Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - The United Kingdom will not refund visa application fees to Kenyan applicants whose requests are denied, despite growing public uproar over alleged irregularities and mistreatment at its outsourced visa processing centre in Nairobi.
Speaking to NTV, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya,
Dr. Ed Barnett, confirmed that the no-refund policy remains in place.
“There is no plan at present to provide full or partial
refunds when visa applications are rejected,” Barnett said.
He urged applicants to follow visa guidelines closely and
provide sufficient evidence to support their cases.
While standing firm on refunds, Barnett acknowledged the
mounting concerns voiced by Kenyans over poor treatment, excessive charges and
inefficiencies at the visa centre.
Among the key complaints were the Ksh17,000 fee for
so-called VIP services, lack of proper waiting areas, and long waits under
harsh conditions for standard applicants.
Barnett assured that efforts are underway to make the visa
process more efficient, transparent and user-friendly.
This includes simplifying rejection letters to help
applicants understand where they went wrong and enhancing communication to
reduce repeat errors.
The UK diplomat identified insufficient documentation - particularly
around employment and ties to Kenya - as the most common reason for rejections.
He advised applicants to present strong, clear evidence to
boost their approval chances.
Currently, a standard UK visa costs Ksh22,000 (£127), with
longer-term visas ranging from Ksh84,000 to Ksh187,000 depending on duration.
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