Kenya is famous for its safaris and its Indian Ocean coastline, with lions, elephants and giraffes waiting in the parks. Before you see any of it, you most likely need a Kenya ETA, the online Electronic Travel Authorisation that replaced the Kenya eVisa in January 2024.
The Republic of Kenya runs the ETA on its official portal, etakenya.go.ke. Agencies such as e-visa.co.uk can also file the application for you for an extra service fee.
Here is how the Kenya ETA works today: who needs one, who is exempt, what it costs and how long it takes.
See also: Reasons to Visit Kenya
Can I get a tourist visa on arrival in Kenya?
No. Kenya no longer issues visas on arrival, and since January 2024 the Electronic Travel Authorisation has replaced the visa for most visitors. You apply online before you travel. Without an approved ETA, your airline can refuse to board you, or you may pay a penalty fee on arrival.
The rule covers arrivals by air, sea and land, and it includes infants and children. Each traveler needs their own ETA, even when you apply as a group.
Who needs a Kenya ETA?
Most visitors from outside Africa need a Kenya ETA, including travelers from the US, the UK, the EU, Canada and Australia. You can check your nationality on the eligibility list at etakenya.go.ke or on this Kenya entry requirements page.
Since early 2025, Kenya exempts most African citizens from the ETA. Citizens of the other East African Community states (Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) can stay up to 180 days without one.
Citizens of a second group of countries can stay up to 90 days without an ETA. The list includes South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Maldives, Jamaica, Barbados and a number of Pacific and Caribbean island states. Nationals of most other African countries, such as Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, can stay up to 60 days.
Citizens of Somalia and Libya were left out of the African exemption and still need an ETA. Passengers who change planes without leaving the airport do not need one, and neither do holders of Kenyan residence or work permits.
The old visa categories, including the referred visa, no longer apply. Exemption lists have changed several times since 2024, so check your nationality on etakenya.go.ke before you book.
How long does a Kenya ETA take to process?
Kenya’s immigration service says most applications are processed within three working days (72 hours), though some take longer when extra checks are needed. If you are short on time, the expedited service costs an extra $100 and is processed right away.
The official advice is to apply at least two weeks before you travel. A standard ETA covers one entry, so if you leave Kenya for Tanzania or Uganda and come back, you need a new ETA or a multiple-entry one.
What documents do you need for a Kenya ETA?
Have these ready before you start your Kenya ETA application. It takes most people 15 to 20 minutes once everything is at hand.
Every applicant needs:
- A passport valid for at least six months, with at least one blank page
- A selfie or passport-style photo, plus your email address and phone number
- Your flight details, your accommodation booking confirmation and a Kenya itinerary, plus a credit or debit card to pay the fee
- Business travelers also need an invitation letter from the company and a copy of its registration.
- For family visits, you need an invitation letter from your host and a copy of the host’s ID, passport or permit.
- Suppose you are traveling from a country where Yellow Fever is a health risk. In that case, you must show your Yellow Fever certificate to border officials upon arrival in Kenya to prove your vaccination status.
- Trips for medical treatment, conferences, work or resettlement need extra papers, such as a hospital referral letter, an invitation letter or a contract.
How much does a Kenya ETA cost?
A standard Kenya ETA costs $30 and covers one entry. Card charges can add a little on top. If you need a decision right away, the expedited service adds $100.
A one-year multiple-entry ETA costs $300. US citizens can apply for a five-year multiple-entry ETA for $185.
A transit ETA costs $20 and is meant for travelers passing through Kenya. If you change planes without leaving the airport, you are exempt and do not need one.
New: mandatory Kenya travel health insurance
Since early October 2026, most visitors who need a Kenya ETA must also buy Kenya’s government travel health insurance. You add it during the ETA application, or buy it beforehand on the eCitizen portal. It costs about $44 plus a small processing fee, and your own travel insurance does not replace it. Citizens of the other East African Community states are exempt. The rules are new and details are still being clarified, so check the current requirements on etakenya.go.ke before you apply.
The East African Tourist Visa used to cover Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda on one document. On Kenya’s ETA portal, the East African Tourist eTA is listed as coming soon, so check its status before you build a three-country trip around it. Fees change, so confirm the current amounts on etakenya.go.ke before you pay.
Are you ready to visit Kenya?
Once your ETA is approved, the fun part starts. There are plenty of attractions in Kenya, including Nairobi, Wasini Island, the many beautiful beaches and, of course the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Apply for your Kenya ETA at least two weeks ahead, then keep the approval PDF on your phone and on paper. You will need to show it at check-in and again on arrival.
