Kenya eTA
Everything you need to apply for your Kenya eTA: the requirements, the documents, and the steps from start to approval.
Official Kenya government portalOverview
The electronic travel authorization, or eTA, is Kenya's online entry permit, and it is now mandatory for almost every visitor. Kenya replaced its old visa and eVisa system with the eTA, and there is no visa on arrival, so the authorization must be requested and approved before you board your flight. An approved eTA is a single-entry permit, valid for 90 days from the date it is issued, and it allows a stay of up to 90 days in Kenya.
That stay can be extended once, by a further 90 days for a total of 180, at an immigration office in Nairobi. The eTA covers tourism, business and transit, including safari holidays, conferences and visiting family. It does not authorise paid employment, long-term study or residence, which need the appropriate Kenyan visa or permit obtained separately.
Citizens of East African Community partner states are exempt and do not need an eTA to enter Kenya. The authorisation is linked to the passport you apply with, so you travel on that same document, and because it is single entry you need a fresh eTA for each separate trip. The legacy name, Kenya visa or eVisa, is still widely searched, but the current and only route for ordinary visitors is the eTA.
Your Kenya eTA is prepared in your own language and every detail is checked before it is submitted to the Kenyan immigration authority.
Requirements in detail
The Kenya eTA application is digital and lighter than an old paper visa, but each detail must match your documents exactly. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival, with the personal-details page ready to copy. You also upload a recent digital passport photograph against a plain background, so a clear face photo taken on a phone is usually enough; a blurred, cropped or poorly lit image is the most common reason an application is held up.
Have your accommodation details and travel itinerary to hand, since the form asks where you will stay and the dates of your visit, and a confirmed hotel or host address is fine. A return or onward flight booking shows your intended departure within the validity window. The form includes a short set of honest declarations about your trip and background; answer them accurately, because a careless or untrue answer can lead to a refusal.
Finally, a valid email address receives the approval and a payment card covers one all-inclusive price that includes the Kenyan government fee and our service fee, with the government portion itemised on your receipt. Check the spelling of your name and your passport number against the passport itself: a single mistyped character is the simplest avoidable error and can cause problems at check-in or at the border.
What you'll need
Have these ready before you begin your application. Requirements can vary by nationality and trip purpose.
- Passport with at least six months validity
- Recent digital passport photograph
- Travel itinerary including accommodation
- Return flight booking
- Email address for eTA delivery
- Payment method (one all-inclusive price)
How to apply
Three steps from start to approval.
Complete the form
Answer the official questions online. Your draft is saved for 30 days, so you can finish once your documents are to hand.
Pay securely
You see the one all-inclusive price before you pay. We check your application for completeness before it reaches the government portal.
Receive by email
Your approved travel authorisation arrives by email. Bring it, or a copy, together with the passport you applied with when you travel.
On arrival
Carry your approved Kenya eTA when you travel, either saved on your phone or printed, as the airline checks it before you board and the immigration officer reviews it on arrival. Travel on the exact passport you applied with, since the authorisation is linked to that document. The eTA lets you board and request entry, but the final admission decision rests with the Kenyan immigration officer at the airport, who may ask about your trip, so have your accommodation address and return ticket ready to show.
Because the eTA is single entry, it is used up once you arrive: if you leave Kenya and want to return, even within the 90-day validity, you must apply for a new eTA for that next trip. Keep a copy of the approval in case of any check during your stay.
Government processing time
What the issuing authority typically takes once the application is submitted.
Government processing: Kenyan Department of Immigration Services decides in 1 to 3 business days. VisitPass review: Standard 1-3 business days; Rush 1 business day; Super Rush less than 6 hours. The application is checked for completeness, submitted to the authority, and the confirmation issued.
Because the eTA is mandatory before travel and there is no visa on arrival, plan ahead and apply several business days before departure, leaving extra time during the busy safari seasons when application volumes rise. If your trip is close, the Rush and Super Rush tiers shorten the turnaround, and the approval is emailed as soon as the authority issues it so you can save and print it before you fly.
At a glance
- Validity
- 90 days
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Entry type
- Single
Who can apply
All visitors except East African Community citizens require an eTA. The authorisation is valid for 90 days from issuance with single-entry use. The eTA covers tourism, business and family visits.
Kenya help desk
Have questions about your eTA? Email the Kenya desk and we reply within 24 hours.
kenya@visitpass-online.com