Planning your safari
Kenya eTA & Entry Requirements
Everything you need to enter Kenya — the eTA explained, who’s exempt, what to prepare, and how to apply through the official portal without falling for the copycat sites.
Start here
What the eTA is
In shortKenya no longer issues visas. Most visitors instead apply online for an eTA — an Electronic Travel Authorisation — before they fly, at the official portal etakenya.go.ke. It takes a few working days and must be approved before you board. Citizens of East African and most other African countries are now exempt.
Kenya’s entry process changed at the start of 2024, and again in 2025, so it’s worth a quick read even if you’ve visited before. For most travellers it now comes down to one online application, done in advance, plus a passport with enough validity and a few booking details to hand.
The eTA replaced both the old visa-on-arrival and the earlier eVisa system on 5 January 2024. It is a digital pre-authorisation linked to your passport: you apply, you’re screened, and you carry the approval when you travel. A standard eTA is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued and, by default, covers a single entry — so it’s best not to apply too far ahead of your trip. This guide walks through who needs one, how to apply, and the handful of things that trip people up.
Check your status
Who needs an eTA
It depends on your nationality, and the exemptions have grown. Tap the group that fits you — and when in doubt, confirm on the official portal.
If you’re travelling from outside Africa, plan on applying — there is no visa on arrival to fall back on.
- Applies to visitors from the United States, most of Asia and the Middle East, among others.
- Apply online and have your approval before you board your flight to Kenya.
- A growing list of nationalities is now visa-free, so confirm yours on the official portal.
East African Community citizens have the simplest entry of all — no application at all.
- Covers Burundi, the DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
- No eTA needed, and you can stay for up to 180 days — the longest allowance Kenya offers.
- Simply travel on your valid passport or approved regional document.
Since 2025, citizens of most other African countries enter Kenya visa-free.
- Visa-free entry for up to around 60 days, with no eTA to apply for.
- Somalia and Libya are the exceptions, and their citizens still need an approved eTA.
- If you hold an African passport, confirm your specific status on the official portal.
The lists have been changing, so when in doubt, go straight to the source.
- Check your nationality only at the official government portal, etakenya.go.ke.
- Ignore the lookalike sites that appear in search results and charge more.
- Booked a safari with us? We’ll happily point you the right way.
Step by step
How to apply for your eTA
The whole thing takes a few minutes online, then a short wait. Do it once your flights are booked.
- Go to the official portal.
Apply only at etakenya.go.ke. Many lookalike sites appear in search results and charge extra for the same thing — the government portal is the only one you need.
- Complete your application.
You’ll enter your passport details, upload a passport-style photo, and give your travel and accommodation details. Have your flight booking and your first night’s address to hand.
- Pay the fee online.
A card payment finishes the application. The fee is charged per person, and children and infants are charged the same as adults — everyone needs their own approval.
- Wait for approval.
Most eTAs come back within a couple of working days. Apply at least a week before you fly, and two to three weeks ahead in the busy July-to-October season.
- Carry your approval.
Download and print the PDF, and keep a copy on your phone. You’ll want it at airline check-in and again at immigration on arrival.
Have these ready
What you’ll need to apply
Gather these before you start, and keep a copy of each on your phone for the journey.
- A valid passport — with at least six months’ validity beyond your arrival and one blank page for the stamp.
- A passport photo — a recent, passport-style photo or selfie on a plain, light background.
- Confirmed flights — your booking showing both your entry and your exit dates.
- Proof of accommodation — a hotel or lodge booking, or your itinerary if you’re travelling with us.
- A return or onward ticket — simple evidence that you’ll be leaving Kenya.
- A yellow-fever certificate — only if you’re arriving from, or have recently transited, a country where it’s endemic.
- Proof of funds — not always requested, but sensible to be able to show if asked.
On arrival
At the airport
Immigration checks your eTA electronically — provided you sorted it before you flew.
Your eTA must be approved before you travel. Airlines check it at check-in, and because there is no visa on arrival, there’s nothing to fall back on if it isn’t ready. Arriving without an approved eTA can mean denied boarding or a penalty on arrival — so apply in good time, and don’t leave it to the last day.
At JKIA, immigration officers verify your eTA electronically against your passport, stamp you in, and you’re through. Having your printed approval and your onward details to hand keeps it quick and easy. What happens next — the airport itself, and transfers into the city and out to the parks — is covered in our arrival-day and getting-there guides.
Don’t get caught out
Common mistakes to avoid
The eTA is simple, but a few predictable slips cause most of the trouble — and one of them costs people real money.
The single most common trap is applying through a lookalike website. Many third-party sites rank high in search results, copy the official design, and charge a hefty markup for the same approval — some are outright scams. The only official portal is etakenya.go.ke. If a site’s address is anything else, close the tab.
The 90-day validity runs from the date of issue, not your travel date. Apply a week or two before you fly, not months ahead.
Processing usually takes a couple of working days, and longer in peak season. Don’t apply the night before your flight.
Every traveller needs their own eTA, including infants, and there’s no reduced fee for children.
It must have at least six months’ validity beyond your arrival date, or you may be refused entry.
There isn’t one any more. Turning up without an approved eTA simply isn’t an option.
The name and passport number on your eTA must match your passport exactly; a small typo can cause trouble at check-in.
Let’s plan it
Planning a Kenya safari?
The eTA is yours to sort, but the safari is ours. Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll put together an itinerary and a quote — and answer any entry questions along the way.
Frequently asked questions
Kenya eTA & entry FAQs
The basics
No. Kenya replaced visas with the eTA, an Electronic Travel Authorisation, in January 2024. Most visitors apply for it online before travelling, and there is no visa on arrival.
It’s a digital travel authorisation linked to your passport. You apply online, you’re screened in advance, and you carry the approval when you fly. It replaced both the old visa-on-arrival and the earlier eVisa system.
Only at the official government portal, etakenya.go.ke. Avoid the many lookalike sites that copy the design and charge extra for the same approval.
Timing & validity
Typically a couple of working days. Apply at least a week before you travel, and two to three weeks ahead in the busy July-to-October season, when processing can take longer.
Once your flights are booked, but not too early. The 90-day validity runs from the date of issue, so applying months ahead can mean it expires before your trip. A week or two before you fly is ideal.
A standard eTA is valid for 90 days from issue and covers a single entry. If you plan to leave and re-enter Kenya during your trip, note it when you apply, as a multiple-entry option exists.
Exemptions & children
East African Community citizens — Burundi, the DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda — for up to 180 days, and, since 2025, citizens of most other African countries for up to around 60 days, except Somalia and Libya. Check your nationality on the official portal.
Yes. Every traveller needs their own eTA, including infants, and there’s no reduced fee for children.
Documents & practical
A passport valid for at least six months with a blank page, a passport photo, your confirmed flights, proof of accommodation, and a return or onward ticket. A yellow-fever certificate is needed only if you’re arriving from an endemic country.
Only if you’re arriving from, or have recently transited, a country where yellow fever is endemic. If you’re flying in directly from Europe or North America, you generally won’t need one — but check your own route.
You may be denied boarding by your airline, or face a penalty on arrival. Because there’s no visa on arrival to fall back on, there’s no easy fix — so apply in good time.
Yes. The East African Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda on a single visa, which is worth considering for a multi-country trip. Ask us and we’ll point you to it.
The application is always yours to complete, but if you’ve booked a safari with us we’re glad to guide you through it and answer any questions as you go. Get in touch →
Paperwork sorted, plains ahead
Get your eTA in early through the official portal, keep the approval to hand, and the rest of Kenya is waiting. When you’re ready to plan the safari itself, tell us about your trip and we’ll take it from there.
Plan the rest: your arrival day, getting there, or what a safari costs. More in safari planning.