South Sudan Ambassador Urges Citizens in Kenya to Renew Visas

South Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya, Simon Juach Den, told South Sudanese residents in Nairobi that they must keep their passports, visas and related papers up to date and apply for extensions if they have stayed beyond 90 days.

Den warned that neglecting to extend a visa could result in enforcement action by immigration officials and the police, describing the situation as illegal residence.

He added that the government in Juba is discussing with Kenyan authorities how to simplify the extension process, with particular attention to mothers and guardians accompanying students in Kenyan schools and other educational institutions.

UNHCR data show that Kenya is home to more than 213,000 South Sudanese nationals, the bulk of whom are refugees and asylum seekers; over 94 percent live in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei camps, while about 4.1 percent are settled in urban areas such as Nairobi and Nakuru.

The advisory follows Kenya’s recent registration drive aimed at undocumented Burundian and other East African Community nationals, and coincides with South Sudan’s own restrictions on foreign nationals operating small-scale retail businesses, a rule that affects citizens of Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Burundi.

“If you stay more than 90 days, you are required to extend your stay. Because if you don't extend your visa stay, you will be staying illegally in Kenya and you would have issues with the police and the other law enforcement agencies like the immigration,” Den said.

He also noted, “We are working closely with the Kenyan authorities to find ways for people to easily extend their stay, especially their mothers or guardians, I would say, who are here with the students.”