Kenya's eTA portal says all visitors, including infants and children, must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before the start of their journey (the standard eTA costs USD 30), unless exempt under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Rules, 2025: citizens of the East African Partner States (up to 180 days) and nationals of the countries listed for 90 or 60 days, among them South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Fiji, Singapore, Malaysia and Cyprus. The Ministry of Health notice shown in the eTA application says all travellers must have valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA (Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026).
Every fact on this page verified on or after: Aug 25, 2026· How this site works
Check requirements for your passport
Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.
Visas & entry authorisations
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
Fee
30 USD
Processing
—
Entries
single
The eTA portal says fees start at USD 30 for normal processing (which may take up to 72 hours) and that expedited, immediate processing costs an additional USD 100. It lists the standard eTA (entry once, USD 30), a one-year multi-entry eTA (USD 300), a five-year multi-entry eTA for American nationals (USD 185) and a transit eTA (USD 20). It says all visitors, including infants and children, must have an approved eTA unless exempt.
When to apply: Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services recommends applying at least two weeks before travel.
Documents the application asks for
Passport biodata page — a photo or scan; JPG, PNG or PDF
Selfie or photo — JPG, PNG or WEBP, or taken with a webcam or phone camera
Consent/commitment letter — JPG, PNG or PDF
Previous eTA or visa (optional)
Other documents (optional)
Entry requirements
Passport validity
The eTA portal lists a valid passport (minimum 6 months validity with at least one blank page) among the documents to have before starting an application.
Yellow fever (ICVP) — WHO's country list says proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. WHO recommends vaccination for all travellers aged 9 months or over, but generally not for those whose itineraries are limited to the entire North Eastern Province; Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Malindi and Tana River in Coastal Province; and the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa.
Malaria prophylaxis — The US CDC recommends that travellers going to certain areas of Kenya take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. It gives the transmission areas as all areas (including game parks) below 2,500 m, with rare cases in the highly urbanized central part of Nairobi, where it recommends no chemoprophylaxis, only insect bite precautions and mosquito avoidance.
A Ministry of Health notice shown in the eTA application says that, in accordance with Gazette Notice No. 11492 (Vol. CXXVIII, No. 129, 30 July 2026), all travellers to Kenya are required to have valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA, and lets you check your insurance status or get the cover. No minimum cover or price is stated there.
No official source we could read states an onward or return ticket requirement for Kenya. The eTA portal lists a travel itinerary (arrival and departure) and an accommodation booking confirmation among the documents an application typically includes.
The Department of Immigration Services says overstaying without approval violates Kenyan immigration law, and that failing to leave within the permitted time is subject to fines, detention or deportation. The page does not state the amount.
The Kenya Revenue Authority lists currency of USD 10,000 and above, or its equivalent, among what you should declare on arrival in Kenya; Canada's travel advice says amounts exceeding the equivalent of USD 10,000 must be declared to customs upon both arrival and departure.
The Government of Canada says the use, manufacture or importation of plastic bags, including garbage and shopping bags, is illegal in Kenya; convicted offenders, including tourists, can face fines of up to USD 40,000, up to two years of imprisonment, or both.
The Kenya Revenue Authority lists these allowable limits: spirits (including liquors) or wine not exceeding one litre, or wine not exceeding two litres; perfume and toilet water not exceeding in all one half litre, of which not more than a quarter may be perfume; and cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff not exceeding in all 250 grammes.
WHO's country list says proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. WHO recommends vaccination for all travellers aged 9 months or over, but generally not for those whose itineraries are limited to the entire North Eastern Province; Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Malindi and Tana River in Coastal Province; and the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa.
The 42 countries WHO lists as a yellow fever risk
Requirements normally count any country you have been in shortly before arrival, not only where you boarded.
International Health Regulations (2005), Article 36 and Annex 7; WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1, 18 November 2022 (revised 3 January 2023)
Country in a nutshell
Currency
Kenyan shilling (KES, KSh)
Safety — Exercise caution
Due to the risk of terrorism from groups based in Somalia, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Mandera County, parts of Wajir County, Garissa County except Garissa Town and some other areas, and Lamu County except Lamu Island and Manda Island, and against all but essential travel to Garissa Town, Tana River County north of the Tana River as far as the town of Saka, and within 15km of the east coast between the Tana River and the Galana River.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab) · archived copy Aug 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) Aug 25, 2026
Kenya is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (UN Treaty Collection). The UK government says UK drivers need both the 1968 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and their UK driving licence after 3 months; Canada's travel advice says an International Driving Permit is accepted if presented alongside the original Canadian licence.
No official source we could read names a best time to visit. The Government of Canada says Kenya's two rainy seasons usually extend from October to November and from March to mid-June, varying from year to year, and that seasonal flooding, including flash flooding and mudslides, can hamper overland travel.
Tips & warnings
Kenya's eTA portal says eTA applications must be completed only through its official website, etakenya.go.ke, or the official "Kenya Travel Authorisation" mobile application; the standard eTA costs USD 30.
The Government of Canada says the use, manufacture or importation of plastic bags, including garbage and shopping bags, is illegal in Kenya, and that convicted offenders, including tourists, can face fines of up to USD 40,000, up to two years of imprisonment, or both.
According to the Government of Canada, national parks do not accept cash: they generally take credit cards, but at times, because of technical problems, only M-PESA mobile money works.
The Government of Canada describes M-PESA mobile money as a common form of payment accepted across Kenya, including at national parks.
Visa requirements by nationality
Visa requirements by nationality. Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
The eTA portal's country list shows "ETA required" for the United States of America, so US citizens need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before the start of their journey. The portal says the standard eTA costs USD 30 and allows entry once, that applications are generally processed within three business days, and that a five-year multiple-entry eTA for American nationals costs USD 185. It does not state the length of stay.
Is the Kenya eTA the same as a visa?
The eTA portal says the eTA replaces traditional visa requirements for most travellers. It says an eTA offers permission to travel, must be applied for before entering Kenya (the standard eTA costs USD 30), and is not the final authority to enter: admissibility is determined at the point of entry. Citizens of the East African Partner States and nationals of the countries listed in the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Rules, 2025, among them South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Singapore, Malaysia and Cyprus, are exempt.
How early should I apply for the Kenya eTA?
The eTA portal says applications are usually processed in 3 days, that there is an urgent processing service, and that it is recommended applications be submitted at least 2 weeks before travel. It says the approved eTA needs to be shown at all departure and arrival points.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Kenya?
WHO's country list gives a certificate requirement only for travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. WHO recommends vaccination for travellers aged 9 months or over, but generally not for those whose itineraries are limited to certain areas, including the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa. The Government of Canada says the Kenyan authorities regularly carry out spot checks for proof of yellow fever vaccinations, and advises carrying a copy at all times.
When is the best time for a Kenya safari?
No official source we could read names a best safari season. The Government of Canada says Kenya's two rainy seasons usually extend from October to November and from March to mid-June, varying from year to year, and that seasonal flooding can hamper overland travel. It also says national parks do not accept cash.
Sources & verification
Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:
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