Kenya eTA — apply online

Key details

Entry type

Single entry (eTA)

Passport validity

At least 6 months from entry

Blank pages

1 required

Biometric data

Required

Printed eVisa

Recommended — carry a printed copy

Yellow fever certificate

Required if arriving from an endemic country

Photo specifications

Your applicant photo must meet these specifications, or the application may be rejected.

Dimensions

35 × 45 mm (600 × 750 px minimum)

Background

Plain white

File format

JPEG, max 1024 KB

Face size

Face fills 70–80% of the frame

Recency

Taken within the last 6 months

Tips & warnings

• Apply at least two weeks before travel — processing takes up to 5 business days (excluding weekends and public holidays), and a buffer helps if there are follow-up questions.
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date.
• A yellow fever certificate is required if you're arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic.

Practical notes

Country information

Capital

Nairobi

Currency

Kenyan shilling (KES)

Calling code

+254

Time zone

GMT+3 (East Africa Time)

Population

≈55 million

Language

Swahili & English

Best time to visit

The long dry season (Jul–Oct) coincides with the Great Migration peak in the Masai Mara (Jul–Sep). Jan–Feb is a second dry window. Avoid the long rains, roughly Apr–Jun.

Related destinations

How to apply

Here's every step between now and your approved eTA — you provide the details, we review everything and handle the submission for you.

1. 1

   Check whether you need an eTA

   Before applying, confirm that your nationality still requires an eTA. Following the 2025 changes, citizens of almost all African countries (except Libya and Somalia) and of many other nations are now exempt and do not need to apply.

2. 2

   Gather your documents

   Prepare your valid passport, a passport-style photo or selfie, your travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, your contact details, and any extra documents required for your purpose of travel.

3. 3

   Start your application

   Begin the online eTA application on our website and select your nationality and purpose of travel; a separate application is required for each traveller, including children and infants.

4. 4

   Complete the application form

   Fill in your personal, passport, and travel details accurately, including your intended point of entry, arrival and departure dates, and accommodation information.

5. 5

   Upload your documents and photo

   Upload a clear copy of your passport bio-data page, your photo or selfie, and any purpose-specific supporting documents, making sure the images are clear and legible.

6. 6

   Review and pay

   Carefully check that all details exactly match your passport, then pay the applicable government charge plus our service fee, with the full amount shown to you before you confirm payment.

7. 7

   Receive your approved eTA

   We'll email you as soon as a decision is made — within 5 business days on Standard processing, faster with Emergency or Rush. If approved, download and print the PDF (or save it in the official mobile app) and present it to the airline at check-in and to the immigration officer on arrival.

After you apply & on arrival

Once we submit your application, here's what happens next and what to expect on arrival.

• After you submit, your application is reviewed by the Kenyan authorities, which verify your biographic information and the answers you gave to the eligibility questions.
• Applications are generally processed within up to five (5) business days (excluding weekends and public holidays), counted from the next day after all required documents are received in full and correct form; processing may take longer depending on the verification process, so apply well before travel, ideally at least two (2) weeks prior to your trip.
• Track your application at any time on our Track your order page — you'll also get email updates from us at each stage, and our support team is available 24/7 if you'd like a status check.
• Watch the email address you used and respond promptly if the authorities request additional information or ask you to re-upload a document, providing clear, legible files through the official portal.
• An approved/granted status means your eTA has been issued and a PDF authorisation is attached to your approval email.
• An in-process/pending status means a decision has not yet been made and the application is still being verified (this can include a query asking for more documents or information).
• A rejected/denied status means you cannot travel on that application; review the reasons given in the denial notice, correct any mistakes, and reapply.
• If your application is approved, print the PDF authorisation attached to the email, or download it to your mobile device so you can present it on your journey.
• Carry the eTA (printed or on your device) together with your valid passport, as the authorisation may be checked at departure and is required at arrival.
• Important official caveat: "The possession of an eTA is not the final authority to enter the Republic of Kenya. Admissibility will be determined at the point of entry."
• On arrival, present your eTA and passport to the Immigration Officer, who makes the final decision on whether you may enter and, by issuing a Visitor's Pass, for how long you may stay.
• At immigration on arrival, your biometric data is collected, including your fingerprints and a photograph; this typically takes only a couple of minutes.
• Enter and exit Kenya only through designated ports of entry and exit (for example Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Moi International Airport in Mombasa), where immigration processing takes place.
• When leaving, exit Kenya through a designated point of exit with valid travel documents, and make sure you depart within the period you were granted, since failing to do so constitutes an immigration violation.
• Ensure all the information you provide is complete, current, and accurate, and note that additional supporting documents may be required depending on the purpose of your visit (for example tourism, business, medical, family visit, or transit).

Before you apply

We check everything you gather here before submitting your application on your behalf.

What everyone needs

• Prepare a passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond your planned arrival date in Kenya and with at least one blank page.
• Have a clear digital passport-style photograph or a recent selfie ready to upload, showing your full face against a plain background.
• Have a scan or clear photo of the bio-data page of your passport.
• Prepare your travel itinerary, including your flight or travel details with arrival and departure dates.
• Have proof of accommodation ready, such as a confirmed hotel booking or an invitation letter from your host in Kenya.
• Have valid contact details available, including a working email address and a telephone number.
• Carry a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate if you are travelling from a country where yellow fever is a risk.
• Have a valid payment method available, such as a credit or debit card.
• Apply well in advance of your trip; processing generally takes up to five (5) business days but can take longer, and it is recommended to submit your application at least two weeks before travel.

Detailed information

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers about the Kenya eTA — and how we can help if you'd rather not handle it alone.