Kenya 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 authorization (eTA) — a simple online form most visitors get approved on in a few days. What the eTA is, how much it costs, who’s exempt, which documents to have ready, and the mistakes that delay approval.
1.eTA Essentials
tips_and_updates Quick facts
- payments Standard eTA costs US$30 and is processed within about 72 hours.
- bolt Expedited option (about US$130) — processes 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 on the official portal — etakenya.go.ke. Third-party sites charge markups.
- schedule Apply at least one week before your flight; three days is the official minimum.
2.What an eTA Actually Is
Pre-screening, not a visa
In 2024 Kenya scrapped its traditional visa system and moved to an electronic travel authorization - 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 travelers who previously enjoyed visa-free entry - needs the eTA. It surprises returning visitors more than first-timers.
3.Apply without hiccups
20 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, the 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 within six months, arrival details that don't match the airline booking, or applying through a copycat 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 lines 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'm flying 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 vaccination 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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