Before you travel
Kenya visa requirements.
Almost every visitor to Kenya, children included, needs an approved eTA from etakenya.go.ke before travelling. A standard eTA costs US$30.
Photo Rohan Reddy / Unsplash
Correct at the time of publishing, . Fees and entry rules are subject to change without notice, and many rules depend on the passport you hold. Confirm with the official source listed under each answer, or with your airline, before you travel.
Check the rules for your passport. Requirements differ by nationality, purpose and length of stay.
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Do I need an eTA to visit Kenya?
Kenya requires every visitor who is not exempt, including infants and children, to hold an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling. Apply only through the official portal at etakenya.go.ke or the official Kenya Travel Authorisation app. Each traveller needs their own eTA, even when travelling as a group.
Citizens of the other East African Community states (Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) are exempt for up to 180 days, and nationals of some further listed countries for 90 or 60 days.
Sources: Kenya eTA: how to apply; Kenya eTA: general information and exemptions
How much does a Kenya eTA cost and how long does it take?
A standard single-entry eTA costs US$30, a transit eTA US$20 and a one-year multiple-entry eTA US$300. US citizens can also take a five-year multiple-entry eTA for US$185. Fees are not refundable.
Standard processing takes up to 72 hours, with an expedited option for an extra US$100, but Kenya recommends applying at least two weeks before travel. The eTA must be used within 90 days of being issued. The length of stay is decided at the point of entry, and a visitor's pass can be extended to a maximum of six months.
Fees were correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change without notice.
Sources: Kenya eTA: eligibility and fees; Kenya eTA: frequently asked questions; Kenya Department of Immigration Services: extension of visitor's pass
Do visitors to Kenya need health insurance?
A Kenya Gazette notice published on 30 July 2026 set minimum benefits for mandatory inbound travel health insurance for visitors, with total cover of at least US$50,000. Press reports say the High Court suspended the requirement on 24 August 2026, pending a hearing on 16 September 2026. We have not found a government notice confirming the suspension, so check the current position before you travel.
Fees were correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change without notice.
Sources: Kenya Gazette Special Issue: Gazette Notice 11492 (30 July 2026); Kenyans.co.ke (press report): court suspends travel insurance requirement (25 August 2026)
What passport validity and blank pages does Kenya require?
Kenya's eTA portal asks for a passport valid for at least six months after arrival, with at least one blank page. The UK government advises two blank pages, so carry two.
Sources: Kenya eTA: how to apply; UK government (FCDO): Kenya entry requirements, for British citizens (updated 4 September 2026)
When do I need a yellow fever certificate for Kenya?
Kenya's Ministry of Health requires a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from countries where yellow fever is endemic. WHO gives the age threshold as one year; the ministry's exemption is for infants under nine months.
Kenya itself has yellow fever risk areas, which matters for the next country on a route: Tanzania and South Africa both require a certificate from travellers arriving from Kenya.
Sources: Kenya Ministry of Health: incoming travellers; World Health Organization: country list of vaccination requirements (revised 3 January 2023)
What else should I know before arriving in Kenya?
Plastic carrier bags are banned, and duty-free bags must be left at the point of entry. Cash of US$10,000 or more, or its equivalent, must be declared on arrival and before departure. The UK government advises that drones cannot be brought in or taken out without prior approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
The East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, is listed on Kenya's eTA portal as coming soon.
Fees were correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change without notice.
Sources: National Environment Management Authority: ban on plastic carrier bags; Central Bank of Kenya: guidance on cross-border movement of physical cash (September 2025); UK government (FCDO): Kenya entry requirements, for British citizens (updated 4 September 2026); Kenya eTA: eligibility and fees
Where this sits in planning a trip
Entry requirements are the traveller’s responsibility, but they shape an itinerary — a routing through a third country can change what is needed, and documents for children can take weeks to obtain. Famous Africa raises them early when planning rather than leaving them to the week before departure.