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Kenya Visa — Apply Yourself for an eTA

Direct Apply — no agent required Issuing authority: Department of Immigration Services, Kenya
Go to the official eTA portal ↗ etakenya.go.ke

Overview

Since 5 January 2024, Kenya replaced its traditional visa system with an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), applied for entirely online at etakenya.go.ke. It's mandatory for almost all non-exempt visitors — including infants — and there's no visa-on-arrival fallback anymore. You register, fill in the form, upload your documents, and pay online yourself; the government explicitly states this is the only official website and it isn't liable for payments made elsewhere.

Since July 2025, Kenya has waived visa and eTA requirements for most African and Caribbean nationalities — check the current exempt list before assuming you need to apply.

Visa categories

Single-entry eTAUp to 90 days, one visit.
Multiple-entry eTAIntroduced 2024, valid up to 5 years, 90-day stay per visit.

Documents checklist

  • Passport valid for at least 6 months from arrival, with at least one blank page
  • Passport bio-data page scan
  • Recent passport-style photo or selfie, JPEG, white background
  • Travel itinerary (arrival and departure details)
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host details)
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate, if arriving from an endemic area
  • Credit or debit card for the fee

Step-by-step application process

  1. 1. Confirm you're not exempt

    Check the current exemption list at etakenya.go.ke before applying — the requirement has narrowed significantly since 2025.

  2. 2. Register an account

    Sign up with your email and create a password; verify via the confirmation email.

  3. 3. Complete the application form

    Enter personal, passport, travel and accommodation details. Families can apply as a group of up to 9.

  4. 4. Upload your documents

    Attach your passport scan, photo and any nationality-specific extras (invitation letter, company registration, etc.).

  5. 5. Pay the fee ($30 USD)

    Pay by card — non-refundable regardless of outcome.

  6. 6. Wait for approval

    Processing is typically 24–72 hours, officially up to 3–5 business days — apply at least 72 hours, ideally 2 weeks, before travel.

Fees & processing time

Fee$30 USD, non-refundable
Processing time24–72 hours typically, up to 3–5 business days officially
Stay lengthUp to 90 days per entry

Sources reviewed: etakenya.go.ke (Kenya Department of Immigration Services), Kenyan embassy consular pages (London, Paris, Addis Ababa), Wikipedia's Visa policy of Kenya. Exemption lists and fees change — always confirm on the official portal before applying.