Get your Kenya travel authorization online

Since 1 January 2024, Kenya applies a universal regime: all nationalities are, in principle, required to present an electronic travel authorization to enter the country. However, significant exemptions have been introduced and expanded since then.

On 30 May 2025, Kenya adopted major amendments to its immigration law, introducing Regulation 15G and a new 17th Schedule. These changes exempt the vast majority of African countries — more than 60 African nationalities — from the ETA, with the exception of Somali and Libyan citizens, who remain subject to the ETA. Countries from the Caribbean and Pacific are also exempted. The exemption is not uniform, however: it grants 180 days to EAC partner states, 90 days to some forty countries in Southern and East Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, and 60 days to the rest of the African continent. In practice the ETA remains mandatory for most European, Asian and North American countries — with the notable exception of Cyprus and San Marino, exempt for 90 days. The table below sets out each tier.

Furthermore, nationals of East African Community (EAC) member states — Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda — benefit from an even more favourable regime: they may enter Kenya without an ETA, on presentation of a valid passport or national identity card, for stays of up to 180 days.

The ETA is valid for all travel purposes: tourism, business, conferences, events, visiting relatives, volunteering and NGO activities. In the latter case, invitation documents from the local organization and its registration certificate will be required. It should be noted that the ETA does not constitute a work permit: to carry out paid employment, a specific work visa remains necessary alongside the ETA.

The consular fees for the Kenya ETA are set at 35 USD €30.11, regardless of the purpose of travel (tourism, business or visiting relatives). Payment is made by credit or debit card. It is important to note that these consular fees are non-refundable in the event of refusal by the Kenyan authorities, unless you have used a specialist service offering a refund guarantee in case of failure.

The ETA authorizes a stay of less than 90 days from the date of first entry into Kenyan territory. The 90-day period does not begin at the time of ETA issuance, but from the moment you cross the Kenyan border for the first time. The ETA is valid for a single entry, with one precise exception: if you temporarily leave Kenya for an East African Community partner state (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda), your ETA remains valid for re-entry into Kenya as long as it has not expired. As soon as you enter a country outside the EAC — including countries bordering Kenya such as Ethiopia or Somalia — your ETA is used up and a new one will be required to return.

It is worth mentioning the East Africa Visa, which remains in force despite the visa exemption for Kenya. This regional visa allows you to visit three countries — Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda — for consular fees of 100 USD €86.03. It is a multiple-entry visa valid for 90 days: it must first be used to enter the country that issued it, and then allows you to move freely between the three countries throughout its validity. If your itinerary includes a circuit across these three countries, this option is worth considering.

For nationals of East African Community member states (Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda), no ETA is required, and the authorized length of stay can reach 180 days with a simple passport or national identity card.

Several particular situations should be anticipated before applying for a Kenya ETA. Below are the most frequently encountered cases and the answers provided by the rules in force.

A frequent question concerns the possibility of entering Kenya from Tanzania to climb Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro is located entirely on Tanzanian territory. However, if your itinerary takes you through Kenya before or after your climb, you will need to hold a valid ETA to enter Kenya. Since the ETA application is managed directly by the Kenyan authorities, the absence of a Kenyan embassy in your country of residence is not an issue: the entire process takes place online.

Regarding renewal or extension, two separate documents must be distinguished. The ETA itself can be neither renewed nor extended: if you wish to return to Kenya after leaving for a country outside the EAC, you will need to submit a new application from abroad, with no waiting period. The visitor's pass, however — the entry pass granted at the border on arrival, for a maximum of 90 days — can be extended once at a Kenyan immigration office for up to a further 90 days, i.e. 180 days in total. If you exceed the authorized length of stay without obtaining that extension, you are exposed to serious penalties: fines, deportation and criminal proceedings.

Obtaining the ETA is a necessary but not sufficient condition for preparing a trip to Kenya in the best possible conditions. Several other steps must be planned well before departure: passport validity, vaccination, accommodation, travel insurance and knowledge of local customs rules.

Kenya has exceptional natural heritage. Highlights include: the Maasai Mara National Reserve, famous for the annual great wildebeest migration, Tsavo West National Park, Lake Nakuru and its flamingos, and the Kakamega Forest. Whatever your itinerary, documentary preparation must be finalized well in advance of your departure.