Kenya Visa & eTA Guide for Travellers

Do I need a visa for Kenya in 2026?

In short, you almost certainly need an eTA rather than a visa. Kenya abolished its visa-on-arrival and e-visa systems and now asks virtually all foreign nationals to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation before they arrive. This applies whether you are coming for tourism, business, visiting family or transiting through the country in most cases.

There are exceptions. Citizens of the East African Community partner states and a small number of exempt nationalities may not need an eTA, and children under a stated age can be exempt or covered under a parent's application. Because these lists change, check your nationality against the official portal before you make any plans.

To get a quick, nationality-specific answer, use the destinations.africa Visa Checker tool. It is a reliable starting point, but always confirm the final requirement on the Government of Kenya eTA site before booking flights.

What is the Kenya eTA and how is it different from a visa?

The Electronic Travel Authorisation is a pre-arrival screening approval, not a visa sticker or an on-arrival stamp. You complete an online form, upload a few documents, pay a fee and receive an approval by email. You then carry that approval, printed or saved as a PDF, and present it when boarding and at immigration.

Unlike the old visa, there is no visa-on-arrival counter to fall back on. If you turn up without an approved eTA, you risk being denied boarding at your departure airport. This is why applying ahead of time matters so much.

The eTA is typically issued for a single entry, allowing a stay of up to 90 days. If you plan to leave and re-enter Kenya during your trip, check whether you need to apply again, as terms can change on the official portal.

What do I need before I apply?

Gathering everything before you start makes the application quick and reduces the risk of errors. Have the following ready to hand.

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with at least one blank page.
• A clear scan or photo of your passport bio-data page.
• A recent passport-style photograph of yourself.
• Details of where you will stay, such as a hotel booking or host address.
• A confirmed return or onward ticket.
• A debit or credit card to pay the government fee online.
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from a country where the disease is endemic.

How to apply for a Kenya eTA: step by step

Apply only through the official portal at etakenya.go.ke. The process is straightforward and takes most people around 15 to 20 minutes once documents are ready.

• Go to the official site etakenya.go.ke and select the option to apply for an eTA. Check the web address carefully.
• Create an account or start a new application and choose the correct trip type, such as tourism or business.
• Enter your personal and passport details exactly as they appear in your passport, including spelling and date of birth.
• Upload your passport bio-page scan and passport-style photograph in the formats requested.
• Add your travel details: arrival date, flight information, accommodation and a return or onward ticket.
• Answer the health and security questions honestly and review every field for accuracy.
• Pay the government fee using a debit or credit card and submit the application.
• Wait for the approval email, then download and print or save the PDF to show at boarding and immigration.

How much does it cost and how long does it take?

The eTA carries a government fee of around USD 30, though processing and service charges may be added at checkout. Kenya has adjusted this fee since the system launched, so always confirm the current amount on the official portal before you pay. Be wary of any site quoting figures far higher than this.

Authorities advise applying at least three days, or 72 hours, before travel. Many applications are approved within this window, but processing can take longer during busy periods or if your details need extra review. Applying a week or more ahead gives you a comfortable buffer.

Once approved, you receive a confirmation by email with a PDF. Print a copy and keep a digital version on your phone. Airlines often check it before they let you board, and immigration officers will want to see it on arrival.

Beware of unofficial websites

A number of third-party websites present themselves as eTA services and charge significantly more than the government fee, sometimes adding hidden service costs. Some look convincingly official, with similar branding and domain names. They are not the Government of Kenya.

Protect yourself by typing etakenya.go.ke directly into your browser rather than clicking adverts or links from search results. The official domain ends in go.ke, which signals a Kenyan government site. If a page asks for far more than the standard fee or pressures you to pay urgently, leave it.

Using an unofficial site does not always mean your application will fail, but you are likely to overpay and you hand your personal data to an intermediary. There is no advantage to using a middleman for a process designed to be completed by travellers directly.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most eTA problems come down to a handful of avoidable errors. Knowing them in advance saves stress at the airport.

The single most common issue is a mismatch between the application and the passport. Names, passport numbers and dates of birth must match exactly. A second frequent error is leaving the application too late, then panicking when approval has not arrived in time. The third is using an unofficial site and overpaying.

• Enter your name and passport number exactly as printed, with no typos or shortened names.
• Apply well ahead of travel, ideally a week or more, never the night before.
• Use only the official portal etakenya.go.ke and ignore lookalike sites.
• Upload clear, in-focus images that meet the stated requirements.
• Check your spam folder if the approval email does not arrive promptly.
• Carry both a printed and a digital copy of your approval to the airport.

Transit, children and yellow fever rules

Transit and connecting passengers have specific rules. If you are simply changing flights without passing through immigration, you may not need an eTA, but if you leave the airside area you generally will. Confirm your exact situation on the official portal, as it depends on your route and airport.

Children are not automatically exempt. Depending on their age, they may need their own eTA or be included on a parent's application. Check the current age threshold and procedure on the official site before you travel as a family.

Finally, health rules matter. If you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic, you must carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Border officials can ask to see it, so keep it with your travel documents alongside your eTA approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still need a visa for Kenya, or just an eTA?

For most travellers, you no longer need a traditional visa. Since January 2024, Kenya has required nearly all foreign visitors to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation before arrival. The eTA replaces both the old visa and visa-on-arrival. Always confirm your nationality's requirement on the official etakenya.go.ke portal before booking.

Where is the official Kenya eTA website?

The only official site is etakenya.go.ke, run by the Government of Kenya. Many third-party sites copy its look and overcharge. Type the address directly into your browser rather than clicking adverts or search links, and check that the domain ends in go.ke before entering any personal details or making a payment.

How much does the Kenya eTA cost?

The government fee is around USD 30, though small processing charges may apply at checkout. Kenya has changed this fee since the system launched, so confirm the current amount on the official portal before paying. If a website quotes far more than this, it is almost certainly an unofficial intermediary adding service costs.

How long before travel should I apply for the eTA?

Authorities advise applying at least three days, or 72 hours, before you travel. Many approvals arrive within this window, but processing can take longer during busy periods. To be safe, apply a week or more ahead. This gives you time to correct any errors and avoid a last-minute scramble at the airport.

How long can I stay in Kenya on an eTA?

The eTA is typically issued for a single entry with a stay of up to 90 days. If you intend to leave and re-enter Kenya during your trip, you may need to apply again. Check the latest validity and re-entry terms on the official portal, as these conditions can change over time.

Do children need their own Kenya eTA?

Children are not automatically exempt. Depending on their age, they may need their own eTA or be added to a parent's application. The exempt age threshold can change, so check the current rule on the official etakenya.go.ke portal before travelling. Apply for the whole family well ahead of your departure date.

What happens if I arrive without an approved eTA?

Because Kenya no longer offers visa-on-arrival, turning up without an approved eTA risks being denied boarding at your departure airport. Airlines routinely check for the approval before letting you fly. Carry both a printed and digital copy of your eTA PDF, and confirm it has been approved before heading to the airport.