Kenya Travel Guide
Kenya eTA & Entry Requirements for Safari Travelers
One online form, a card payment and a few days’ wait. How to get the Kenya eTA right the first time, and the other border checks that catch travelers out.
Every traveler needs an approved eTA
Kenya no longer issues ordinary tourist visas to most visitors. Instead, everyone traveling to Kenya, infants and children included, needs an approved Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before departure. There is no exemption for US, UK, Canadian or EU passport holders, and you may be asked to show the approval before you board.
Since 2025, citizens of East African Community states and many other African countries have been exempt for set periods, but that doesn’t apply to most people planning a safari from North America or Europe. Apply only through the government portal at etakenya.go.ke. Look-alike sites that rank well in search results add a service charge to the government fee and a step you don’t need.
This guide reflects the rules shown on the official portal at the time of writing (September 2026). It isn’t legal advice, and entry rules change, so check the portal for your passport before you apply.
eTA Types and Government Fees
Fees as listed on Kenya’s official eTA portal at the time of writing (September 2026), in US dollars. Confirm on the portal before paying.
| eTA type | Fee | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, single entry | US$30 | Most safari travelers on a one-country trip |
| Transit | US$20 | Short connections through Kenya; staying airside on the same aircraft is exempt |
| Multiple entry, 1 year | US$300 | Frequent visitors of any eligible nationality |
| Multiple entry, 5 years (US nationals) | US$185 | US citizens likely to return, or looping through Nairobi to neighboring countries |
| Expedited processing | An extra US$100 | Late applications; easily avoided by applying early |
Fees are set by the Government of Kenya and paid by card on the portal. A site asking for more is not the official portal.
How to Apply
Allow about half an hour per traveler. Each person, babies included, needs an application of their own.
Open the official portal
Type etakenya.go.ke into your browser rather than clicking an advertisement. The government site never adds “assistance” or “concierge” charges.
Gather your documents
You need a passport with at least six months’ validity and a blank page, a passport-style photo or selfie, contact details, your flight itinerary and proof of accommodation. The itinerary we send lists every camp and hotel, which covers the last item.
Choose the right eTA
Most travelers need the standard single-entry eTA. US citizens who expect to come back within five years can pick the multiple-entry option priced for American nationals.
Pay and keep your reference
Pay by card at the end, then note the reference number and keep the confirmation email, which you need to track progress.
Save the approval
Approvals arrive by email. Keep a PDF on your phone that opens offline, and print a copy for check-in and immigration.
When to Apply
Processing typically takes three working days, but some applications take longer, and the portal advises applying at least two weeks before travel. An approved eTA is valid for travel within 90 days of issue, so an application made too early can lapse before you fly. For most trips, the comfortable window is about one to two months before departure.
The eTA doesn’t fix how long you may stay. That is decided by the immigration officer when you arrive, which is one reason to carry your full itinerary and your onward ticket. Expedited processing exists for emergencies, at extra cost, but an unhurried application a few weeks out makes it unnecessary.
Kenya with Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda
A Kenya eTA covers Kenya only. If you are adding the Serengeti or Zanzibar, Tanzania needs its own visa, applied for separately, and our Tanzania visa guide explains it. Routes that leave Kenya and return, such as Nairobi to the Serengeti and back to Nairobi for the flight home, raise the question of re-entry. Secondary sources report that a valid eTA allows re-entry after a trip to another East African Community country, but confirm it for your dates on the portal or with a Kenyan embassy, or choose a multiple-entry eTA.
The East Africa Tourist Visa, which has traditionally covered Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, appears on the eTA portal as “coming soon” at the time of writing. Until it launches, plan on separate paperwork for Rwanda or Uganda if gorillas are on your list. We set the order of countries so that each approval is valid on the day you need it.
Other Border Rules That Catch Travelers Out
The eTA is only one of the things checked when you land. These are the rules we flag for every Kenya traveler.
- Plastic carrier bags: Kenya banned single-use plastic carrier bags nationwide on 28 August 2017, and duty-free shopping bags can be confiscated on arrival. Pack purchases in your carry-on or a reusable tote.
- Toiletry bags: clear zip-top bags are commonly tolerated, but a cloth or mesh wash bag avoids the question entirely.
- Plastics in parks: single-use plastics such as disposable water bottles are restricted in protected areas; camps supply refillable bottles, so leave throwaway ones behind.
- Drones: flying one needs registration and authorization from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, plus separate permission from the Kenya Wildlife Service in parks and reserves. A drone found in your luggage may be held at customs, so leave it at home.
- Yellow fever certificate: required if you are aged one or over and arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Our Kenya health guide explains who is advised to have the vaccine.
- Passport: at least six months’ validity remaining and one blank page for every traveler, infants too.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Kenya?
US citizens don’t apply for a traditional visa, but at the time of writing they do need an approved eTA before travel. It is applied for online on the official portal, and US nationals can choose a single-entry eTA or a five-year multiple-entry option.
How long does the Kenya eTA take to process?
Typically about three working days, though some applications take longer. Apply at least two weeks before you fly, but no more than about 90 days ahead, because an approved eTA must be used for travel within 90 days of issue.
Do babies and children need their own eTA?
Yes. Every traveler, including infants, needs an individual approved eTA, and each application uses that child’s own passport. Parents usually complete the family’s applications in one sitting.
Is the five-year eTA worth it for American travelers?
If there is a realistic chance you will return to Kenya, or you are looping through Nairobi to Tanzania, Rwanda or Uganda and back, it can save repeat applications. For a single trip, the standard eTA is the simpler choice. Compare the current fees on the portal before deciding.
Can I get a Kenya eTA on arrival?
No. The eTA has to be approved before you travel, and you may be asked for it at check-in. If you are short of time, the portal offers expedited processing for an extra fee, but applying early is far less stressful.
Start With Your Dates
Tell us when you can travel, who is coming and what you most want from Kenya. A safari specialist will design a private route around you, and nothing is booked until you approve it.
Plan My Kenya Safari