Kenya eTA for Tourists: Cost, Documents and How to Apply

The Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is the online entry permit most tourists need before flying to Kenya. You apply on the official etakenya.go.ke website, pay from US$30, and approval usually takes about three working days. Since October 2026 the application also includes mandatory Kenyan travel health insurance.

Rules for entering Kenya have changed several times since the old visa was replaced, and October 2026 brought another change at the payment stage. This guide sets out, in plain English, who needs a Kenya eTA, what it costs in total, which documents to have ready, when to apply and how to fit it around a safari that crosses into Tanzania or Uganda.

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What Is the Kenya eTA and Who Needs One?

The Kenya eTA is a pre-travel authorisation that every visitor must hold before starting the journey, unless their nationality or status is exempt. Kenya’s Department of Immigration Services says it applies to all visitors, including infants and children, and the approval must be shown at check-in and on arrival.

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In practice the authorisation works like a light-touch visa. You submit your passport details, a photo, your travel dates and where you are staying, then pay online. Airlines check for the approval before boarding, and the official eTA website warns that travelling without one can mean being denied boarding or paying a penalty on arrival.

If you already hold a valid Kenyan visa issued under the old system, the UK Foreign Office notes that you can keep travelling on it until it expires. Everyone else planning a safari should treat it as step one, right after booking flights. The Kenya Department of Immigration eTA page lists the official helpline and email if anything in your application is unclear.

Who is exempt from the Kenya eTA?

Kenya amended its immigration rules in 2025 to widen the exemptions. The main groups who do not need a Kenya eTA are:

• Citizens of East African Community partner states, who can stay up to 180 days.
• Nationals of listed countries, who can stay up to 90 days, and nationals of a second list of African countries, who can stay up to 60 days. Together these now cover most African nationalities except Somalia and Libya.
• Some Caribbean and Pacific nationalities named in the regulations.
• Transit passengers who stay within the airport and do not pass immigration.
• Holders of Kenyan residence, work permits or passes, and certain diplomatic and official passport holders.

Travellers from the UK, the USA, Europe, Australia, India and most of Asia are not on the exemption lists, so they need one. Exemption lists can change, so always run your nationality through the official website rather than relying on an old forum post.

Do children need their own eTA?

Yes. Each traveller needs an individual approval, including babies on a parent’s booking. Families can start with the Apply as a Group option, which keeps everyone’s applications together, but each child still needs their own passport details and photo uploaded. If you are planning a family trip, our guide to safe family safari planning covers the rest of the preparation.

How Much Does the Kenya eTA Cost?

The Kenya eTA costs from US$30 per traveller for standard processing, according to the official eTA FAQs (checked October 2026). Expedited processing adds US$100. On top of that, the new mandatory travel health insurance carries a premium of US$44, so most tourists should budget US$75-85 per person.

All figures were checked in October 2026 and are charged in US dollars by card. Fees and the insurance rules have changed several times recently, so treat the table as a planning guide and confirm the amounts on the official website on the day you apply. Never pay a third-party site that charges extra to “process” your application.

For a sense of how entry costs fit into the wider budget, park fees are a far bigger line: our Kenya safari cost guide and Masai Mara entrance fee breakdown show what conservation fees, lodges and transport add up to.

What Is Kenya’s New Mandatory Travel Health Insurance?

Kenya’s inbound travel health insurance is a government-provided policy that most visitors staying under 12 months must hold from October 2026. If you need a Kenya eTA, you buy it during the application, before payment. The UK Foreign Office says foreign travel insurance is not accepted in its place.

Photo by Global Residence Index on Unsplash

The UK Foreign Office entry requirements for Kenya (updated 13 October 2026) state that the policy is valid for 90 days and covers multiple entries in that period. Kenyan citizens, holders of valid Kenyan residence status and citizens of East African Community partner states are exempt, as are transit passengers who do not pass through immigration.

Travellers who already hold an approved Kenya eTA from before the change are directed to buy the policy through the Kenyan eCitizen insurance portal. Published reports describe minimum combined cover of about US$50,000 for medical treatment, emergency medical transport and repatriation. Guidance on this rule has shifted since it was announced, including a court challenge, so check the latest position a few days before you fly.

This Kenyan policy is not a substitute for your own travel insurance. It does not cover cancellations, lost luggage or trip costs, and its medical limits are modest for a remote safari. Keep a comprehensive policy as well, and consider adding Flying Doctors evacuation cover for time in the bush. Our safari travel insurance page explains what to look for.

How Do You Apply for a Kenya eTA? Step by Step

You apply for a Kenya eTA online in a single sitting if your documents are ready. Applications must be made only through the official etakenya.go.ke website or the Kenya Travel Authorisation app, and travel is allowed only once the approval arrives by email.

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1. Open the official site: go to etakenya.go.ke and choose to apply as an individual or as a group.
2. Enter passport details: type them exactly as printed and upload a clear scan of the photo page.
3. Add a selfie or passport-style photo: plain background, no glasses, face fully visible.
4. Give your itinerary: arrival and departure flights, and where you will stay.
5. Upload accommodation confirmation: a hotel booking or your safari itinerary showing lodges.
6. Buy or confirm the travel health insurance: the insurance page appears at the end, before payment.
7. Pay and save the approval: pay by card, then keep the emailed approval on your phone and on paper.

Documents checklist for your application

The official Kenya eTA how-to-apply page lists a passport valid for at least six months with at least one blank page, a selfie or passport-style photo, an email address and phone number, arrival and departure details, accommodation confirmation and a payment card. The UK Foreign Office advises two blank pages, so aim for two.

For a safari, the accommodation confirmation is usually your operator’s itinerary listing each camp and lodge by night. Ask for it as a PDF once your booking is confirmed. If your first night is a Nairobi hotel booked separately, upload that confirmation too.

If your route passes through or starts in a yellow fever risk country, you will also need a vaccination certificate at the border. Our page on yellow fever requirements for Kenya and Tanzania explains who needs one.

When Should You Apply for Your Kenya eTA?

Apply for your Kenya eTA once your flights and accommodation are confirmed, and at least two weeks before departure, which is the advice the UK Foreign Office passes on from the Kenyan authorities. Standard processing usually takes about three working days, but checks can take longer.

Avoid applying before your travel dates are fixed, because the form asks for exact arrival and departure details. If plans change after approval, check the official FAQs or contact the eTA helpdesk rather than submitting a second application blindly.

Kenya eTA Tips for Multi-Country Safaris

The Kenya eTA covers entry to Kenya only. If your safari crosses into Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda, each country has its own entry rules, and you must hold valid Kenyan authorisation again whenever you come back into Kenya, for example to fly home from Nairobi.

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Kenya and Tanzania combinations

A classic route is the Masai Mara followed by the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, often via the Namanga border or a flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro. Tanzania needs its own visa, and if you return to Nairobi for your flight home, check the entry terms on your approved Kenya eTA. If they do not cover a second entry, apply for another before you cross back. Our Tanzania northern circuit itinerary shows how a combined trip can flow.

Common application mistakes to avoid

• Using unofficial websites: many sites look official and charge extra. Only etakenya.go.ke and the official app are valid.
• Typos in passport numbers: a single wrong digit can mean boarding problems. Copy details carefully from the photo page.
• A passport close to expiry: renew it if it expires within six months of your arrival.
• Forgetting the children: every child needs their own approval.
• Skipping the insurance step: since October 2026, the Kenyan health policy is part of the process for most visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Kenya eTA for a safari?

Yes, most visitors need a Kenya eTA for a safari, including infants and children. The main exceptions are East African Community citizens, nationals on Kenya’s exemption lists (now most African countries apart from Somalia and Libya) and airside transit passengers. Check your nationality on the official website before booking flights.

How much does the Kenya eTA cost?

The Kenya eTA costs from US$30 per traveller for standard processing, with an extra US$100 for expedited processing (checked October 2026). Since early October 2026 the application also includes Kenya’s mandatory inbound travel health insurance, with a premium of US$44 plus small portal fees. Budget roughly US$75 to US$85 per person and confirm the current figures before you pay.

How long does a Kenya eTA take to process?

A Kenya eTA is generally processed within three working days, or about 72 hours, although some applications take longer if extra checks are needed. The expedited option is processed immediately for an extra fee. The UK Foreign Office passes on the Kenyan authorities’ advice to apply at least two weeks before departure, which leaves time to fix any mistakes calmly.

Can a safari company apply for my Kenya eTA?

Yes. The official Kenya eTA website lets someone apply on another person’s behalf, as long as this is declared in the application, and groups can use the Apply as a Group option. Each traveller still needs their own approved eTA. Many travellers prefer to apply themselves because the form needs passport scans, a selfie and card payment.

Is my own travel insurance enough to enter Kenya?

No. Under the rule that took effect in October 2026, most visitors to Kenya must hold the Kenyan Government-provided inbound travel health insurance, and the UK Foreign Office says foreign travel insurance policies are not accepted in its place. Keep your own comprehensive travel insurance as well, because the Kenyan policy has limited cover and does not protect your trip costs.

Final Thoughts

For most tourists, the Kenya eTA is a simple online step: apply on the official site two weeks or more before you fly, pay from US$30, and add the new US$44 Kenyan health insurance during the same application. Have your passport, photo, flights and lodge list ready and the form is quick to complete.

Once your entry is sorted, the fun part begins. Tell us your dates and the wildlife you want to see, and our Nairobi team will build a tailor-made Kenya safari with an itinerary you can upload with your application.