From 22 May 2026, Kenyan residents applying for visas to Ireland must lodge their documents at a new VFS Global centre in Nairobi rather than book appointments at the Irish embassy. The embassy confirmed the switch in a public update, citing the need for greater capacity and streamlined customer service. All visa-required nationals resident in Kenya – including frequent business travellers and family members of Irish citizens – will submit passports and supporting evidence at the VFS facility and pay the associated service fee. The embassy will continue to make all admissibility decisions, but biometric capture, document verification and return logistics move to the outsourcing partner. According to the announcement, files received by VFS before 11:00 a.m. will be couriered to the embassy the same day; applicants will receive SMS/email updates and may opt for a paid courier return service once decisions issue. Irish authorities already use third-party visa centres in 14 locations worldwide. Extending the model to Kenya addresses the post-pandemic surge in travel demand – helped by new Nairobi–Dublin cargo links and growing Kenyan student numbers – while freeing up consular staff for complex cases. Employers moving staff between East Africa and Ireland should revise their mobility timelines: standard processing is unchanged at 15 working days for short-stay C visas but applicants must now factor in VFS appointment availability and service charges (KES 7,000 for standard submission, additional for premium options). To avoid delays, mobility managers should: 1) complete the AVATS online application before booking the VFS slot; 2) ensure passports have six months’ validity beyond travel; 3) prepare colour copies of previous Schengen/UK/US visas, which officers in Dublin still use as risk indicators. Groups sending multiple engineers or project staff should secure block appointments early, as peak-season slots typically sell out weeks in advance.
Source: Nairobi Leo
