Apply for your Kenya ETA online
The Kenya ETA replaced the old Kenya eVisa and is what nearly every visitor now needs. Expert-reviewed application, filed for you by iVisa.
Kenya ETA requirements
The Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is a mandatory digital entry requirement for all foreign visitors — including infants and children — traveling to Kenya. This system has replaced the previous Kenya eVisa to streamline the entry process, so a search for a Kenya e visa or an electronic visa for Kenya now leads here.
It is required for tourism, business meetings, visiting family, or transit, which makes it the document most travelers mean when they look for a Kenya tourist visa or a Kenya visitor visa. The Kenya ETA is digitally linked to your passport and must be obtained before you board your flight.
Required documents for the Kenya ETA
Requirements verified against official government sources
- Passport (must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival)
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Flight itinerary (round trip)
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation letter)
- Valid email address
Requirements may vary depending on nationality.
Kenya ETA pricing and validity
One all-in price. The checkout total includes our service fee, expert review, and support — no surprises.
- Who it's for
- Every foreign visitor to Kenya, including infants and children, needs their own approved travel authorization. It replaced the country's earlier eVisa. Nationals of several African and Pacific states are exempt under Kenya's own rules and do not need one at all.
- Permitted activities
- Tourism, business meetings, visiting family, transit, medical treatment, conferences and employment-related travel. The purpose you pick changes which supporting documents you need, such as a medical referral letter, a conference or business invitation, or a host's identification.
- How you travel
- It covers arrival by air, sea and land. Transit has its own separate authorization for anyone who has to clear immigration, for example to change terminals or leave the airport overnight. Passengers who stay aboard the same aircraft or ship, or transfer without leaving the airport precincts, are exempt.
- Delivery format
- You receive a PDF authorization by email, which you can also open in Kenya's official travel authorization app. Show it when you board and again on arrival, alongside a passport with a blank page.
- Good to know
- Approval is not a guarantee of entry. An immigration officer at the port of entry still decides whether to admit you, and false or incomplete information causes a rejection. Each traveler needs their own authorization, and an adult may apply on behalf of a child or another traveler.
- Validity
- Valid for 90 days
- Entry
- Single entry
- Length of stay
- Stay up to 90 days in total
- Processing time
- Get it in as fast as 2 days
How to apply for your Kenya ETA
Three simple steps — iVisa prepares, reviews, and files your Kenya ETA for you.
Complete the application
Answer a few simple questions and upload your documents, choose your processing speed, and pay securely. Most travelers finish in minutes.
We review and submit your application
Our experts check your application for the errors that cause government rejections, fix them with you, then submit it directly to the Kenya government on your behalf.
Receive your Kenya ETA
Once approved, your Kenya ETA arrives by email — ready to travel, with clear instructions on how to use it.
I left application for visa a bit late so chose to use this service to be sure. I was a bit horrified at cost but felt I had no option. Being elderly I had to ask for help from my daughter but she completed the application easily and I was impressed by speed that the visa arrived
Good and reliable service. It makes you feel like you are in good hands. Too expensive though, cost should be more reasonable.
The process does require a significant amount of information including uploading a portrate photograph of yourself and a photograph of your main passport page. You should have these to hand before you start the process.
Many online applicatiom forms have issues when filling in data especially from images so I was pleasantly surprised when photos of myself and my passport worked perfectly.
They stood with us until we can get it right and finally I figure it out thank you guys so much for having patient with us God bless
the ease of data entry and the speed of updates, despite the high cost
Application process is straightforward and easy to navigate. Applied for a 5-day delivery option but visa was approved and delivered on same day of application.
Quick, great customer service. i got my eat in a day, i used the super expedited option so it was a bit price but it was emergency tracel and they came in clutch, when I had issues the customer service was great. Easy website to navigate.
IVisa is an excellent way to gain access to other countries. Their simple to understand questions make the process easy and efficient
After many attempts to get this visa I contacted this site and completed the paperwork much faster than the other sites and now have the visa.
Kenya visa FAQs
Quick answers to the most common questions about the Kenya ETA.
Still have questions?
Our visa experts are available 24/7 on chat, email, and WhatsApp.
Is the Kenya ETA the same as a Kenya visa?
For most travelers it does the same job. The ETA is a travel authorization rather than a visa sticker, and it replaced the Kenya eVisa that used to be issued for tourism and short visits. If you are looking for a Kenya tourist visa, a Kenya visitor visa or an electronic visa for Kenya, the ETA is the document you now apply for.
How do I apply for a Kenya visa online?
You complete the whole Kenya visa application online. Answer a few questions about your nationality, trip and purpose of travel, upload your passport and supporting documents, and pay. Our experts review the application for the errors that commonly cause government rejections before it is submitted to the Kenyan authorities on your behalf.
Can I get a Kenya visa on arrival?
No. Kenya now expects an approved ETA before you board, so there is no reliable visa-on-arrival route for ordinary visitors. Airlines check the authorization at check-in, which means arriving without one can stop you at the departure gate rather than at the Kenyan border. Apply before you travel.
Do I need an ETA for Kenya even if I was previously visa-exempt?
Yes. As of 2024, the ETA is a mandatory requirement for almost all foreign nationals, including those from countries that were previously visa-exempt (such as many African, European, and North American nations). Only citizens of East African Community (EAC) partner states are currently exempt.
How will I receive the Kenya ETA?
You will receive your approved ETA via email as a PDF document. You must print a physical copy or save a digital version on your mobile device to present to your airline at check-in and to immigration officials upon arrival in Kenya. If you apply through iVisa, a copy of your approved ETA will also be available in your dashboard.
How long can I stay in Kenya with an ETA?
An approved Kenya ETA usually allows for a stay of up to 90 days. The authorization is valid for a single entry. If you leave Kenya and wish to return, you will typically need to apply for a new ETA.
Can I extend my stay in Kenya?
Yes. If you wish to stay longer than the initial period granted, you can apply for a stay extension through the eFNS portal or at the Immigration Office in Nairobi or Mombasa. Extensions are usually granted for an additional 90 days.
How long does Kenya ETA processing take?
Government processing usually takes around 3 business days. However, it can take longer during peak periods. With iVisa, you choose your processing speed at checkout, and the option you pick is shown with its delivery time before you pay.
Do children and infants need a Kenya ETA?
Yes. Every traveler, regardless of age, must have their own approved ETA. Parents or legal guardians should complete the application on behalf of their children. iVisa's "Add another person" feature allows you to manage the whole family's applications easily.
Do I need an ETA for transit through Kenya?
If you are transiting through Kenya and staying within the international transit area of the airport, you do not need an ETA. However, if you need to clear immigration for any reason (such as changing terminals or staying at a hotel outside the airport), you must have a valid Transit ETA.
What happens if my application is denied?
The most common reasons for denial are blurry passport scans or inconsistent travel dates. iVisa's expert review process is designed to identify and correct these issues before submission. iVisa also offers optional denial protection for your application.
iVisa vs. the official Kenya process
Why travelers choose iVisa
On your own
- Several overlapping tiers sit side by side on the official site, covering transit, single entry and longer multiple-entry options, with a separate charge for faster handling.
- The official FAQ confirms a separate authorization is required for every traveler, including couples and families. There is no bundled household checkout.
- One email address, one WhatsApp number and one phone line, with no live chat and no confirmed coverage in languages other than English.
- An approved authorization is still not a guarantee of entry, and that is easy to miss on the official pages.
- We work out which one fits your trip and show you one clear all-inclusive price before you start.
- Add your companions to one order and fill in shared trip details once.
- Real human support in your language by chat, email and phone.
- We say plainly what the document does and does not do, so you know what to expect at the border.
Kenya visa requirements for other passport holders
- Kenya visa for US citizens
- Kenya visa for British citizens
- Kenya visa for German citizens
- Kenya visa for French citizens
- Kenya visa for Italian citizens
- Kenya visa for Australian citizens
- Kenya visa for Canadian citizens
- Kenya visa for Bangladeshi citizens
- Kenya visa for Indian citizens
- Kenya visa for Pakistani citizens
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