Entry

Before you leave home, you will need to tend to some formalities. In order to legally study at the Shade School of Language and Culture you must have either a Class E Kenya Entry Permit (work permit) or a Kenya Pupil's Pass. Your mission should help you get a work permit if you will be living and working in Kenya. If you will not have a work permit or will move to another country following entry orientation, then the school must apply for a Pupil's Pass for you. The cost, currently about KSH 2000, will be added to your bill for language and orientation.

Immigration

Your travel agent or the Kenya Embassy in your home country should be able to advise you on current regulations and whether you should get the visa prior to departure or wait until you arrive in Kenya.

Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival in Kenya. Though I don't think it has ever happened, Kenya Immigrations could refuse to allow you to enter the country if your passport expires in less than 6 months. Each member of your family should also have a valid Tourist's Visa stamped in his/her passport in order to enter Kenya initially. This can be obtained from the Kenya Embassy in your home country prior to departure or in the airport when you arrive in Nairobi.

When you arrive in Nairobi, you will go through immigrations after getting off the plane. There, if you did not obtain one prior to departure, you will have to purchase a Tourist Visa ($50 per passport) which will be stamped into your passport(s). You are legally coming into Kenya as a tourist unless your "work permit" or Pupil's Pass has already been stamped into your passport. It is not necessary to volunteer the information that you plan to be in Kenya for 3 or 4 years. Ask for a 3-month visa. This will allow you sufficient time to take care of the necessary paperwork. The visa can be renewed if necessary. Don't lie about your status -- sometimes it helps to say that you are coming with a certain mission and hope to get a work permit to allow you to stay.

It is possible that you will be asked to show proof of onward or return passage. Ask your travel agent if it is possible to get your ticket(s) extended to another city and then get a refund on the unused portion.

Baggage

Upon completing the visa and passport requirements, you will go downstairs to the baggage claim and customs area. There should be baggage carts in various parts of this room - there is no charge for use of these carts. Normally, your flight will be indicated on the sign at one of the baggage conveyors. However, that's not always the case and you may have to look for the correct conveyor.

Customs

Once you collect all your baggage, you will proceed to the customs area. There is an exit line in customs for those having nothing to declare. If you have nothing to declare, you might want to look for that line -- it's commonly called the green line. Even if you have nothing to declare, however, you may be asked to go to a customs counter. There seems to be a system of random spot-checks. Usually, the customs agent will simply ask you what you have in your baggage.

Outside

After clearing customs, you may proceed out the door to meet up with whoever is collecting you. Once out the doors, taxi drivers wanting to ferry you to your destination will likely besiege you. Unless you need their services, you can tell them politely, in English, that someone is meeting you.

People who want to help you with your luggage may also approach you. You may have to be a little firm if you do not need or want their help. If you do accept help, you will want to tip them something for their services. If someone is meeting you at the airport and you are new to Kenya, it's probably best to let that person make the decision and handle the helpers.

Residence

Soon after your arrival in Kenya, you will need to have your "work permits" or Pupil's Pass" stamped into your passport(s). Only at that point can you begin the application process for Dependent's Passes for children, Driving License(s), and Alien Registration. In order to apply for these additional passes/licenses, you will need a marriage license (only if you are married), valid Driver's License from your home country, valid International Driver's License (in the US, the International Driving License(s) can be obtained from any office of the AAA), birth certificate for each family member, and extra passport pictures. Don't let the multiplicity or complexity of paperwork overwhelm you -- others have survived!

Shipping

After finishing your language and orientation course, you will move to the location of your work. Hopefully, your shipment will have arrived by that time. It's probably best for you to arrange the shipment of your crate(s) so that they do not arrive in Kenya until you have a valid work permit.

What should I put in my crates?

This question will consume a major portion of your time between now and when you arrive on the field (not very spiritual, perhaps, but very practical). In general, you will want to bring all the personal effects which you already have that are in usable condition. Only you will be able to decide whether it is worth the cost to ship all your belongings -- crating practices vary considerably between missionaries and between missionary sending agencies. Weigh the cost to bring furniture and other goods you already own versus replacing them here with new or used items.

Special Caution

Note that hunting is completely banned in Kenya. NO GUNS, AMMUNITION, OR ARCHERY SETS may be imported. It is also illegal to bring in B-B guns or toy guns. Folks whose ultimate destination is beyond Kenya may bond weapons and ammunition in customs upon entry for a brief period of time -- normally less than 3 months. This MUST be done upon first arrival at the airport. If not, you may be subject to jail or deportation without trial for smuggling or for possession of illegal weapons. DO NOT put yourself or other missionaries in danger by trying to circumvent this.