Kenya's eTA Explained: Entry Requirements Made Clear
19 July 2026 10 min read
Last updated 27 July 2026 · 10 min read
Kenya replaced visas with the electronic travel authorisation (eTA) — a simple online form that most visitors have processed within a few days. What the eTA is, what it costs, who is exempt, which documents to have ready and the common mistakes that delay approval.
1.eTA essentials
tips_and_updates Quick facts
- payments Standard eTA costs US$30 and is processed in around 72 hours.
- bolt Expedited option (about US$130) — processed immediately for last-minute trips
- event_available Approval is valid for entry within 90 days and for stays of up to 90 days.
- language Apply only via the official portal — etakenya.go.ke. Third-party sites add surcharges.
- schedule Apply at least a week before you fly; three days is the official minimum.
2.What an eTA 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 control.
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.Apply smoothly
Twenty minutes if your documents are ready
Have these ready before you start: a passport valid for at least six months after arrival with one blank page, a clear passport-style photo (phone photos against a plain wall will do), your flight numbers, the name and address of your first accommodation, and a card for payment. Group and family applications can be submitted together, keeping a family under a single reference number.
The delays we see are almost always self-inflicted: blurry document scans, a passport that expires within six months, arrival details that don't match the airline booking, or applying via a lookalike agency website that tacks on fees and delays. Book your flight, apply in the same week via the official portal, and the eTA will be the easiest part of your trip.
explore Our safari experts say
person
Print two copies of the approval PDF and keep one saved offline on your phone. Airport Wi‑Fi and searches through your inbox have caused more boarding‑queue delays than the eTA system ever has.
Niroskos operations · Arrivals Desk
5.eTA FAQs
Do children require an eTA? expand_more
Children under 16 are exempt from the fee when included on a parent's or family application - they must still be listed. Please carry birth certificates for minors as supporting documents.
What if my eTA hasn't arrived and I'm due to fly tomorrow? expand_more
Use the expedited option for immediate processing, and contact your operator - we escalate stuck applications via local channels daily during 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 vaccination certificate? expand_more
Only if you arrive from - or have transited through - a yellow fever risk country. Direct arrivals from Europe, North America and the Gulf generally do not, but carry proof if you have been elsewhere in Africa or South America.
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