Kenya's eTA, Explained: Entry Requirements Without the Confusion
19 July 2026 10 min read
Last updated 27 July 2026 · 10 min read
Kenya replaced visas with the electronic travel authorisation - a simple online form most visitors clear in days. What the eTA is, what it costs, who's exempt, the documents to have ready, and the mistakes that delay approvals.
1.eTA essentials
tips_and_updates Quick facts
- payments Standard eTA costs US$30 and is processed within about 72 hours.
- bolt An expedited option (about US$130) processes immediately for last-minute trips.
- event_available Approval is valid for entry within 90 days, for stays of up to 90 days.
- language Apply only at the official portal - etakenya.go.ke. Third-party sites charge markups.
- schedule Apply at least a week before flying; three days is the official minimum.
2.What the eTA actually is
A pre-screening, not a visa
In 2024 Kenya scrapped its traditional visa system and moved to an electronic travel authorisation - the same model the US and Canada use. Nearly every visitor now completes one online form before flying: passport details, a photo, travel dates, accommodation, and a yellow-fever certificate where applicable. Approval arrives by email as a PDF you show at check-in and immigration.
Citizens of fellow East African Community states are exempt, and children under 16 travelling with parents are covered under family applications. Everyone else - including travellers who previously enjoyed visa-free entry - needs the eTA. It surprises returning visitors more than first-timers.
3.Applying without hiccups
Twenty minutes if your documents are ready
Have these ready before you start: a passport valid at least six months beyond arrival with one blank page, a clear passport-style photo (phone photos on a plain wall work), your flight numbers, first accommodation's name and address, and a card for payment. Group and family applications can be filed together, which keeps a family under one reference number.
The delays we see are almost always self-inflicted: blurry document scans, a passport expiring inside six months, arrival details that don't match the airline booking, or applying through a lookalike agency site that adds fees and lag. Book the flight, apply the same week on the official portal, and the eTA becomes the easiest part of the trip.
explore Our safari experts say
person
Print two copies of the approval PDF and keep one offline on your phone. Airport Wi-Fi and inbox searches have delayed more boarding queues than the eTA system ever has.
Niroskos operations · Arrivals desk
5.eTA FAQs
Do children need an eTA? expand_more
Children under 16 are exempt from the fee when included on a parent's or family application - they still need to be listed. Carry birth certificates for minors as supporting documents.
What if my eTA hasn't arrived and I fly tomorrow? expand_more
Use the expedited option for immediate processing, and contact your operator - we escalate stuck applications through local channels daily in peak season.
Does the eTA cover Zanzibar or Tanzania add-ons? expand_more
No - Tanzania has its own visa system. If your safari crosses the border we arrange the Tanzanian side separately; budget around US$50-100 depending on nationality.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate? expand_more
Only if you arrive from - or transited through - a yellow-fever-risk country. Direct arrivals from Europe, North America and the Gulf generally don't, but carry proof if you've been elsewhere in Africa or South America.
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