Available travel documents
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Visamundi service: €39 incl. VAT
Consular fee: 35 USD
Travel authorizationVisamundi service: €39 incl. VAT
Consular fee: 35 USD
Travel authorizationVisamundi service: €39 incl. VAT
Consular fee: 35 USD
Travel authorizationVisamundi service: €39 incl. VAT
Consular fee: 23 USD
Travel authorizationSince 1 January 2024, Kenya has abolished the entry visa for all nationalities and replaced it with an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This document — an authorization, not a traditional visa — must be obtained online before boarding. It is impossible to apply for it on arrival. The process is entirely digital, but the documents provided must meet precise criteria: an error or a non-compliant document may result in rejection at the very first review by the Kenyan authorities.
01 · The essentials
The ETA must be obtained on the Internet before boarding; it is impossible to apply for it on arrival in Kenya.
All travellers must present a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond their intended arrival date in Kenya.
The ETA system has been in force since 1 January 2024, when Kenya abolished the entry visa for all nationalities.
The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is a system introduced by the Kenyan government from 1 January 2024. It replaces the former electronic e-Visa that was until then required of foreign nationals wishing to enter Kenya. Unlike a traditional visa affixed in the passport, the ETA is a digital document sent by email in PDF format, which must be printed and presented at boarding and on arrival in Kenya.
The basic rule is simple: 1 passport = 1 ETA. Every traveller — adult or minor, regardless of age — must have their own individually issued authorization. The ETA is valid for a single entry and authorizes stays of less than 90 days. The 90-day period begins on the date of first entry into Kenya, not from the date of issue of the document.
It is important to stress that this is not a visa in the traditional sense. The ETA works like the American ESTA or the Canadian eTA: it is an authorization granted to nationals who are exempt from a visa to enter and stay in Kenya. Obtaining it does not guarantee entry; Kenyan immigration officers retain discretionary control at the border.
02 · Eligibility
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. In practice, only a few countries remain subject to the ETA, including most European, Asian and North American nations.
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.
Nationals of Burundi, the DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda may enter without an ETA using a passport or identity card, for stays of up to 180 days.
More than 60 African nationalities have been exempt from the ETA since May 2025, except Somalia and Libya which remain subject to the ETA.
Most European, Asian and North American nationals (including French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian citizens) must obtain an ETA before entering Kenya.
Since 1 January 2024, children under 16 are no longer exempt. Each minor must have their own passport and their own individually named ETA.
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.
03 · The procedure
The process for obtaining the Kenya ETA is entirely online. No visit to an embassy or consulate is necessary, and no postal submission of documents is required. The entire file is compiled and submitted digitally. The form collects personal details, your passport information, residential address, occupation, reason for travel and flight details. Once the form has been completed, you must provide the corresponding supporting documents.
It is possible to submit a group ETA application for several travellers simultaneously. The consular fees are then multiplied by the number of travellers concerned. Each traveller remains the holder of an individual, personally named ETA.
Complete the application form with your personal details (surname, first name, date of birth), your passport data (number, expiry date), your email address, phone number, residential address, country of residence, occupation, reason for travel and flight information.
Once the form has been completed, submit the required documents electronically: copy of passport (valid for at least 6 months beyond the arrival date in Kenya), recent identity photo, and proof of accommodation. Additional documents are requested depending on the purpose of travel: invitation letter and Kenyan company registration certificate for a business trip; invitation or accommodation letter and copy of the host's identity document for a family visit.
The documents provided are checked for compliance before being forwarded to the Kenyan authorities. This step is crucial: the Kenyan authorities may reject an application at the very first page if the documents do not meet the required criteria. A thorough preliminary check of each document minimizes this risk.
The Kenyan authorities process the application. The average processing time is 3 working days. It is strongly advised to submit the application at least 3 days before the planned arrival date to avoid any delay. Never duplicate applications out of impatience: this risks causing an automatic rejection of both applications.
Once authorization is granted, you receive a confirmation email and your ETA in PDF format. This document must be printed in colour and presented at boarding (the airline or shipping company checks it before boarding) and to immigration services on arrival in Kenya. In exchange, an entry stamp is affixed in your passport.
04 · Fees & validity
The consular fees for the Kenya ETA are set at 35 USD, approximately 30 €, 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: if you leave Kenya to visit a neighbouring country and wish to return, you will need to apply for a new ETA, unless you return to Kenya within 90 days of your first entry after visiting a bordering country.
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. It can be applied for as a single entry from Kenya to visit the other two countries in the region. 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.
05 · Special cases
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.
Travellers in transit by air or sea who do not leave the premises of the Kenyan airport or port are not subject to the ETA. However, if you leave the transit zone, an ETA is mandatory.
ETA application data is cross-checked with Interpol databases. A criminal record, particularly for serious offences or threats to national security, may result in an automatic and irrevocable refusal of the ETA.
Kenyans holding a valid Kenyan passport are exempt from the ETA. The ETA depends on the nationality of the passport presented, not on marital status or place of residence.
All travel purposes are covered by the ETA, including volunteering and NGO activities. Invitation documents from the local organization and its registration certificate must be provided.
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 of the ETA: the ETA is not a visa and cannot be renewed or extended from within Kenya. If you wish to return to Kenya after leaving, you will need to submit a new ETA application from abroad, with no waiting period. If you exceed the authorized length of stay, you are exposed to serious penalties: fines, deportation and criminal proceedings.
06 · Before you travel
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.
The Kenya ETA is an electronic travel authorization — not a traditional visa — introduced on 1 January 2024 to replace the entry visa system. It applies to most European, Asian and North American nationalities for stays of less than 90 days. The process is entirely online, with an average processing time of 3 working days and consular fees set at 35 USD. The fundamental rule: 1 passport = 1 ETA. The authorization must be printed and presented at boarding and on arrival. Complexity is considered moderate: the form is accessible, but documents must be rigorously compliant to avoid rejection at the first verification.
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