Kenya Tourist Visa & eTA 2027: Complete Application Guide

The Kenya tourist visa 2027 process has changed: Kenya replaced its traditional sticker visa with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system in January 2024, and the eTA is now the standard entry route for the vast majority of international visitors. What most travellers need to know is straightforward — apply online before travel, pay USD 34.59, and receive approval within two to three business days. This guide covers the full Kenya tourist visa 2027 requirements: the eTA process, the East African Tourist Visa option for multi-country itineraries, documents required, and what else customs will check on arrival.

Kenya eTA: The Current Entry System

Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation replaced the on-arrival visa for all nationalities that previously required a visa — which covers most visitors from Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and beyond the East African Community. The eTA must be approved before departure; arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi or Moi International Airport in Mombasa without an approved eTA risks boarding refusal at your departure airport and denial of entry on arrival.

The tourist eTA costs USD 34.59 and allows a stay of up to 90 days. Applications are made through the official Kenya eTA portal (etakenya.go.ke — use only the official government URL; third-party sites charge higher fees for no additional service). Processing typically takes two to three business days, though 24-hour approvals are common. Apply at least five business days before travel to allow for any document queries from the immigration authority. For more on what to prepare before your Kenya trip, see our Kenya safari travel tips guide.

Documents Required for the Kenya eTA

Prepare these documents before starting the online application:

• Valid passport: must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned entry date into Kenya. If your passport expires within six months of travel, renew it before applying.
• Passport photo: digital, white background, recent. The portal specifies JPEG format under 1 MB.
• Return or onward flight booking: a confirmed itinerary showing departure from Kenya. A flexible booking confirmation is accepted.
• Accommodation confirmation: hotel booking, lodge confirmation, safari itinerary or a host letter. A booked safari from a tour operator satisfies this requirement.
• Proof of sufficient funds: bank statement for the past three months. The equivalent of USD 50 per day is the widely cited benchmark.
• Yellow fever certificate: mandatory if arriving from or transiting a yellow fever-endemic country (most of West and Central Africa, parts of South America). Kenya immigration enforces this. If your itinerary includes Uganda, Tanzania or Rwanda, yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended regardless.

East African Tourist Visa: Kenya + Uganda + Rwanda

If your itinerary combines Kenya with Uganda and/or Rwanda, the East African Tourist Visa (EATV) is better value than applying for three separate visas. The EATV is a single permit costing USD 100 that allows multiple entry across all three countries for 90 days. It is issued on arrival at designated entry points — Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and Entebbe International Airport in Uganda are the most common — and must be requested at your first point of entry into the bloc. You cannot switch to the EATV after entering on a single-country visa.

For a typical East Africa safari combining the Masai Mara in Kenya with gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda, the EATV at USD 100 compares well against a Kenya eTA (USD 34.59) plus a Uganda visa (USD 50) or Rwanda visa (USD 30) — while also removing the single-entry limitation that individual visas carry. Tanzania is not part of the EATV; visitors crossing into Tanzania from Kenya require a separate Tanzania visa (USD 50 on arrival for most nationalities). For comprehensive East Africa trip planning, our East Africa safari planning guide covers multi-country itinerary options, and our East Africa safari cost guide sets realistic budget expectations.

Nationalities Exempt from the Kenya eTA

Citizens of East African Community member states — Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia — do not require a visa or eTA to enter Kenya. Several other African countries hold bilateral visa-free agreements with Kenya. All other nationalities — including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union members, Australia and Canada — require the eTA. Verify your nationality’s current status on the Kenya Immigration Department website before travel, as bilateral agreements can change.

Other Entry Requirements for Kenya 2027

The Kenya tourist visa 2027 process is separate from Kenya’s additional arrival requirements:

• Yellow fever certificate: required from travellers arriving from or transiting yellow fever-endemic countries. Immigration officers at JKIA check the ICVP (International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis) routinely.
• Plastic bag ban: Kenya prohibits the import of plastic bags. Customs officers will confiscate them and a fine applies. Pack in fabric bags or zip-seal bags.
• Drone import: drones require advance written permission from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Drones without documentation are confiscated at customs. Apply six to eight weeks before travel if you intend to bring one.
• COVID-19: all COVID-related entry requirements were removed in 2022 and have not been reinstated. No vaccination certificate or test is required as of 2027.

Once you have your visa sorted, our Kenya safari packing list covers everything else you need to prepare, including luggage weight limits for charter flights, clothing colours, and camera equipment. And if you are planning day trips from Nairobi between game parks, our guide has the distances and timing for every key destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I apply for the Kenya tourist visa eTA?

Apply at least five business days before departure. Most applications clear within two to three business days, but additional document requests can extend this. Ten to fourteen days before travel is the comfortable window — it costs nothing extra and eliminates last-minute stress.

Can I extend my Kenya eTA once in-country?

Yes. The Department of Immigration Services in Nairobi processes eTA extensions for visitors needing to stay beyond the initial 90-day approval. Extensions are not guaranteed and require valid supporting documentation. Apply at the Upper Hill immigration offices before your current approval expires. Overstaying without an approved extension results in a fine and potential deportation.

Is the East African Tourist Visa available online?

No — the EATV is issued on arrival at designated entry points in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. It is not available as a pre-travel online application. Present your documents at the immigration counter at your first East African entry point and specifically request the East African Tourist Visa. The Kenya eTA, by contrast, must be applied for online before travel.