Kenya Visa Guide
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Everything you need to know about Kenya's online entry authorization: document upload standards, form fields, government fee schedules, and airport verification under the current Directorate of Immigration framework.
The Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) replaced the legacy eVisa portal in January 2024. All international travelers entering Kenya by air, land, or sea—including tourists, business delegates, and layover passengers—must possess an approved individual eTA prior to boarding.
Applications must be completed online before embarking on your journey. There are no on-arrival visa facilities at Nairobi (NBO) or Mombasa (MBA) airports.
Submitting an error-free form ensures rapid approval by the Kenyan Immigration Department:
Confirm whether you need a Single-Entry Tourist eTA, Business eTA, or Transit eTA. Citizens of East African Community nations (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and DR Congo) are exempt.
Upload a clean, uncropped photo or scan of your passport information page (valid for 6+ months from arrival) and a front-facing selfie taken against a plain light background.
Provide your flight itinerary (airline, arrival airport, departure date) along with confirmed hotel vouchers or a host relative's invitation letter and Kenyan ID.
Carefully verify that names, birthdates, and passport serials match your document. Pay the application fees securely via credit or debit card.
Upon official clearance, your approved eTA PDF carrying an encrypted QR code is delivered via email. Print a paper copy for border officials.
Have clear digital copies (JPEG or PDF) prepared before beginning the form:
All plans include the official Kenyan immigration fee, document compliance pre-check, and support:
Standard review: ~3 business days. Optional express upgrade available ($25.00).
Apply for Tourist eTA →Covers corporate visits, summits, and trade meetings. Requires Kenyan partner letter.
Apply for Business eTA →Exclusive to US passport holders. Unlimited trips up to 90 days per visit.
Apply for 5-Year eTA →Your approved eTA is electronically verified at international immigration checkpoints across Kenya:
If you travel from Kenya to visit neighboring East African countries (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, or DR Congo) and return directly to Kenya, you can re-enter using your existing single-entry eTA without buying a new one, as long as your initial authorization remains valid and you did not exit the EAC region.
Most delays occur from small clerical oversights that can be caught before final payment:
The entire bio page including the 2-line machine-readable code must be clear and unobstructed by fingers or camera glare.
Enter middle names and compound surnames exactly as printed in your passport book to avoid check-in desk rejection.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months past your entry date. Renewal is required prior to application if expired.
Portraits must be neutral with no sunglasses, hats, or heavy beauty filters, matching your real passport appearance.
Conferences, business conventions, or work meetings require a Business eTA with an invitation letter, not a Tourist authorization.
Never wait until your flight date. Always leave at least 3 business days for immigration screening and potential corrections.
Common questions regarding Kenya eTA requirements, processing, and application procedures:
Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services officially advises applying at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to departure to ensure sufficient buffer time for verification and document re-uploads.
Yes. The eVisa system was discontinued in January 2024. All international travelers to Kenya must now hold an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) carrying an official QR code.
Yes. Every traveler, including babies and young children, must hold their own individual approved eTA document. Family members can fill out and submit their applications in one session.
You need a valid passport scan (bio-data page with at least 6 months validity from planned arrival), a recent passport-standard portrait photo/selfie, confirmed flight itinerary, and hotel booking or host invitation.
Once submitted and paid, applications cannot be changed online. Simple typos in your passport number or birth date can lead to boarding refusal, which is why pre-submission review is essential.
Citizens of East African Community (EAC) member countries (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and DR Congo) holding valid national passports do not need an eTA.
Start online in minutes, receive guided document review, and get approved before you fly.
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