Kenyans planning to travel to Ireland are set to pay thousands of shillings more for visa applications after the Irish Embassy in Nairobi announced the end of direct visa appointments at the mission.
In a notice issued on Friday, May 22, the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya confirmed that all Kenyan and Kenyan-resident applicants seeking Irish visas will now be required to process their applications through outsourcing firm VFS Global.
The new arrangement officially took effect on May 15, 2026, effectively bringing to an end the previous system where applicants booked appointments directly through the embassy.
“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,” the embassy said in a statement.
The decision now means travellers will be forced to pay an additional €63.80 — approximately Ksh9,700 — in VFS service charges on top of existing visa fees, significantly increasing the overall cost of travelling to Ireland.
Currently, a single-entry Irish visa costs about €60 (roughly Ksh8,991), while a multi-entry visa costs €100 (about Ksh15,000).
With the new VFS fee now exceeding the actual cost of a single-entry visa, applicants travelling to Ireland on a standard visa could end up paying close to Ksh18,600 in total. Those applying for multi-entry visas are expected to spend nearly Ksh24,000 once all charges are included.
The announcement is likely to trigger concern among Kenyan travellers, students and families seeking opportunities in Ireland, particularly at a time when the cost of international travel continues to rise.
Despite the backlash expected over the higher charges, the embassy defended the move, insisting the partnership would improve efficiency and reduce waiting times for appointments.
“With this new arrangement, it is intended that applicants will be able to obtain appointments to lodge documents more quickly and avail of a wider range of personalised services,” the embassy added.
Applicants will now be required to submit supporting documents through the VFS submission centre in Nairobi, while processed passports will also be returned via the outsourcing company after applications are completed.
The embassy further cautioned that obtaining a visa would not automatically guarantee entry into Ireland, noting that immigration officials at border control still retain the final authority to deny admission.
Officials also clarified that visa processing timelines will vary depending on the category of application and the completeness of the documents submitted.
Meanwhile, applicants whose visas are rejected will still retain the right to appeal, with guidance expected to be provided in refusal letters issued after processing.
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