Getting your Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)
Since the 1st January 2024 the online application for a Kenyan Visa has changed to an online application for a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation or eTA. An eTA is required for entry into Kenya and the Government of Kenya has an online eTA application portal to allow visitors to apply and pay for their eTA online before they travel to Kenya.
Citizens of the Kenya and East African Partner States are exempt from completing the eTA. The East African Partner State countries include Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, and are exempted for six (6) months.
NB: You can not get an electronic travel authorisation on arrival in Kenya, you must get an eTA before arriving in Kenya.
Main points;
- They try to review and issue eTA's within 72 hours, if you apply over a weekend then it may take longer
- Once it has been issued the eTA is valid for three months (therefore applications should be submitted no earlier than 3 months before you plan to enter Kenya)
- The current fee is roughly US $35 and you pay online with a credit / debit card (you are paying in US Dollars so if you're paying with a Sterling or Euro credit / debit card expect there to be an additional transaction fee charged by your card issuer
- When making the application you will need to have your passport to hand
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months
Documents that will need to be uploaded during the eTA application;
- Passport sized photo (no bigger than 500 x 500 pixels) in jpeg format
- Photo or scan of your passport's bio-data page in jpeg format (the passport page that has your photo on it)
- Accommodation Booking Confirmation (contact the office before making an application and we'll provide a pdf letter confirming your itinerary)
- Airline Booking Confirmation (pdf of your confirmed flight itinerary)
Step by step eTA application process
- Click on Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation link
- Click 'Apply Now' button
- Click 'Tourists & Visitors' button for a tourist eTA
- Click 'Continue' button and read and agree to the Declaration of Consent
- Click either the 'Individual' or 'Group' application (Group applications are for a group of up to six travellers that share the same country of residence, same purpose of visit to Kenya and same travel and accommodation for the entire time in Kenya)
- Select your country of residence
- Complete the 'Trip Information' section, including reason for travel, flight information and address in Kenya (for address in Kenya type Adventure Alternative and from the drop down menu select 'Adventure Alternative Kenya, Rowallan Camp, Kibera Drive, Nairobi, Kenya' and put in the dates that you will in Kenya
- Complete the 'Passport Information' page by uploading a photo or scan of the page of your passport with the photo on it (bio-data page)
- Upload a passport photo or take a selfie with a webcam and complete the traveller information section and the customs declaration
- Complete the 'Contact Information' section
- Upload the required documents - Accommodation Booking Confirmation (provided by Adventure Alternative) and Airline Booking Confirmation
- Confirm and proceed by digitally signing the application
- Select 'Standard Processing' on the page confirming the cost of the application
- Pay securely using your debit or credit card.
- Await approval via email (email will have your Kenya eTA attached)
- Print your Electronic Travel Authorisation, it MUST be printed in colour
- Present your printed eTA to the immigration officer at the port of entry.
NB: You must carry a printed copy of your eTA to Kenya, failure to bring a hard copy could in difficulties and long delays on arrival in Kenya, in our experience immigration in Kenya has no way of checking online and will not accept a screenshot on your phone as proof.