Kenya/Ethiopia: Reciprocal agreement likely to relax work permit rules

Kenyan and Ethiopian leaders have agreed to remove legal hurdles that have restricted the movement of workers between the two countries. The agreement is likely to bring streamlined work permit processing and relaxed reciprocal work permit rules.

United Arab Emirates: Consular process to be required for some employment visa applicants

Employment visa (entry permit) applicants from certain countries will soon have to process their immigration applications through designated UAE consular service centres in their home country before entering the UAE, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).

Kenya eVisa program details released

Effective September 1, 2015, single-entry business visitors and tourists, as well as travellers transiting through Kenya, must apply for eVisas in advance of their travel on the Kenya eVisa website, as the grace period for the cessation of the visa-on-arrival program ends on August 31, 2015. Applicants can find out whether they are eligible for the eVisa program here.

How to Apply for an eVisa

Eligible applicants can use the online systemto create login details, fill out an online application form and pay a non-refundable fee. Upon successful payment and form submission, the applicant will receive an eVisa document by email within two to three days, or less. Visa nationals must present this eVisa printout upon arrival.

Once issued, the eVisa is valid for travel within 90 days from the date of issue. The Immigration Officer at the port of entry will determine the length of stay in Kenya (usually a maximum of 90 days, which may be extended at the Immigration Department in Kenya for another 90 days).

Special Exceptions

Manual visa applications will not be accepted in Kenyan consular posts except for Referred Visa Nationals, who should continue to apply through Kenyan consular posts in their countries of residence or through their host companies in Nairobi, and for those applying for Multiple Journey Visas.

What This Means for Foreign Nationals

Some foreign nationals will have an additional administrative step before they can enter Kenya, as the visa-on-arrival program will end on August 31, 2015.

 

Courtesy of Fragomen.