Before boarding a flight to Kenya, anyone holding a Canadian passport must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) in hand. A standard eTA carries a USD 30 fee, permits a single entry and takes as long as 72 hours to process. Applications are accepted solely through the Kenya eTA portal at etakenya.go.ke or via the official Kenya Travel Authorisation app for mobile devices.
Below, Canadian passport holders will find the entire Kenya visa for Canadian citizens process laid out from beginning to end: the documents to upload, the fees to pay, the waiting time involved and the options available when something goes wrong. This is an independent guide and has no connection to any government body. We neither collect payments nor submit anything on your behalf, so double-check every detail on the official portal before setting off.
Are Canadian citizens required to obtain a Kenya eTA?
Yes, it is required. Canada appears on the list of countries whose travellers must obtain an eTA, which means a Canadian passport alone will not open the door. That same list covers the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and most of Europe, so Canadians queue up alongside the majority of long-haul visitors.
Every person making the trip needs one, infants and children included. According to the Ministry of Interior, any visitor planning to travel to Kenya has to hold an approved eTA before the journey begins, and for most travellers the eTA has taken the place of the traditional visa.
No exemption exists for Canada. The waiver list grants up to 180 days to East African Partner States and 60 or 90 days to selected African, Caribbean and Asian countries, and Canada does not appear on it.
One caveat worth knowing early: an approved eTA does not guarantee entry. The decision rests with immigration officers at the airport, so keep your documents within easy reach.
Documents You’ll Need for Your Application
Collect these before opening the form, since the portal requests them all in a single sitting. Depending on the field, uploads may be in JPG, PNG, PDF or WEBP format.
- Valid passport carrying at least 6 months of validity plus one blank page, scanned as a photograph of the biodata page.
- Selfie or passport-type photo, either uploaded or captured with your phone or webcam.
- Contact details: an email address and a phone number that you genuinely monitor.
- Travel itinerary showing the dates you arrive and depart.
- Accommodation booking confirmation for the place where you will stay.
- Payment method, for instance a credit or debit card.
- Signed consent or commitment letter, uploaded as an image or a PDF.
One further requirement tends to catch applicants off guard. A Ministry of Health notice included in the application states that every traveller must hold valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA, in line with Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026. Your policy status can be checked through that same notice.
Two items can be set aside. No official source mentions any rule about an onward or return ticket, and none specifies how much money you must prove you hold.
Kenya eTA Cost and Processing Time
A standard eTA costs USD 30 and is normally approved within three working days. If speed matters, pay the extra USD 100, as expedited applications are handled immediately.
| Option | Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard eTA, single entry | USD 30 |
| Expedited service | USD 30 plus USD 100 |
| Transit eTA | USD 20 |
| One-year multi-entry eTA | USD 300 |
The Directorate of Immigration Services in Kenya advises filing a minimum of two weeks ahead of your flight, because verification sometimes stretches beyond the usual three days. Diplomats are exempt from paying for a standard eTA, though they may pay for faster handling.
How to Apply for a Kenya eTA
The official portal and the Kenya Travel Authorisation app are the only routes for applications, and every traveller files separately, children included.
Go to etakenya.go.ke and select Apply Now
Access the official portal to begin your application.
Pick the individual tourist application
Select the appropriate application type for your visit.
Type in your personal and passport details precisely as printed
Ensure all information matches your documents exactly.
Upload the biodata page of your passport, your selfie and your consent letter
Provide all required supporting documents.
Include your itinerary for arrival and departure together with accommodation information
Enter your travel and lodging details.
Settle the fee with a credit or debit card
Complete the payment to submit your application.
Keep an eye out for the confirmation email and afterwards for the message approving or refusing your application
Monitor your inbox for updates on your application status.
Once approval arrives, either print the PDF or store it inside the mobile app. Another person may apply for you, provided they enter your details and indicate that they are filing on your behalf. Track progress with the Check Status button together with the reference number from your email. Travel is permitted only after Kenya approves the application.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for one adult while forgetting the children. Each passenger requires an approved eTA of their own, so submit one for every traveller.
- Booking flights before approval lands. A refusal means you cannot travel, so build some room into your plans.
- Hurrying through the passport field. Go over the passport fields carefully before submitting, as the portal expects the data to match your document.
- Postponing the health insurance until the airport. Sort out your Inbound Travel Health Insurance cover at the same time as your application, because the notice requires it before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does a Kenya eTA cost for Canadian citizens?
The standard eTA is priced at USD 30 and permits one entry. Choosing expedited handling adds USD 100, and such applications are processed immediately. Should you plan repeated trips, a transit eTA costs USD 20, while a one-year multi-entry eTA costs USD 300.
What is the processing time for a Kenya eTA for Canadians?
Normally three working days, which the Directorate of Immigration Services describes as up to 72 hours. In some cases verification stretches longer. Filing at least two weeks before departure leaves room for that.
What validity period must a passport have for a Kenya eTA?
At least six months of validity and one blank page are needed. Verify this before starting, since the portal requests your biodata page and a passport nearing expiry can hold up the application.
Are Canadian citizens able to submit a Kenya eTA application upon arrival?
No. Approval has to be in place before your journey starts, and travel is possible only once Kenya approves the application.
Is travel health insurance required for Kenya?
Yes. According to a Ministry of Health notice inside the eTA application, every traveller must hold valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA, under Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026. No minimum cover amount is given in the notice.
Is it possible for another person to apply for a Kenya eTA for me?
Yes. Whoever files has to enter your information and, at the end, mark that the application is for another person. Save copies of the reference number and confirmation emails, as status checks will require them.
What is the way to verify the status of my Kenya eTA application?
On the etakenya.go.ke homepage, click Check Status and type in the reference number that arrived in your email after you applied.
What steps should I take if my Kenya eTA application is rejected?
For the time being, travel is not possible. Send a message to [email protected] explaining your situation and requesting details. Before refiling, read the refusal email closely, because a fresh application may run into the same obstacle.
Sources and Verification
- Kenya eTA portal – ETA Eligibility – the country list, eTA categories and fees (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA FAQs – the steps to apply, documents, processing and support contacts (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA application – Notices step – Ministry of Health notice concerning compulsory inbound travel health insurance (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA application – required documents – upload fields for passport, photo and documents (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA General Information – exemptions, document requirements and processing times (verified 2026-10-13)
- How to Apply – Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization – the eTA requirement, travellers who are exempt and passport rules (verified 2026-10-13)
All the facts gathered in this guide come from the Kenyan government pages listed above, reviewed on 2026-10-13. Immigration rules do change, so verify the current requirements on the portal before you travel.
