The eTA in one paragraph
Kenya no longer issues traditional tourist visas; instead, travelers apply online for an electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before departure. You apply on the official government portal (etakenya.go.ke), upload a passport photo page and selfie, share your travel details and accommodation, pay a modest fee, and typically receive approval by email within a few working days. Print it or keep the PDF on your phone for check-in and arrival.
Apply at least one to two weeks before flying to leave room for processing peaks. Citizens of fellow East African Community states are exempt; everyone else — including children on their own passports — needs one.
What to have ready
A passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival with a blank page; a clear photo of its bio page; a recent selfie or passport-style photo; your flight numbers and first-night accommodation (your safari confirmation from us covers this); and a card for payment. The application takes most travelers under fifteen minutes.
Use only the official portal — third-party lookalike sites charge steep markups for pasting your details into the same form. If you book with us, we send a step-by-step eTA guide with your confirmation and sanity-check your documents before you fly.
Arrival and onward travel
At Nairobi’s JKIA, immigration matches your passport to the eTA — no visa counters, no cash-on-arrival. If your safari combines Tanzania (which still runs its own visa system) you’ll arrange that separately; we brief combined-itinerary guests on both sets of paperwork.
Rules evolve — fees, validity windows and exemptions have all shifted since the eTA launched — so treat the official portal as the source of truth close to your travel date.
Questions travelers ask
How long before my trip should I apply for the Kenya eTA?
Two weeks before departure is comfortable. Processing is usually quick, but applying early costs nothing and protects you against peak-season backlogs.
Do children need a Kenya eTA?
Yes — every traveler with their own passport needs an authorisation, applied for by a parent or guardian in the same portal session.
Do I need an eTA if I’m only transiting Nairobi?
Travelers leaving the airport transit area generally need one; airside transit rules differ. Check the official portal for your specific routing.
