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.
Requirements in detail
Gather everything below before you open the Kenya eTA form, so the application goes through on the first attempt. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival, with the personal-details page ready to copy, because the authorisation is linked electronically to that exact document; keep its number and its issue and expiry dates beside you. The eTA does require a photograph: you upload a recent digital passport photo of your full face against a plain, light background, with no hat and no sunglasses, and a clear photo taken on a phone in good light is usually enough.
This is the single item travellers most often get wrong, so prepare it with care. Have your accommodation details and a travel itinerary ready, since the form asks where you will stay and the dates of your visit, and a confirmed hotel or host address is fine, along with a return or onward flight booking. A working email address receives the approval, and a payment card covers the single all-inclusive price, which includes the Kenyan government fee, itemised on your receipt.
Every traveller, including each child, needs their own eTA, so prepare one set of documents for each applicant.
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
Applying for the Kenya eTA is done entirely online, step by step. First, confirm the eTA applies to you: it is required of nearly all visitors, the only exception being citizens of East African Community partner states, and there is no visa on arrival. Second, gather your passport, your photograph and your trip details as listed above.
Third, complete the online form, entering your name and passport number exactly as they appear in the passport, since a single mismatched character is the usual reason an application is delayed. Fourth, review the single all-inclusive price and pay; the application is checked for completeness before it reaches the Kenyan immigration authority. Finally, the approved authorisation arrives by email with a tracking code.
Carry it saved on your phone or printed, and travel on the same passport you applied with.
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 under 24h; Priority under 6h; Urgent under 30 min. 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 Priority and Urgent 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.
Is this the official application?
VisitPass is an independent travel-document service, not a government website and not affiliated with the Directorate of Immigration Services. Your application is submitted to the official Kenya eTA system, the government fee is paid in full to the issuing authority and itemised on your receipt; the service fee covers preparing the application, reviewing it for completeness before submission, and email support. You can always apply directly on the government portal yourself; many travellers choose a guided form to complete it in their own language and have it checked before it is sent.
The decision rests solely with the Kenyan government.
Kenya help desk
Have questions about your eTA? Email the Kenya desk and we reply within 24 hours.
kenya@visitpass-online.comVisitPass is an independent visa-application service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any government. Government fees go directly to the issuing authority and are listed separately in your receipt.