U.S. Embassy in Kenya: American Traveller Help 2026

Quick answer: The U.S. Embassy Nairobi is the American mission for travellers in Kenya. Its official contact details include United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, the main number +254 20 363 6451, and an after-hours emergency number for American citizens, 020 363 6170. The Department of State also lists +1 202 501 4444 for calls from overseas and +1 888 407 4747 from the United States or Canada.

The embassy can provide consular information and assistance to U.S. citizens overseas. It can guide you through passport and other citizen-service requests, but the research supplied for this article does not establish a current list of every service, visa-interview slot, visa fee or processing time. Confirm those details on the official embassy and Travel.State.gov websites before travelling.

Last checked September 2026. Always confirm with official sources before travelling. This article is informational, not legal advice. Consular and entry requirements can change.

Where is the U.S. Embassy in Kenya?

The U.S. Embassy Nairobi is at United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya. A U.S. Embassy Kenya routine message gives the main telephone number as +254 20 363 6451. Another official embassy page gives the after-hours number for emergencies involving American citizens as 020 363 6170.

The embassy is the relevant U.S. diplomatic mission for American citizens in Kenya. The supplied official sources identify U.S. Embassy Nairobi and do not identify a second U.S. embassy or consulate in the country.

If your trip includes a safari, keep the embassy's contact details with your passport copy and insurance information. You can also compare safari packages before departure, including routes that use Wilson Airport for domestic flights. SafariFind has practical planning guides such as the 10-day Kenya safari itinerary, but your operator cannot replace consular assistance.

Contact details and opening hours

The official sources supplied for this article provide the following contact routes:

The supplied official pages do not confirm current public counter hours. A third-party directory lists weekday hours of 08:30 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:00, but it also warns that offices may close on Kenyan and U.S. public holidays. Treat those hours as a lead, not confirmation. Check the embassy's current website or contact the mission before making the journey.

Is the U.S. Embassy in Kenya open today?

The supplied research cannot confirm whether the embassy is open today. Public hours and holiday closures can change, and the official pages provided here do not give a current daily schedule. Contact the embassy directly before travelling to Gigiri.

Is the U.S. Embassy in Kenya open for a visa interview?

The supplied research does not confirm current visa-interview availability. Check the official U.S. visa information for Kenya and follow the embassy's appointment instructions before paying for travel or appearing at the mission. The official material reviewed for this article focuses on American Citizen Services and does not provide current interview slots, fees or wait times.

Register your trip with the United States

American citizens travelling to Kenya can enrol in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP. STEP is free and sends email updates and alerts from U.S. embassies and consulates. The Department of State also says enrolment can help officials locate travellers in an emergency.

Use the official STEP service before departure and include a working email address, your itinerary and reliable contact details. If your plans change during a safari, update the enrolment rather than assuming the original itinerary is enough. The State Department advises travellers to read the destination travel advisory and recent embassy alerts as part of trip planning.

STEP is useful, but it is not a substitute for travel insurance. The Kenya country information supplied by the Department of State strongly recommends medical-evacuation insurance valid for travel to Kenya.

Lost or stolen U.S. passport in Kenya: what should you do?

If your U.S. passport is lost, stolen or damaged in Kenya, contact U.S. Embassy Nairobi and use its official passport-services instructions. If the situation is urgent, the embassy says emergency services can include urgent travel, a new passport needed for foreign visa requirements, or other life-or-death situations. A travel itinerary is required for emergency services.

1. Report the loss or theft. Record where and when it happened. If the passport was stolen, make a local police report and keep a copy if you can do so safely. The supplied embassy passport page directs applicants to the official citizen-services process, but it does not state that a police report is required in every case. Confirm the current document list with the embassy.
2. Protect your identity documents. Gather any photocopy or photo of the passport, another government-issued photo ID, proof of U.S. citizenship and your travel booking. These documents can help staff establish your identity, but the embassy will confirm what it accepts for your case.
3. Use the Citizen Services Navigator. The embassy passport page tells applicants to use its navigator for emergency services. It also says that routine applicants should check appointment availability and schedule a separate appointment for each person applying.
4. Call for urgent help. For an after-hours emergency involving an American citizen, call 020 363 6170. You can also contact the Department of State at +1 202 501 4444 from overseas.
5. Do not use a passport reported lost or stolen. The official U.S. passport guidance reproduced in the supplied research says a passport reported lost or stolen becomes invalid. If you later find it, do not use it for international travel.

Do not book a tight onward connection until the embassy explains the document and appointment process. The research does not provide a guaranteed replacement time or emergency-passport fee, so confirm both directly with the official embassy service.

Arrest, medical emergencies and evacuation

What can U.S. consular staff do?

U.S. consular staff can provide consular information and assistance to American citizens overseas. The Department of State identifies routine and emergency services at embassies and consulates, and its Kenya information directs Americans to U.S. Embassy Nairobi for assistance.

If you are arrested or detained, ask local authorities to notify the U.S. Embassy. Contact the embassy as soon as you can and provide your location, the authority involved and any immediate medical concerns. The supplied Kenya information warns that American citizens have reported problems involving police, immigration and customs officials, including requests for bribes and confiscation of property.

For a medical emergency, call local emergency services first when you need immediate medical care, then contact the embassy. Consular staff may help with information and communication, but the supplied sources do not say that the U.S. government pays private medical bills, legal fees, fines or evacuation costs. Arrange comprehensive travel insurance and check that it covers medical evacuation in Kenya.

The embassy also cannot replace a local lawyer, doctor, insurer or tour operator. Ask staff what assistance is available in your specific situation rather than assuming that every request can be handled at the embassy.

What is the current U.S. travel advice level for Kenya?

The research supplied for this article does not state one current nationwide travel-advisory level for Kenya. The Department of State country information does identify specific areas with Level 4, “Do Not Travel,” restrictions for U.S. government employees and specified areas with Level 3, “Reconsider Travel,” guidance. Check the live Kenya Travel Advisory on Travel.State.gov for the current countrywide rating and the list of affected areas before departure.

The same State Department information warns about violent crime, kidnapping, political violence and poor traffic safety. It advises avoiding travel after dark because of crime and traffic risks, and it strongly recommends medical-evacuation insurance valid for Kenya. These warnings matter when planning transfers between Nairobi, airports, hotels and safari camps.

For safari planning, check the latest advisory again shortly before you leave. Conditions can differ sharply between Nairobi, border areas, coastal destinations and wildlife regions, so a route should be checked against the current official advisory rather than judged from an old itinerary. You can then compare suitable safari packages and ask your operator about transfers, flight times and emergency procedures.

U.S. visa questions for travellers in Kenya

The supplied sources do not provide a current U.S. visa fee, appointment wait time, processing time or confirmation that interviews are being issued on a particular date in Kenya. Travellers applying for a U.S. visa from Kenya should use the official U.S. visa and embassy channels for the current application steps. Do not rely on an old fee table or an unofficial agent.

The same caution applies to the question “How much does it cost to travel to the USA from Kenya?” The research contains no airfare, visa, accommodation or total-trip figure. Costs depend on the traveller's route and application, so confirm the current visa charge on the official portal and obtain current flight prices from airlines or a reputable booking service.

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