Kenya Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
-
Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)
- Who
- All visitors, including infants and children. Citizens of East African Community partner states are exempt
- When
- Before the journey. Normal processing takes up to 72 hours
- Cost
- From USD 30 (expedited processing costs more)
Apply only on the official website or the official "Kenya Travel Authorisation" app.
Checked against the official source 2026-09-26
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Kenya's entry system now runs on the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). This replaced older visa-on-arrival setups. Your nationality and visit purpose determine whether you apply, and which category you get. East African Community partner state citizens skip the eTA entirely. Everyone else applies online before flying. Eligibility, stay length, and fees differ by nationality. Check the official Kenyan immigration website for your case.
East African Community (EAC) partner state citizens enter Kenya without Electronic Travel Authorisation. No pre-authorization needed. All other nationalities typically need advance approval.
EAC membership shifts. Confirm your country's current standing with Kenyan immigration before you travel.
Kenya demands Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) from all visitors. Infants and children included. Only EAC partner state passport holders escape this. The eTA covers tourism, business, and transit.
Cost: Processing fees start at a base rate for standard service. Expedited costs more. Exact pricing depends on speed selected. Check the official eTA portal for current rates.
Stick to the official government eTA website or the official Kenya Travel Authorisation app. Third-party sites often overcharge or fail to submit properly. Print your eTA confirmation. Carry it with your documents.
Some nationalities must apply through a Kenyan embassy or consulate instead of the standard eTA route. Your passport and visit purpose determine this.
This category is narrow. Most travelers use eTA. Unsure which applies? The official Kenyan immigration website has a nationality lookup.
Arrival Process
Arrival in Kenya proceeds smoothly when paperwork is ready. At Jomo Kenyatta in Nairobi, signs and staff guide you through. Overland crossings follow similar steps but with less formal structure.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
Kenya's customs rules look familiar. But wildlife products trigger serious scrutiny. Ignorance won't protect you. Declare anything questionable. Honest declarations carry light consequences. Concealment does not.
Prohibited Items
- Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including cannabis, whatever your home country's laws say
- Counterfeit goods: fake currency, pirated media, imitation branded products
- Pornographic material in any format
- Firearms, ammunition, and explosives without prior written Kenyan authorization
- Ivory, rhino horn, and CITES-listed endangered species products, which Kenya enforces hard
- Plastic bags for commercial or household packaging, banned under Kenya's strict single-use plastic prohibition, enforced at entry points
Restricted Items
- Carry prescription meds in original packaging with prescription copy or doctor's letter. Controlled substances, opioids and certain psychiatric drugs, may need extra paperwork.
- Plants, seeds, soil, and agricultural products need phytosanitary certificates and face Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service inspection or confiscation.
- Live animals and animal products need import permits and health certificates. See pet travel section for companion animals.
- Satellite phones, walkie-talkies, radio transmitters and similar gear may need Communications Authority of Kenya licensing.
- Drones need Kenya Civil Aviation Authority registration and permits before import and operation.
Health Requirements
Kenya has specific health-related entry requirements that travelers need to address before departure. The main concern at the border is yellow fever certification for travelers from endemic areas. Your own health preparation should go considerably further than what immigration checks for. Plan ahead.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers arriving from, or transiting through, countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. You will need to present an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (the yellow card) at immigration. The vaccine must be administered at least ten days before arrival to be considered valid. Get it done early.
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis An and B are commonly recommended for travelers to Kenya
- Typhoid vaccination is advisable, if you plan to eat outside major hotels and restaurants. Street food carries risk. Consider the shot.
- Routine vaccinations including measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and polio should be up to date. Check your records. Update if needed.
- Rabies vaccination is worth considering if you plan to spend time in rural areas or around animals. Stray dogs are common. Pre-exposure protection helps.
- Meningococcal vaccine may be recommended depending on the season and your itinerary. Dry season brings higher risk in some regions. Ask your clinic.
- Malaria prophylaxis is strongly advised for most areas of Kenya, including Nairobi at certain times of year. Consult a travel health clinic for the most appropriate regimen for your itinerary and medical history. Take it seriously.
Health Insurance
Kenya does not currently mandate travel health insurance for entry. But traveling without it is a significant financial risk. Medical evacuation from remote safari areas can be extraordinarily expensive, and hospital care in Nairobi, while generally competent at private facilities, requires payment upfront in most cases. A policy that covers medical evacuation is important if your itinerary includes wildlife reserves or the coast. Buy coverage.
Protect Your Trip with Travel Insurance
Comprehensive coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Many countries recommend or require travel insurance.
Get a Free, No-Obligation Quote from World NomadsRead our complete Kenya Travel Insurance Guide →
Important Contacts
Essential resources for your trip.
Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
Children of all ages, including infants, need their own valid passport and an approved eTA to enter Kenya. If a child is traveling with only one parent, carrying a notarized consent letter from the absent parent is strongly advisable, along with a copy of the child's birth certificate. Kenya's immigration officers may ask about the relationship between an adult and a child traveling together, when surnames differ. Having documentation that establishes the relationship, such as a birth certificate or custody order, can prevent delays. These requirements exist to combat child trafficking and are taken seriously. Bring paperwork.
Importing a companion animal into Kenya requires an import permit from the Kenya Directorate of Veterinary Services, a valid rabies vaccination certificate administered at least 30 days but not more than 12 months before travel, and a veterinary health certificate issued within the days immediately before departure. The animal may be subject to inspection on arrival. Requirements vary by species and country of origin, so contact the Kenyan veterinary authority well in advance. Quarantine may apply in some circumstances. Start early.
If you wish to stay in Kenya beyond the period granted on your eTA or entry stamp, you will need to apply for an extension through the Kenya Immigration Authority before your current authorization expires. Overstaying is treated as a serious matter and can result in fines, detention, or difficulty entering Kenya in the future. For longer-term stays involving work, study, or residence, specific permit categories exist, each with their own application process and requirements. These should be arranged before travel where possible. Do not overstay.
Kenya recognizes dual citizenship. If you hold both Kenyan and another nationality, you should enter and leave Kenya on your Kenyan passport. If you hold two non-Kenyan passports, be consistent about which one you use for your eTA application and at immigration. Discrepancies between the passport used for the eTA and the one presented at the border will cause problems. Match your documents.
If your itinerary includes multiple East African countries, verify whether your Kenya eTA permits re-entry or whether you will need a new authorization each time you cross the border. Some travelers use the East Africa Tourist Visa, which covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda on a single authorization, though eligibility and availability should be confirmed with the issuing immigration authority before you commit to this route. Border crossings can be time-consuming, and infrastructure varies considerably between crossing points. Plan your route carefully.
Know What to Pack
Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear, with shopping links for every item.
View Kenya Packing List →Ready to plan your trip to Kenya?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.