers need an Invitation Letter (TE) or Verification Letter of Invitation obtained by the inviting party in China, plus an itinerary.
The invitation letter must include your name exactly as on your passport, your date of birth and passport number, and the inviting party’s name, phone number and address, with the legal representative’s signature and seal. If a company invites you, attach a copy of its business licence; if an individual trader invites you, attach a copy of the trader’s national ID.
First-time applicants can skip the TE or Verification Letter if they submit an invitation letter from a trading partner in China together with all of the following, according to the official visa center requirements:
- A bank statement covering at least six months, with a balance of not less than 1 million Kenyan shillings, notarised by a Kenyan notary public.
- A police clearance certificate certified by Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- A tax clearance or tax compliance certificate certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or notarised proof of employment, or notarised membership of a business or industry association.
The consular officer may ask for extra documents or an interview, so keep originals of everything you submit.
How much does a China visa cost in Kenya?
For Kenyan citizens, the official fee table lists a single-entry visa fee of 3,000 plus an application service fee of 4,958 for a regular application, with higher fees for more entries and faster service. The figures on the official visa fees page are not labelled with a currency, but the center collects payment locally by M-PESA, Visa and Mastercard, so confirm the amount in shillings before you pay.
The regular visa fees listed for Kenya are 3,000 for a single entry, 4,500 for a double entry, 6,000 for six-month multiple entries and 9,000 for twelve-month multiple entries. The application service fee is charged by the center on top of the visa fee, at 4,958 for a regular application, 6,911 for Express 2 and 8,414 for Express 1. The page explains that visa fees are collected on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, while the application service fee is charged by the center.
How long does a China visa take in Nairobi?
The embassy gives 4 business days for regular service and 3 business days for express service, counted from the day you submit your passport. These are averages, and some applications take longer, in which case the embassy notifies you of the pick-up date.
Add time for the online initial review before you are asked to bring your passport in. If you are travelling for a trade fair or a fixed supplier meeting, start the online application several weeks before your flight.
Can Sky Bridge help with my China visa and trip?
Yes. Our team in Eastleigh helps you complete the online form, checks your invitation letter and supporting documents against the official list, and books your flight to Guangzhou or other Chinese cities once your visa is approved. Many of our customers travel to China to source stock, and we plan their dates around their supplier meetings.
Chat with us on WhatsApp, call +254 720 830 177, or visit us at Al Mukkaram Shopping, Floor 5 Room 7, Eastleigh. See also travel to China with Sky Bridge.
About this guide: Last checked against official sources on 23 September 2026. Written by the Sky Bridge Travel Agency team in Eastleigh, Nairobi. Requirements, fees and processing times are taken from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Kenya and the official Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Nairobi. Visa rules and fees can change, so always confirm with the visa center before you apply.