What is the Kenya eTA and who needs it?
The Kenya eTA is an electronic travel authorisation requested before travel by many foreign visitors. It replaced the former tourist visa process for most travellers in January 2024. British, US, Canadian, Australian, Irish and New Zealand passport holders will generally need an approved eTA before departure, unless a specific exemption applies.
Whether you need a Kenya eTA depends on the passport you will use, your status and the purpose of your journey. An approved eTA gives permission to travel, but it does not guarantee admission: immigration authorities make the final decision at the border.
Some travellers are exempt from the eTA requirement, including Kenyan citizens, eligible nationals of East African Community partner states, certain Kenyan residents and genuine airside transit passengers. For a detailed overview of visa exemptions, passport rules and other travel formalities, read our guide to Kenya entry requirements and visa exemptions.
An eTA is not a residence permit and should not be confused with permission to work, study or settle in Kenya.
How to apply for a Kenya eTA online
A Kenya eTA application is completed before travel. Prepare the information and files first, then review every field against the passport you will use for the journey.
- Check whether your passport requires an eTA. Requirements can differ according to nationality, residence status and travel circumstances.
- Gather your passport and travel documents. Have the required passport, photograph, itinerary and accommodation information ready.
- Choose how to apply. You can apply independently through the Kenyan authorities or choose optional private application assistance.
- Enter your personal and passport details. Use your given names, family name, passport number, date of birth, nationality and contact details exactly as shown in the passport.
- Add your travel information. This can include intended arrival and departure dates, purpose of travel, flight arrangements and accommodation or host details.
- Upload the photograph and supporting documents. The documents needed can vary with the travel category.
- Review the application carefully. Check spelling, passport digits, dates and uploaded files before submission.
- Pay the applicable fees and keep the decision. After a decision, retain the approved eTA in a format you can show during departure and arrival checks.
The key practical rule is consistency. Your passport, form answers, flight dates, accommodation details and supporting documents should describe the same traveller and the same trip.
Apply directly or use optional private assistance
With an independent application, the traveller completes the process directly with the Kenyan authorities, provides the documents and pays the applicable government charges.
Optional private assistance is separate from the Kenyan government. Depending on the service selected, it can provide guided preparation, help with completing the form and a review of application details before submission. It does not change the authorities’ decision-making process, and any private service charge is separate from government fees.
What documents do you need for a Kenya eTA?
Most applicants should prepare the core documents below. Additional evidence may be requested depending on the purpose of travel, so tourists should not assume that every document listed for other categories applies to them.
| Document | When it is required |
|---|---|
| Passport | Required for all applicants. It should be valid for at least six months after the planned arrival date, have at least one blank page and be the passport used for travel. |
| Recent selfie or passport-style photo | Required for all applicants. Use a clear, recent image that follows the application instructions. |
| Email address and telephone number | Required for contact and application notifications. |
| Arrival and departure itinerary | Required for all applicants to support the planned travel dates. |
| Accommodation confirmation | Required for ordinary visitor applications. A host address may be relevant when staying with family or friends. |
| Payment method | Required to pay the applicable eTA charges. |
| Business invitation and company registration copy | For business travel where requested. |
| Host invitation and host identification or status document | For family visits where requested. |
| Conference invitation, medical letter, employment contract or other supporting evidence | Only for the relevant travel purpose or category. |
For British passport holders, the UK travel advice recommends travelling with at least two blank passport pages. This is more than the minimum blank-page requirement shown in the Kenya eTA application guidance, so British travellers should follow the more cautious standard.
How much does a Kenya eTA cost?
Kenya’s published government eTA charges depend on the category selected. The standard eTA is the category used by many ordinary tourist and visitor applicants.
| Kenya eTA category | Official base fee |
|---|---|
| Standard eTA | USD 30 |
| Transit eTA | USD 20 |
| One-year multiple-entry eTA | USD 300 |
| Five-year multiple-entry eTA for eligible US nationals | USD 185 |
The one-year and five-year options have their own eligibility conditions. The five-year category is specifically presented for eligible US nationals, while the East African Tourist eTA is listed as coming soon and should not be treated as currently available. Travellers making a genuine international airside connection without entering Kenya are generally exempt from the eTA requirement and should not assume they need to purchase a transit eTA.
An official expedited eTA service is listed with an additional USD 100 charge. Its availability and actual processing outcome can vary by application. Expedited processing is not an approval guarantee.
Government eTA fees, any payment-related charges and optional private assistance fees are separate costs. If you use a private service, its fee should be shown before payment.
How long does a Kenya eTA take to process?
Kenyan authorities state that eTA applications are typically processed in around three working days, although some applications take longer because of verification or other checks. This is not a guaranteed 72-hour calendar deadline.
Apply well before departure. Kenyan guidance recommends applying at least two weeks before travel, which gives time to resolve a missing document, an incorrect detail or a delayed decision.
An official expedited option is advertised, with an additional USD 100 charge. Do not rely on it as a substitute for early preparation, and do not assume that private assistance speeds up the government’s assessment.
How long is a Kenya eTA valid?
A standard Kenya eTA is normally valid for travel within 90 days of its issue date. This travel-validity period is different from the period you may be allowed to remain in Kenya after arrival.
- Travel validity: use the standard eTA to travel within 90 days from issue.
- Number of entries: the standard category allows one entry; multiple-entry categories follow their own conditions.
- Permitted stay: immigration authorities determine the permitted duration at the point of entry.
For example, receiving a standard eTA at the start of a month does not automatically create a 90-day stay from that date. It means the authorisation should be used for travel during its validity period.
How to check your Kenya eTA application status
After submitting an independent application, keep the reference number and confirmation emails. The official process provides application and payment confirmations, followed by an email decision. Check your spam or junk folder if you have not received an expected message.
Use the status-checking method provided for the channel through which you applied. If you used optional private assistance, follow that provider’s process for updates while keeping your own application reference and travel documents available.
Once approved, save the eTA document on your phone and keep a printable copy where practical. You may need to show it during departure or arrival checks.
What if your Kenya eTA application has an error or is rejected?
Common preventable problems include a mistyped passport number, a misspelled name, an incorrect date of birth, a poor-quality photograph, missing supporting documents or travel details that do not match the itinerary. A renewed passport can also affect an application because the travel document details must match the passport used to travel.
If you spot an error after submission, act promptly through the relevant application channel. Not every submitted detail may be editable, and a new application may be necessary in some circumstances. Do not assume that a payment will be refundable without checking the applicable terms.
If an eTA is refused, do not travel on the assumption that the issue will be resolved on arrival. A private service cannot reverse a Kenyan government decision. The safest approach is to identify the issue, follow any instructions provided and ensure that a later application is complete and accurate.
Do children need their own Kenya eTA?
Each traveller who is subject to the eTA requirement, including a child or infant, needs an individual approved eTA. A parent or representative can complete the application on a child’s behalf, but one authorisation does not cover the whole family.
A group application may be available for a family travelling together, which can make it easier to organise the submissions. Each person is still assessed as an individual and needs their own passport and required application information.
For example, a UK or US family travelling with two children should prepare the passport and travel details for each family member, then check every child’s information before submitting the group or individual applications.
Is mandatory health insurance also required for Kenya?
Yes. From 5 October 2026, many non-Kenyan visitors entering Kenya for stays of less than twelve months must hold the prescribed Kenya Inbound Travel Health Insurance unless an exemption applies. The eTA journey incorporates this requirement for travellers who need an eTA.
The standard policy is described as valid for 90 days. Longer stays may require different arrangements, so travellers should verify the applicable coverage before travel. Foreign travel insurance does not replace the prescribed Kenyan cover.
Key exemptions include Kenyan citizens, holders of valid Kenyan residence status, citizens of East African Community partner states, certain diplomatic or official travellers, eligible crew and genuine airside transit passengers. Children who are subject to the requirement need individual coverage under the applicable rules.
Kenya eTA: Apply independently or use private assistance?
Both routes are possible. Applying independently means completing the process directly with the Kenyan authorities, entering and checking your own information, and paying the applicable government fees.
Optional private assistance is a separate, paid service that can help simplify preparation, guide you through the information needed and review details before submission when that service is available. It is not a government service, is not required to apply and cannot guarantee approval or entry.
Private help can be useful if you would value structured guidance before submitting information. Applying directly can suit travellers who are comfortable preparing the application themselves and checking each detail carefully.