Kenya
Netherlands
Netherlands visa for Kenyan citizens
Entry requirement
Kenyan citizens need a visa for the Netherlands, obtained before travel.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- Netherlands visa guide
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at nederlandwereldwijd.nl
Which Netherlands visa?
Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Usually within 15 days, up to 45 days in individual cases. You receive an e-mail when processing ends; it does not say whether the visa was granted.
All visa types for the Netherlands
The Netherlands’ tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities; the official site for it is consular.mfaservices.nl. Processing time, as the Netherlands states it: Usually within 15 days, up to 45 days in individual cases. You receive an e-mail when processing ends; it does not say whether the visa was granted. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Dutch missions in Kenya
- Embassy of the Netherlands in Nairobi
Riverside Drive 95, Nairobi
The Netherlands has 1 mission in Kenya, with its embassy in Nairobi.
Netherlands: visa decisions in Kenya
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,271 | 4,106 | 935 | 18.3% | 32.2% |
| 2024 | 5,113 | 3,581 | 1,249 | 25.6% | 32.8% |
| 2025 | 5,289 | 4,104 | 1,002 | 19.4% | 28.5% |
In 2025, the Netherlands’ embassy and consulates in Kenya (Nairobi) received 5,289 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 4,104. 19.4% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 25.6%: the rate fell by 6.2 points, a clear improvement for applicants. Applications rose by 3% compared with 2024 (5,113).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 33.1% of the applications lodged in Kenya that year, from 16.7% at the consulates of the Czech Republic to 60.9% at those of Norway. the Netherlands’ consulates worldwide refused 17.7%. The Netherlands was the 5th most applied-for Schengen state in Kenya.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Kenya, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Dutch citizens travelling to Kenya
NetherlandsKenya Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) Kenya visa for citizens of the Netherlands
Travel advice for the Netherlands
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from Kenya to the Netherlands, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates the Netherlands at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 17 August 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to the Netherlands (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for the Netherlands (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long Kenyan citizens can stay in the Netherlands
How long Kenyan citizens may stay in the Netherlands is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Kenyan citizens apply
In Kenya, applications go to the Dutch embassy in Nairobi, or to a visa centre acting for the Netherlands; fees, documents and processing times are published by the Netherlands.
the Netherlands and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by the Netherlands lets Kenyan citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to the Netherlands when it is the main destination of the trip.
The Netherlands’ neighbours for Kenyan citizens
Germany and Belgium require Kenyan citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Dutch citizens travelling to Kenya
Dutch citizens do not need a visa for Kenya, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do Kenyan citizens need a visa for the Netherlands?
Kenyan citizens need a visa for the Netherlands, obtained before travel.
Where is the Dutch embassy in Kenya?
The Dutch embassy in Kenya is in Nairobi.
How much does the Netherlands tourist visa cost?
The Netherlands’ official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Usually within 15 days, up to 45 days in individual cases. You receive an e-mail when processing ends; it does not say whether the visa was granted.
Do Dutch citizens need a visa for Kenya?
Dutch citizens do not need a visa for Kenya, but they need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before departure; it covers stays of up to 90 days.
Can Kenyan citizens enter the Netherlands visa-free?
No; Kenyan citizens need a visa for the Netherlands obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.