Do You Need a Visa for Kenya? Entry Rules Explained

Do you need a visa to travel to Kenya?

Many visitors do not need a traditional Kenya visa, but they do need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travelling. British, US, Canadian, Australian, Irish and New Zealand passport holders generally need an eTA for a short tourist visit, unless they qualify for a specific exemption.

An eTA is a pre-travel authorisation, not a conventional tourist visa. Its approval allows you to travel to Kenya, but immigration officers make the final decision on admission and the permitted stay when you arrive.

Visa-free does not always mean formality-free. A traveller may be exempt from the eTA but still need to meet passport, health insurance and border-entry requirements.

Kenya visa requirements for UK, US and other travellers

For a typical holiday, safari, family visit or short business trip, travellers using passports from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand generally need an eTA before departure. The rule depends on the passport used, not on where you live.

Kenya also recognises exemptions for certain nationalities, residents, permit holders and other specific traveller categories. If you hold more than one nationality, have Kenyan residence status or travel on an official passport, check the requirements for the document you will actually use.

Who can enter Kenya without an eTA?

Kenyan citizens do not need an eTA to enter Kenya. Citizens of East African Community partner states are also exempt for eligible stays of up to 180 days: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

Other exemptions can apply to selected nationalities for limited stays, as well as to holders of valid Kenyan permanent residence, work permits, passes or re-entry authority. Some travellers on diplomatic, official or service travel may also follow a different route. As these rules can change, check the official Kenya eTA exemptions and requirements for your passport and immigration status before travelling.

Genuine airside transit passengers who do not seek entry into Kenya are generally exempt from the eTA requirement. Leaving the international transit area, collecting checked baggage or changing airports can change the position.

Kenya visa and eTA requirements at a glance

This table is a general guide. An exemption linked to nationality, residence status, a permit or the purpose of travel can change the result.

What documents do you need to enter Kenya?

Passport requirements

Your passport should normally be valid for at least six months after your planned arrival date. Kenya's official eTA guidance requires at least one blank page, while UK government travel advice specifies two blank pages for British passport holders. British travellers should therefore plan for at least two blank pages. Your passport details must match those used for your eTA, where required. Children must also have valid travel documents and meet the applicable entry requirements.

Travel authorisation and supporting documents

Have your approved eTA available if it applies to you, or evidence of the exemption or immigration status you are relying on. Airlines or border officers may also ask for documents that support your trip.

• Return or onward travel: evidence of a ticket or onward travel arrangements.
• Accommodation: hotel confirmations or the address of your host.
• Travel plans: arrival and departure details, including your itinerary where requested.
• Purpose-specific evidence: an invitation, conference letter, business documents or host details when relevant.
• Funds: evidence that you can support yourself if requested by an immigration officer.

Health requirements

A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required when you are arriving from, or have recently transited through, a country with a yellow fever transmission risk. This is not an automatic requirement for every traveller arriving from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada or Australia. Check the health rules that apply to your actual itinerary.

Is travel health insurance mandatory for Kenya?

Yes. Since 5 October 2026, Kenya has required prescribed Inbound Travel Health Insurance for many non-Kenyan visitors. The legal requirement applies generally to non-Kenyans intending to enter and remain in Kenya for less than 12 months, subject to exemptions.

The standard policy described through the government insurance portal covers up to 90 days. That 90-day policy period is not the same as the legal scope of the requirement for stays of less than 12 months. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, confirm the appropriate cover or extension arrangements before travelling.

Key exemptions include Kenyan citizens, holders of valid Kenyan residence status, citizens of East African Community partner states, people seeking asylum, holders of diplomatic, official or service passports, qualifying transport crew members and genuine transit passengers who do not enter Kenya. An eTA exemption alone does not automatically exempt a traveller from the insurance requirement.

Children who are subject to the insurance requirement must have their own individual policy. Parents travelling with infants or young children should check the current official rules for each child before departure, as published guidance is not fully consistent on certain age-related exemptions. Foreign travel insurance from the UK, US, Canada, Australia or elsewhere does not replace the prescribed Kenyan cover, although it may provide useful additional protection.

Travellers who need an eTA are normally prompted to purchase the prescribed cover during the official eTA application process. Those who already have a valid eTA, or who are exempt from eTA but not from insurance, can arrange the cover through the official Kenyan government insurance portal. The premium can be up to USD 44 per person, with the applicable amount displayed before payment. Keep your electronic insurance certificate available for airline check-in, boarding and arrival.

How long can tourists stay in Kenya?

An eTA permits travel to Kenya; it does not itself set the final length of stay. Immigration authorities determine the permitted stay at the border. For tourism, visitors may generally be granted up to three months, depending on their circumstances and the decision at entry.

If you need more time, a Visitor's Pass extension may be available on application. Extensions are not automatic, and a visitor's pass can only be extended up to the applicable maximum. Do not confuse the eTA's travel validity, the period you are allowed to remain after arrival and a later extension of your visitor status.

Can you work in Kenya with an eTA?

No. An eTA for a visit does not replace a work permit or other permission to work in Kenya. The activities allowed depend on the immigration status issued for your stay.

• UK business traveller attending a meeting: a short business visit may require supporting business documents, but attending meetings is not automatically the same as taking up employment.
• US consultant carrying out paid work in Kenya: a Special Pass or another appropriate work authorisation may be needed, depending on the activity and duration.
• Employee relocating to Nairobi: long-term employment normally requires the appropriate work and residence authorisation.

If the purpose of your trip involves work, paid services, professional activity, study or relocation, verify the correct Kenyan immigration route before departure.

Do you need a visa for a layover in Kenya?

A passenger making a genuine international airside connection through Nairobi without entering Kenya is generally exempt from the eTA requirement. The same is generally true for the inbound travel health insurance requirement where the passenger does not seek entry.

Your arrangements may change if you need to pass immigration to collect baggage, stay overnight outside the transit area, change airports or enter Kenya before your next flight. For Kenya–Tanzania or Kenya–Uganda itineraries, check each country's rules and confirm the conditions for returning to Kenya; do not assume that an eTA automatically covers multiple entries.

Kenya entry requirements: practical travel examples

• British couple on a two-week safari: They would generally need an eTA, passports meeting the validity requirement and prescribed inbound health insurance unless an exemption applies.
• American family visiting Mombasa with children: Each traveller should be checked individually for eTA and insurance requirements. The family should also carry accommodation and return-travel details.
• Canadian tourist visiting Nairobi: An eTA would generally be required, together with the required passport and trip documents. Inbound travel health insurance normally applies unless the traveller falls within an exemption.
• Tanzanian citizen visiting Kenya: An eligible short visit can benefit from the East African Community eTA exemption and the applicable insurance exemption, while normal border-entry conditions still apply.
• Passenger connecting through Nairobi without entering Kenya: An eTA and inbound insurance are generally not required for a true airside transit. The passenger should confirm that baggage and the onward connection do not require immigration clearance.

Your passport, nationality, residence status, itinerary, length of stay and reason for travel can all affect the answer. Go2entry can help you check the entry formalities that may apply to the passport you will use and your specific journey.