Kenya embassy in South Sudan extends manual entry visa

September 9, 2015 (JUBA) – Government of the Republic of Kenya has announced that manual visa applications at ports of entry will continue until the newly introduced electronic visa system is fully operational and urged the South Sudanese government to take note of the vital information.

In a letter on Wednesday addressed to the South Sudanese ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Kenyan embassy in Juba said the manual and e-visa will operate concurrently.

“The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya presents its complements to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan and has the honour to inform the esteemed Ministry that the Government of Kenya as of 8th September, 2015 has reinstated manual visa application to run concurrently with online E-Visa System,” partly reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

President Uhuru Kenyatta in a separate statement said although the e-visa system is already running, manual applications at the country’s entry points would continue concurrently so as not to bar last-minute visitors to the country.

He said there has been challenges faced by visitors to the country in the electronic entry visa system.

“We have had a number of challenges on the implementation of the e-visa and I have therefore ordered that (applications for visas) on arrival to the country continues,” Daily Nation quoted the president.

The statement issued by the Kenyan embassy also informed embassies accredited to South Sudan, border agencies and airlines that fly to and fro Nairobi of the changes with immediate effect.

There has been mutual agreement between South Sudan and Kenya which avails visa to visitors on arrival in either country.

(ST)