This archive report was first published on 3 December 2019.
Kenya: New e-Passport Requirement for Schengen Visas ¶
On December 1, 2019, the Netherlands notified Kenyans that a new requirement would take effect for Schengen visa applications: applicants must have the new East African Community biometric e-Passport.
According to a statement from the Netherlands, which is a member of the Schengen Area, "as from 1st of December 2019, only the new East African Community biometric e-Passport can be accepted for Schengen visa applications."
The Schengen Area is a zone of 26 European countries that have abolished passport and border control at their mutual borders, functioning as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes.
The 26 Schengen countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Kenyan passports, except the new East African Community biometric e-Passport, will be rendered invalid from March 1, 2020, according to an official notification from the Kenyan government.
