Kenya Visa Requirements and eTA Guide: Entry Rules for 2026

Kenya visa requirements generally require foreign visitors to obtain an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation before travel. The required documents typically include a valid passport, photograph, itinerary, accommodation information and onward ticket. Your nationality, destination, purpose of travel and residence status determine whether an eTA, visa, permit or exemption applies.

Nearly every foreign traveller needs an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before boarding a flight to Kenya. Visa-on-arrival and the old eVisa both ended in January 2024. The main exceptions are citizens of East African Community partner states, plus a short list of exempt nationalities. Apply online at least three days before you fly.

Key takeaways before you apply

• Kenya reshaped its entry rules in 2024. The eVisa is gone. The eTA replaced it, and it covers visitors, business travellers and most transit passengers.

• Every traveller gets their own eTA, infants included, and it is locked to the passport number you type into the form.

• East African Community citizens (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DR Congo and Somalia under the treaty framework) travel without an eTA.

• Standard tourist and business approvals allow up to 90 days from your date of entry, at the immigration officer's discretion.

• Your passport needs at least six months of validity beyond your arrival date, plus blank pages for stamps.

• Airlines check your eTA at check-in. No approval, no boarding pass — a return ticket won't save you.

Before international travel, confirm the requirements for your passport nationality rather than relying only on your country of residence. British passport holders, United States passport holders and other international visitors are normally required to secure an eTA before departure unless a specific exemption applies.

Do you need a visa or eTA for Kenya? Rules and exemptions compared

For most people, the answer is simple: you need an eTA, not a visa. Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services treats the eTA as the single pre-travel clearance for short visits. It is not a work permit. It is not a residence permit. It is permission to travel to Kenya and ask for entry when you land.

In everyday travel searches, people still use “Kenya visa,” “Kenya eVisa” and “Kenya visas” when referring to this authorisation. However, the current document required for most short visits is the eTA. Selecting the correct application according to your nationality and travel purpose helps prevent delays.

That difference matters, because the two systems work in different ways. A traditional visa was a sticker or endorsement stuck into your passport at an embassy or at the border. The eTA is a digital record tied to your passport number, with a PDF approval you print or save. Renew your passport after approval and the eTA does not follow it. You apply again.

The names used on official documents may include the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of Burundi and the Republic of South Sudan. Use the destination and nationality names shown in the application menu, even if your airline itinerary uses a shortened version.

Here is where travellers slip up. Visa-exempt under the old rules does not mean eTA-exempt today. Several nationalities that once walked into Kenya freely still have to file an eTA. Check the current list on the official portal instead of trusting a guidebook printed before 2024. Our detailed Kenya visa and entry requirements guide tracks changes as they are published.

Because visa requirements can change, verify information against the official portal shortly before international departure. Enter the nationality printed in your passport, not your birthplace, citizenship application status or foreign residence address.

Who is exempt from Kenya's eTA requirement?

Exemptions come in three groups. First, citizens of East African Community partner states, who move under regional free-movement arrangements. Second, holders of valid Kenyan residence permits, work permits, student passes and dependant passes — your existing status already covers re-entry. Third, a set of specific exemptions: diplomatic and service passport holders travelling on official business, aircraft and ship crew arriving on duty, and travellers from certain island states and African countries Kenya has designated visa-free.

The African Union free-movement agenda has pushed Kenya to widen exemptions for African nationals. Several African and Caribbean island states sit on the exempt list, and Kenya has publicly committed to easing entry for the continent. Even so, exempt travellers are sometimes asked to complete a shorter online declaration before arrival. Read the portal notice for your nationality closely.

Rules for islands and overseas territories can depend on the passport presented, not the island where the traveller lives. Holders of British passports issued in overseas territories, residents of Caribbean islands and visitors travelling from Indian Ocean islands should check the exact nationality category required by the portal.

Exemption from the eTA does not mean the border waves you through. Immigration officers still check your passport, ask why you are visiting and how long you plan to stay, and can refuse entry.

Exempt holders may still be required to show return travel, accommodation information and evidence supporting the purpose of the visit. A visa or eTA exemption is therefore not a guarantee of admission to the Republic of Kenya.

Documents required for a Kenya eTA application

Collect these before you start. The form times out, and typing everything twice is miserable.

• Passport bio-data page scanned or photographed clearly, all four corners visible, no glare.

• Recent passport-style photograph on a plain background. Phone selfies usually pass if the framing is right.

• Return or onward ticket showing you plan to leave Kenya.

• Accommodation details — hotel booking confirmation, lodge reservation, or your host's full address and phone number.

• Contact details in Kenya, including a local phone number if you have one.

• Payment card (Visa, Mastercard) or a mobile money option where offered.

• Yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from a country with risk of transmission.

The passport, photograph and core travel information are required for most applications. Additional information may be required according to nationality, previous travel history, intended destination within Kenya or the type of visa or authorisation requested.

Business travellers add an invitation letter from the Kenyan company with the purpose and dates of the visit, plus company registration details. Journalists and researchers need separate accreditation and should not travel on a tourist eTA.

Business eTA holders should carry the invitation letter during travel because airlines or immigration officers may request it again. Business holders attending meetings may use the relevant business category, but business eTA holders cannot take local employment without the required permit. Conference delegates, consultants and other business holders should describe their activities accurately.

Kenya passport requirements and health rules for entry

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date, and you need at least one blank page for the entry stamp. Two is safer. Damaged passports, emergency travel documents and temporary passports cause trouble. If yours is water-damaged or the photo page is peeling, replace it before you apply.

The nationality, passport number and expiry date on the visa or eTA application are required to match the document used for travel. Dual-nationality holders should apply with the same passport they intend to present at airline check-in and at the Kenyan border.

Now health. Kenya requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers arriving from countries where the disease is a risk. The certificate becomes valid ten days after the shot and then lasts for life under current International Health Regulations. Flying in from Europe, North America or Asia with no stopover in a risk country? You will not normally be asked. Transit through West or Central Africa, and you should carry the certificate.

Polio vaccination evidence is sometimes requested from travellers arriving from affected countries. Malaria prophylaxis is not a legal entry requirement, but it is strongly advised for coastal areas, the Lake Victoria basin and most safari regions below 2,500 metres.

Health requirements can depend on your route as well as your nationality. Keep vaccination information with your passport if your international itinerary includes South America, West Africa, Central Africa or another destination listed as a yellow fever risk area.

How to apply for a Kenya eTA through the official portal

Apply only through the Government of Kenya's official eTA site. Commercial sites charge a markup to fill in the same form, and some are outright scams that harvest passport data.

1. Create an account with an email address you actually check. Approval notices arrive by email.

2. Select the purpose of travel: tourism, business, transit, medical, family visit or study.

3. Enter passport details exactly as printed, middle names and hyphens included. A mismatch between your eTA and your passport is the number one cause of check-in trouble.

4. Upload the document images. Keep each file under the size limit shown on the page; compress rather than crop.

5. Answer the declaration questions on criminal history, previous refusals and deportations honestly. Hidden history found later means refusal, and it can bar you for years.

6. Pay by card. Save the payment reference.

7. Wait for the emailed approval PDF, then print a copy and save one to your phone.

Review all required information before submission, especially your nationality, passport number, intended arrival date and Kenyan destination. Visa and eVisa applications were handled differently in the past, so use only the current eTA process unless the authorities specifically direct you to another visa or permit.

Border and airline systems are digital, so you want data the moment you land. A Kenya eSIM comparison is worth reading before departure, so you can pull up your approval, hotel booking and onward ticket at immigration without hunting for airport wi-fi.

Airline checks and IATA travel information

International airlines commonly consult entry-rule databases based on information supplied through the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The International Air Transport Association, IATA, helps carriers check passport validity, visa requirements, nationality-based exemptions and health documentation for each destination.

An airline's IATA-based check does not issue a visa or guarantee admission. It helps staff decide whether the documents required for international travel appear sufficient for boarding. If the carrier's information conflicts with your eTA approval, arrive early and carry the approval PDF, payment reference and official exemption information.

Airline staff may examine rules for your nationality, transit airport and final destination. This matters when a journey includes the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, offshore islands or another international connection with separate transit visa requirements.

Kenya eTA cost, payment methods and additional charges

The eTA carries a government processing fee per applicant, charged in US dollars, plus a small non-refundable service and bank charge added at checkout. Transit authorisations cost less than the standard visitor eTA. Official fees are revised periodically and payment processors add their own conversion costs, so check the exact figure on the portal when you apply rather than trusting a third-party quote.

You pay when you submit, not when you are approved. A refusal gets you nothing back, which is a strong reason to check every field before you press send.

Do not confuse the payment card brand Visa with an immigration visa. The required fee applies to each applicant, while your bank may add an international transaction charge according to the card's currency.

Processing times and when to submit your application

Kenya asks you to apply at least three days before travel. In practice, straightforward applications often clear within one to three working days. Give yourself a week if you can, and two weeks if any of these fit: you hold a passport from a country subject to additional screening, you have a previous visa refusal on record, you are travelling for medical treatment, or your name closely matches a common watchlist entry.

Weekends and Kenyan public holidays slow everything down. File on a Friday afternoon and approval often lands on Tuesday. Don't book non-refundable flights expecting same-day approval, and don't leave it to airport wi-fi on departure morning — the system does not process applications from travellers already in transit.

If no decision arrives after the stated processing period, use your reference number to request information through the official channel. Avoid submitting duplicate visa or eTA applications unless instructed, because multiple records with different nationality or travel information can create further checks.

Requirements for tourists, business travellers, transit passengers and children

The core eTA form stays the same. What changes is the supporting evidence.

• Tourists need accommodation confirmation and a return ticket. Safari travellers should list the tour operator and itinerary. Campers and overlanders should give the first night's address.

• Business travellers need an invitation letter on company letterhead with dates, purpose and a Kenyan contact. A business eTA does not allow paid employment — that takes a work permit or a special pass.

• Transit passengers staying airside at Jomo Kenyatta International generally need the transit authorisation, valid up to 72 hours. Leave the airport, even for one night, and you need the standard visitor eTA.

• Children and infants need their own eTA and their own passport. A child travelling with one parent or a guardian should carry a birth certificate and, where applicable, a letter of consent from the non-travelling parent. Officers at Nairobi and Mombasa do ask.

Transit rules may also depend on the final destination and whether baggage must be collected. Confirm with the international airline whether you will clear immigration, change airports or need a transit visa for another country along the route.

Families should apply as a group under one account. The reference numbers stay together, and a missing approval is easy to spot before you reach the airport.

Arrival checks, permitted stay and extending your time in Kenya

At the border you hand over your passport and eTA approval, plus your onward ticket and accommodation booking if asked. Fingerprints and a facial photograph are captured. The officer decides your length of stay and writes it on the stamp. The eTA authorises travel; the stamp governs how long you may stay. Read it before you walk away from the counter.

Standard visitor stays run up to 90 days. Extensions go through the Directorate of Immigration Services at Nyayo House in Nairobi or at regional immigration offices, and you should apply before your current stay expires, not after. Overstaying brings fines, and repeated overstays are recorded against your passport.

A border officer may grant fewer than 90 days, including 30 days, depending on the visit and supporting information. If the stamp allows 30 days, that period controls even when your itinerary or expected visa stay was longer. Apply for an extension before the 30 days expire.

One detail regional travellers should know: the East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda for 90 days with multiple entries between the three. If your trip includes gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda, that single document replaces three separate applications. Apply for it from the country you enter first.

The East Africa Tourist Visa is different from Kenya's eTA and is relevant only when all required destination rules are met. Holders should confirm whether travel to Tanzania, South Sudan or nearby islands requires another visa, because those destinations are not covered by that regional visa.

Common reasons applications are delayed or refused

• Name mismatch between the form and the passport machine-readable zone. Type names exactly as printed.

• Poor document images — glare across the passport number, cropped corners, or a photo with a patterned background.

• No return or onward ticket, which reads as intent to stay.

• Vague accommodation details like "friend's house, Nairobi" with no address or phone number.

• Undeclared criminal record or prior deportation, which is checked and taken seriously.

• Passport expiring within six months of arrival.

• Wrong purpose selected — applying as a tourist when you are attending a paid conference or doing contract work.

Another common problem is entering a residence country instead of passport nationality. Foreign residents and dual-nationality holders should check which passport is required for the journey and use that same document throughout the visa or eTA process.

Refused? You can reapply with corrected information, but you pay the fee again. A refusal on record also slows future applications, so getting it right the first time is worth the extra twenty minutes.

FAQ

Which countries are visa free to Kenya?

East African Community citizens travel without an eTA, and a number of African and island states are designated exempt. Kenya has publicly committed to easing entry for African nationals under the African Union free-movement agenda, and the exempt list has grown. It also changes, so verify your nationality on the official portal before booking.

Visa-free status depends on passport nationality, not simply residence or departure country. Permit holders, diplomatic passport holders and citizens of exempt islands may fall under separate rules, but supporting travel information can still be required at the border.

What documents are needed for a Kenya visa?

A passport valid for six months beyond arrival, a clear scan of the bio-data page, a passport-style photograph, a return or onward ticket, accommodation details, a payment card, and a yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from a risk country. Business travellers add an invitation letter. Children need their own passport and eTA.

Depending on nationality and purpose, additional required documents can include a host's identification, company registration information, a detailed itinerary, parental consent or proof of residence. Although travellers often say “Kenya visa” or “eVisa,” most short-stay visitors now complete the eTA application.

How much does a Kenya visa cost?

The eTA carries a per-traveller government fee in US dollars plus a processing and bank charge, with a lower rate for transit. Fees change from time to time and your bank may add conversion costs, so read the total on the official checkout page before paying. Nothing is refunded if you are refused.

How long does a visa take to be processed in Kenya?

Kenya asks for applications at least three days ahead. Clean applications commonly clear within one to three working days, but allow a week — and two weeks if you have a previous refusal, a complex travel history or a medical purpose. Weekends and public holidays add delay.

Can I still get a visa on arrival at Nairobi airport?

No. Visa on arrival ended when the eTA launched. Airlines must confirm approval at check-in, so an unapproved traveller is stopped at the departure airport rather than turned back in Nairobi.

Is the Kenya eTA single or multiple entry?

The standard visitor eTA is single entry. If your itinerary loops out to Tanzania or Zanzibar and back into Kenya, you need a fresh authorisation for the second entry — or consider the East Africa Tourist Visa where Uganda and Rwanda are involved.

Do I need to show proof of funds?

There is no published minimum amount, but immigration officers may ask how you will support yourself. A card statement, booked and paid accommodation, or a prepaid tour confirmation settles it fast.

What if my flights change after approval?

Minor date changes within the validity of your approval are generally fine — carry the updated ticket. Change passports, travel far outside the dates you declared, or switch the purpose of your visit, and you apply again. Before you fly, our guide to Kenya's national parks and safari planning helps you line up park entry and accommodation details that immigration may ask about.

Does nationality affect Kenya visa requirements?

Yes. Your passport nationality determines whether an eTA, visa, permit or exemption is required. Your travel route, residence status and destination can add further requirements, but they do not replace the nationality shown in the passport used for international travel.

Can I stay in Kenya for 30 days?

Yes. A border officer may admit a visitor for 30 days even though standard stays can run up to 90 days. Check the entry stamp and seek an extension before the authorised 30 days end if more time is required.