Kenya eTA Application

Who Can Apply for the Kenya eTA?

Visitors who meet the Kenya eTA requirements are able to complete the online application (they must prepare all the necessary documents).

Some travelers may be exempted from the entry permit to Kenya. For example, those who are citizens of the East African partner states, holders of valid Kenyan passports, or members of diplomatic missions.

You can check the eligibility via a convenient online tool on Passporta and complete the Kenya eTA application process within simple steps.

List of Eligible Countries

Nationals of the following countries are required to obtain a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) in order to enter the country for purposes such as tourism, business, or transit.

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Algeria*
• Andorra
• Angola*
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Benin*
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Burkina Faso*
• Cambodia
• Cameroon*
• Canada
• Cape Verde*
• Central African Republic*
• Chad*
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)*
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Djibouti*
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt*
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea*
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Gabon*
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Guinea*
• Guinea-Bissau*
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hong Kong (SAR)
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Liberia*
• Libya
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macau (SAR)
• Madagascar*
• Mali*
• Malta
• Mauritania*
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco*
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Niger*
• Nigeria*
• North Korea
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Palestine
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Russian Federation
• Sao Tome e Principe*
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal*
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Somalia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan*
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Syria
• Taiwan
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Timor Leste
• Togo*
• Tunisia*
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vatican
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Western Sahara
• Yemen

*Nationals of the marked countries do not need an eTA for stays up to 60 days. If planning a longer trip, however, it will be necessary to obtain the online entry permit.

Citizens of the East African Community (EAC) countries are exempt from the Kenya eTA requirement for stays up to 180 days:

• Burundi
• Congo (Democratic Republic)
• Rwanda
• South Sudan
• Tanzania
• Uganda

Nationals of the following countries can travel to Kenya without an eTA for a period not exceeding 90 days:

• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brunei
• Comoros
• Congo (Brazaville)
• Cyrus
• Dominica
• Eritrea
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Gambia
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Papua New Guinea
• Saint Kitts and Navis
• Saint Lucia
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Kenya eTA Requirements

All travelers who want to obtain a Kenya eTA must prepare the following documents:

• Passport with a validity of at least 6 months with one blank page
• Recent face photo
• Accommodation booking confirmation

What is more, based on nationality and travel purposes, you may be asked for additional papers, such as vaccination certificates (for yellow fever if you come from the risk region), invitation letters, parental consent letter and more.

What is the Kenya eTA?

Kenya eTA is an Electronic Travel Authorisation, a semi-automated system implemented by the government that enables entry to Kenya for a limited period.

Completing the application process for a Kenya eTA is simple with Passporta: enter the required information, attach documents, pay the fee, and wait for the confirmation email.

Our experts will take care of the formalities, so you don't need to worry about your Kenyan eTA.

Generally, Kenyan eTA is issued as a single-entry document valid for 90 days and allowing the same stay period.

The citizens of the USA may get a multiple-entry permit to Kenya for 5 years.

The purpose of trips can be related to business (joining meetings, conferences, dealings, and more) or tourism, such as sightseeing, relaxing, and holidays.

IMPORTANT: Travelers must enter Kenya within 90 days of the permit's approval, or an eTA becomes invalid.

How to Apply for a Kenya eTA?

The process for Electronic Travel Authorisation is necessary to verify the documents and data of travelers going to Kenya.

In order to secure a Kenyan eTA, applicants must take the following steps:

1. Enter the information in the form (name, surname, etc.).
2. Attach documents that are required, valid, and of good quality.
3. Cover the fee (by credit/debit card or other method).
4. Wait for the processing and an email confirmation.

After the procedure, the holder of eTA to Kenya should print out the received file. It's not obligatory but highly recommended in case of problems with mobile devices.

Kenya eTA Validity and Period of Stay

Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation can serve as a single or multiple-entry permit. The validity and period of the single-entry document is 90 days, while the multiple options for US nationals enable numerous entries to the country within the 5-year period.

The possible purposes of staying in Kenya as an eTA holder include tourism, business, and transit.

eTA to Kenya – Processing Time

The processing time for the Kenya eTA usually takes up to 3 working days by the government (the period may be longer as our experts must check the applicant's details and documents as well).

Also, unexpected situations, such as maintenance on the official website, may extend waiting time.

Visitors are encouraged to apply for a Kenya eTA at least 2 weeks before the travel to avoid delays. The applications can be submitted even 3 months prior to the trip to Kenya.

eTA to Kenya – Sample

Travelers can review the sample of the Kenyan eTA before the application process to know which details are included there:

Kenya eTA Rejection Reasons

Applicants who want to avoid Kenyan eTA rejection should check the information in the form twice to eliminate all the mistakes and attach the required documents that are not expired or of bad quality.

Denial of the eTA may happen if the applicant violated the entry requirements in the past or due to a criminal record.

Why Choose Us?

With Passporta, you can be sure that the Kenya eTA application process is safe and straightforward.

• Trusted company – Nearly 10 years of experience.
• Application verification – Our experts ensure the forms are completed correctly.
• Information security – Your personal and payment data is properly protected.
• Simple procedure – The application on our website is easy to complete.
• Professional assistance – Our support team is always ready to provide help.

By choosing Passporta, you can easily get your Kenya eTA and focus on the trip while we handle the formalities!

FAQs

• Do I need a Kenya eTA?

  You can easily access this information by selecting your nationality in our eligibility checker available at the top of the website.

• Do I need an eTA to transit through Kenya?

  If you remain within the international transit area of a Kenyan airport (or stay on board the vessel you arrived on), you are not required to obtain or present a valid eTA. Otherwise, do apply for an eTA in advance.

• I hold a refugee travel document – can I apply for an eTA to Kenya?

  If you wish to apply online, please ensure you submit your application well in advance of your intended travel date. The approval process may take up to 2 months. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide support for travel documents in urgent or short-notice cases.

• My passport is valid for less than 6 months from my intended date of entry – what can I do?

  One of the requirements set by the Kenyan Immigration Office is that your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Kenya. If your passport does not meet this requirement, you will need to renew your passport and provide us with a new copy, or if you hold a second passport, use that document to submit your eTA application.

• Do I need to send a new face photograph if I used the same picture as in my passport?

  Yes. The Kenyan immigration system may reject applications if the uploaded photo is identical to the passport photo. Instead, for your eTA provide a recent selfie.

• I don’t have a return ticket from Kenya because I plan to continue my journey (e.g., a safari or travel to other African countries). What should I do?

  If you do not have a return ticket, you may provide one of the following: flight ticket to another country, proof of exit by land (bus/car/safari reservation), or any other confirmation of your departure plans, including your port of exit.

• How long does it take to process a Kenya eTA?

  Usually, 3 business days are necessary to process the Kenyan eTA. However, the period may be extended, so apply earlier.

• How can I check the status of my application?

  To check the status of your application, you need a Passporta account. Please use this link to log in to your existing profile or create a new one.

• My application status shows “Finished” – where is my eTA?

  Once your application status shows "Finished", the eTA will be sent to your email address as a PDF attachment. Please check your inbox. Remember to check your SPAM or junk folder as well.

• How will I receive my eTA after approval?

  Once approved, your eTA will be sent directly to the email address provided in the application form.

• What should I do if my eTA has been rejected?

  Unfortunately, the Immigration Office has determined that you do not meet the requirements for the Kenya eTA. In this case, you should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Kenya to apply for a traditional visa.