Kenya eTA requirements and travel information

Check Kenya eTA eligibility, passport guidance, processing information and commonly requested travel documents.

What is the Kenya eTA?

Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation is used to determine whether an eligible traveller may travel to Kenya. An approved eTA gives permission to travel but does not guarantee admission. Kenyan authorities determine admission and the permitted duration of stay at entry.

Standard single-entry eTA

VisaViza provides the standard Kenya eTA for one entry. Other Kenya authorisation products are not offered in this application.

Validity

The eTA is valid for travel within 90 days from its issue date. The permitted duration of stay is determined at the point of entry.

Processing time

Applications are generally processed in approximately 3 working days or 72 hours. Additional checks can take longer. Apply well in advance and, where possible, approximately two weeks before travel. Processing is not guaranteed within a particular time.

Who needs an eTA?

The requirement depends on nationality and travel status because exemptions apply. Each traveller who requires an eTA needs an individual authorisation, including children and infants who are not exempt.

Main exemption categories

Exemptions include holders of Kenya Permanent Residence, valid Kenya Work Permits or Passes, and valid Kenya re-entry authorisation. Citizens of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda may enter under applicable East African Partner State rules for periods of up to 180 days.

Nationality exemptions of up to 90 days

Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Comoros, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of the Congo, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

African nationality exemptions of up to 60 days

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sudan, Togo and Tunisia.

Other exemptions may cover airport transit, passengers remaining aboard the same ship, transport crew, private-aircraft refuelling stops, official laissez-passer holders and certain diplomatic, service or official-status travellers.

Passport guidance

The passport should normally remain valid for at least six months after planned arrival and have at least one blank page. This is applicant guidance and does not block the VisaViza form.

Commonly requested information

The application may request passport information, a passport image, a selfie or passport-style photograph, phone and email details, physical address, arrival and departure information, transport and accommodation details, travel documents, and eligibility or customs answers.

Common tourism documents

• passport image or scan;
• selfie or passport-style photograph;
• accommodation booking confirmation;
• airline or cruise booking confirmation.

Purpose-specific documents

• Medical Care: referral or doctor/hospital appointment letter.
• Conference, meetings, seminars or training: invitation or participation letter.
• Work: employment contract.
• Business: company invitation and company-registration copy.
• Friends & Family: host invitation and one applicable host identity document.

Vaccination certificates, test results or other supporting documents may be requested in some cases. Upload the documents you have; missing files do not block checkout.

Important entry information

• Obtain approval before travelling.
• Approval to travel does not guarantee admission.
• Border authorities determine admissibility upon arrival.
• Incomplete or inaccurate information can affect an application.
• Additional information or documents may be requested.