Kenya eTA: Visa Types, Requirements, & Application Guide

The Kenya eTA visa is a mandatory pre-travel authorization for all foreign nationals. Anyone who is planning to board a flight to Kenya must get this prior to traveling. This is designed as an e-visa for Kenya to replace the traditional embassy process for short-term visitors. The application is completed entirely online with no embassy visit.

The electronic travel authorization eta for Kenya is an online travel authorization that performs the task of a traditional Kenyan visa. It securely accesses the information of the traveler as entered in the passport and application form. Once the Kenya eVisa application is approved, travelers will receive the Kenya eTA via email, granting them permission to enter and explore Kenya for a short stay.

The process is entirely online. Travelers do not have to visit the Kenyan embassy in their home country at any stage. Processing takes approximately 4 business days, and the approved Kenya eTA is sent to the traveler's registered email address.

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What is the Kenya eTA?

The Kenya eTA was introduced in 2024 by the Directorate of Immigration Services of Kenya. Ever since then, it has been a mandatory online travel authorization. Previously, travelers had to apply for a visa for Kenya through an embassy or consulate. The eTA was created to simplify and speed up that process, enable smoother border entry, allow pre-screening of travelers, and strengthen Kenya's border security systems.

All foreign nationals entering Kenya for a short-term stay must obtain the Republic of Kenya visa authorization, the eTA, before traveling. In this online process, traveler information is securely verified, and on approval, permission is granted to enter the country.

How Long is the Kenya eTA Valid?

The Kenya eTA is valid for 90 days or 3 months from the date of issue. Foreign visitors must enter Kenya within this validity period.

The maximum number of days allowed to stay with this Kenya eTA from the date of arrival is 90 days (3 months).

The standard Kenya eTA visa is a single-entry travel permit. Foreign visitors may enter and exit Kenya only once. To re-enter Kenya, a new eTA application must be submitted.

How the Kenya eTA process works

1. Apply for the Kenya visa online

2. Receive the approved eTA by email

3. Present the eTA on arrival and enter Kenya

What is the Kenya eTA Application?

The Kenya eTA application is an online-only pre-travel authorization process. The process is simple, and all eligible foreign nationals must complete it before traveling to Kenya. In case you fail to get the eTA before departure, you will be denied boarding at the airport.

Instead of applying for a visa to Kenya through an embassy or consulate, visitors from eligible countries apply through this fully online process. This requires zero embassy or consulate visit.

The e visa Kenya system allows short-term entry for tourism, business visits, and transit stopovers. It is a mandatory travel document and must be secured before entering Kenya.

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Who is Eligible to Apply for the Kenya eTA?

Citizens of more than 200 countries are eligible to apply for the Kenya visitor visa or the eTA for their short-term visits. However, citizens of the East African Community or EAC member states are exempt, as they have signed bilateral entry agreements with Kenya.

Eligible foreign nationals may apply for the Kenya eTA for the following purposes:

  • Tourism — Sightseeing, wildlife safari, beach holidays, and leisure travel
  • Business travel — Attending meetings, seminars, trade fairs, or conferences
  • Visiting friends or relatives — Short-stay visits to family or acquaintances in Kenya
  • Transit — Passing through a Kenyan international airport en route to another destination

The e visa for Kenya process does not permit working or residing in the country. Any form of employment, paid or unpaid, is strictly prohibited under the eTA. A separate work visa or permit is required for any employment activity.

Countries Eligible for Kenya

What Types of Kenya Visa Are Available for Travelers?

Three types of ETA Kenya visa are available to travelers: the Kenya eTA for Tourism, the Kenya eTA for Business, and the Kenya eTA for Transit. Each is designed for a specific purpose of travel and carries its own validity period, entry type, and document, and all necessary Kenya visa requirements.

Kenya eTA for Tourism

The Kenya eTA for Tourism is for foreign nationals visiting Kenya for leisure, wildlife safaris, beach holidays, or cultural experiences. The visa for Africa Kenya travelers most commonly applied for is the tourist eTA, given Kenya's world-renowned national parks and coastal destinations. It also enables exploration of the country's diverse landscapes — deserts, savannahs, snowy peaks, volcanoes, hot springs, canyons, and rich ecosystems.

Key Details for Kenya eTA for Tourism

  • Validity: 3 months or 90 days
  • Entry type: Single entry
  • Maximum stay: 90 days from the date of arrival

Documents required to apply for the Kenya eTA for Tourism

  • Valid passport from a Kenya eVisa eligible country
  • Return ticket
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Travel itinerary (if visiting for a safari, booking details of the safari package)

Kenya eTA for Business

The Kenya eTA for Business is for foreign nationals visiting Kenya for short-term business purposes, including meetings, conferences, seminars, contract negotiations, workshops, and trade fairs. The eTA visa Kenya for business is increasingly in demand as Kenya grows as one of Africa's leading investment destinations, offering opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs to research and invest in its economy.

Key Details for Kenya eTA for Business

  • Validity: 3 months or 90 days
  • Entry type: Single entry
  • Maximum stay: 90 days from the date of arrival

Documents required to apply for the Kenya eTA for Business

  • Valid passport from a Kenya eVisa eligible country
  • Business documents such as agreements, proposals, or an official invitation letter from the host organization or company

Kenya eTA for Transit

The Kenya eTA for Transit is mandatory for travelers who are passing through a Kenyan international airport to board a connecting flight. It permits the holder to stay in the airport's transit area during a layover.

Key Details for Kenya eTA for Transit

  • Validity: Up to 72 hours from the planned date of arrival
  • Entry type: Single entry
  • Permitted area: Airport transit zone only

Documents required to apply for the Kenya eTA for Transit

  • Valid passport
  • Proof of onward travel.

What Documents Are Required for the Kenya eTA?

The following documents are required to apply for the Kenya eTA online. Applicants must be citizens of a Kenya eVisa-eligible country and follow all the necessary Kenya entry visa requirements.

  • Valid passport from a Kenya eVisa eligible country
  • Working email address to receive the approved eTA
  • Latest, clear, front-facing, and color passport photograph
  • Valid debit or credit card to pay the Kenya eTA fee
  • Confirmed hotel booking as proof of accommodation
  • Return ticket or round-trip confirmation
  • Confirmed travel details like date of arrival and departure

You should provide confirmed travel details, including arrival and departure dates, to ensure that the validity date offered in the Kenya online visa or Kenya eTA are correct.

How to Apply for the Kenya eTA Online

The Kenya visa application is completed online in three simple steps. The process takes only a few minutes on any device with an internet connection, and these are the steps:

Complete Kenya eTA Application

Provide travel and personal details for each applicant in the Kenya eTA form.

Step 1
Review and Make Payment

Make Secure Payment using a Credit or Debit card.

Step 2
Receive Kenya eTA

Receive your Kenya eTA approval to your email from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Kenya (IRCC).

Step 3

Step 1: Select Your Visa Type and Gather Documents

Select the Kenya eTA type that matches your purpose of travel. All Kenya eTAs are single-entry authorizations:

  • Tourist eTA: Valid for 90 days. Ideal for leisure travel, visiting friends or relatives, or safaris.
  • Business eTA: Valid for 90 days. Ideal for business visits such as meetings, contract negotiations, or conferences.
  • Transit eTA: Valid for 72 hours from the planned date of arrival. Ideal for passengers transiting through Kenya to another destination.

Gather all required documents before beginning the application.

Step 2: Complete the Online Application and Pay

Fill out the online Kenya eTA form with your personal, travel, and email details. Double-check all information for accuracy, upload your supporting documents, and complete the process with a secure credit or debit card payment.

Step 3: Receive Your Kenya eTA by Email

After payment is successfully registered, a confirmation number is automatically sent to your email address. The approved Kenya eTA will be delivered to the same email address within 3 to 7 business days.

Print the approved Kenya eTA in color as a PDF and present it alongside your passport on arrival at the port of entry.

Kenya eTA Permitted Ports of Entry

The Kenya eTA is accepted at official air, sea, and land ports of entry across the country

Principal Airports:

Busia, Kisumu, Kuinga, Lamu, Malindi, Mbita, Muhuru Bay, Old Port, Shimoni, and Vanga.

Seaport Entry:

Kilindini Seaport (principal seaport point of entry).

Land Border Crossing Points:

Busia, Isebania, Liboi, Loitokitok, Lungalunga, Malaba, Mandera, Moyale, Nadapal, Namanga, and Taveta.

Apply for Your Kenya eTA Online Today

Travel to Kenya is now even easier with a Kenyan visa. Apply for your visa for tourism, business, or transit, and enjoy a stress-free entry.

No embassy visit, no paperwork, no lines.

The electronic travel authorization ETA for Kenya is available to citizens from more than 200 eligible countries. Find your country on the list above and complete your Kenya eVisa application online in minutes.

FAQs

Do I Need a Visa for Kenya​ for My Children or Infant?

Yes, absolutely. Every traveler needs their own approved eTA before boarding. This does not depend on their age and applies to all newborns, infants, and young children. Parents or legal guardians should complete the application process on their behalf.

What is the Minimum Passport Validity Required to Apply?

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your intended date of arrival in Kenya. Besides that, it should also have at least two blank pages for the entry and exit stamps issued by border control officers.

I Hold Dual Citizenship. Which Passport Should I Use for the Application?

You should use the passport that you plan to present to the airline and use to enter Kenya. This will help in keeping the process seamless.

Do I Need a Visa to Enter Kenya​ if One of My Two Passports is From Kenya?

No, you won’t. If you hold dual citizenship and one of your passports is Kenyan, you do not need an eTA, provided you enter the country using your valid Kenyan passport or National ID.

What Happens if My Kenya eTA Application is Rejected?

If your eTA is denied, you will receive an email notification from us. The reason behind rejection will likely be specified, giving you a chance to correct it

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