Before boarding a flight, travellers holding a Bangladeshi passport must obtain a Kenya visa for Bangladeshi citizens, which takes the form of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). The application is submitted online through etakenya.go.ke. A standard eTA is priced at USD 30, is valid for a single entry and is usually processed within 72 hours.
The material below comes from an independent traveller resource and has no connection to a government page. We neither collect payments nor submit documents on your behalf, so please verify the fees and rules on the official portal before setting off.
Is a Kenya eTA Required for Citizens of Bangladesh?
Indeed. Bangladesh appears among the nationalities listed on the eTA portal as those obliged to carry an approved eTA, and the same rule applies to infants as well as older children.
One entry is granted by the standard eTA, which is priced at USD 30. Travellers can also choose a transit eTA for USD 20 or a one-year multi-entry eTA for USD 300, while the five-year multi-entry option at USD 185 remains available only to American nationals.
Approval of an eTA does not guarantee admission to the country. As the Directorate of Immigration Services explains, the final decision is taken by an immigration officer at the border.
Documents and Entry Requirements
A passport must remain valid for no less than six months and contain at least one empty page. A scan of the biodata page has to be uploaded in JPG, PNG or PDF format.
Passport and Documents
- A selfie or a passport-style photograph, uploaded in JPG, PNG or WEBP.
- A consent or commitment letter bearing your signature, in JPG, PNG or PDF.
- Contact information, meaning an email address together with a phone number.
- An itinerary for the trip that shows both arrival and departure.
- Confirmation of the place where you will stay.
- A credit card or debit card to cover the fee.
If the purpose of your trip is work, family or medical treatment, extra documents apply: an invitation letter and the company registration for business travel, an invitation from your host along with the host’s ID for family visits, or a hospital referral letter when travelling for medical care.
Mandatory Travel Health Insurance
According to a Ministry of Health notice displayed within the eTA application, every traveller is required to hold valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA, as set out in Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026. Within the application you can either verify the cover you already have or take out a policy, and no minimum sum is specified there.
Vaccination and Health Requirements
A certificate proving yellow fever vaccination is demanded from anyone aged one or above who arrives from a country where yellow fever transmission occurs. WHO advises the vaccine for travellers from nine months of age, although as a rule it is not needed for journeys confined to Nairobi, the North Eastern counties, or Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Mombasa, Malindi and Tana River.
For every area lying below 2,500 m, game parks among them, the US CDC recommends taking malaria tablets. Cases are seldom seen in central Nairobi, where the advice is limited to measures against insect bites.
How to Apply, Step by Step
The whole process takes place either on the official site at etakenya.go.ke or through the “Kenya Travel Authorisation” mobile app. Any application submitted elsewhere is not valid.
Go to etakenya.go.ke and select “Apply Now”
Fill in the traveller’s details
Mark that the application is being made on their behalf.
Upload the passport biodata page, the photograph and the consent letter
Add the arrival and departure itinerary together with the accommodation booking
Settle the USD 30 fee using a card
Save the confirmation email along with the reference number it contains
Then wait for the decision
Which normally arrives within three business days.
Once approval comes through, print the PDF or keep it saved in the app
If the application is refused, email [email protected] instead of rebooking anything. Families ought to select “Apply as a Group”, yet every passenger still requires an individual eTA.
Fees, Processing and Common Mistakes
| eTA type | Fee | Entries | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard eTA | USD 30 | One | Up to 72 hours |
| Transit eTA | USD 20 | Transit only | Up to 72 hours |
| One-year multi-entry | USD 300 | Multiple | Up to 72 hours |
| Five-year multi-entry | USD 185 | Multiple, US nationals | Up to 72 hours |
| Expedited service | Plus USD 100 | As chosen | Immediate |
Because checks sometimes take more than 72 hours, the Directorate of Immigration Services recommends submitting the application at least two weeks ahead of the journey.
- Handing money to an unofficial middleman. Applications are accepted only through the portal and the official app.
- Omitting the health insurance, which forms part of what is checked during the application.
- A passport that expires in less than six months or has no empty page remaining.
- Buying flights before approval arrives. Travel is possible only after Kenya approves the application.
- Skipping yellow fever protection when the route you take passes through a country at risk.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can someone else apply for a Kenya eTA on behalf of a Bangladeshi citizen?
Yes. The form may be completed by a friend, a relative or an agent, provided the traveller’s own details are entered and you indicate that you are applying on their behalf. It is the traveller who holds the approval.
For Bangladeshi citizens, is travel health insurance a required element of the Kenya visa?
Yes. Under Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026, a Ministry of Health notice obliges every traveller to hold Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA. Through the application you may verify cover you already have or arrange a new policy.
If my application for a Kenya eTA is rejected, what steps should I take?
For the time being, travel is not possible. Send an email to [email protected] describing your situation so you can learn the reasons behind the refusal.
Is a separate eTA for Kenya needed for children and infants?
Yes. Before the journey, every child must hold an approved eTA. Choose the group option at the start, yet each passenger still receives an authorisation of their own.
Is it possible for Bangladeshi citizens to obtain a multiple-entry Kenya visa for Bangladeshi citizens?
Yes, multiple entries across twelve months are covered by the one-year multi-entry eTA priced at USD 300. The less expensive five-year option, at USD 185, is set aside for American nationals.
Do Bangladeshi travelers who arrive directly from Bangladesh need to be vaccinated against yellow fever?
The requirement for proof covers travellers aged one or above who arrive from countries where yellow fever transmission is a risk. Should your route begin in or pass through such a country, keep your certificate with you. If not, check whether your itinerary lies in an area where the vaccine is recommended.
In what way can I verify the status of my Kenya eTA application?
On the etakenya.go.ke homepage, click “Check Status” and type in the reference number found in your confirmation email. An email will also reach you after an immigration officer has reached a decision.
How much is the transit eTA fee for travellers who pass through Kenya?
Priced at USD 20, the transit eTA is meant for travellers on a transit flight. Should you intend to leave the airport and remain in the country for a while, the standard eTA at USD 30 is normally what you need.
Sources and Verification
- WHO – International Travel and Health: country list of vaccination requirements – guidance on yellow fever and malaria organised by country (2022, revised 2023; verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA portal – ETA Eligibility – the nationalities that require an eTA and the price of each type (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA FAQs – the steps of the application, the documents, processing and refusals (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA application – Notices step – the notice making inbound travel health insurance compulsory (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA application – Required Documents – the list of uploads and the file formats accepted (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA General Information – exemptions, required documents and how long processing takes (verified 2026-10-13)
- How to Apply · Kenya eTA – the eTA obligation and what is expected of the passport (verified 2026-10-13)
- US CDC – Travelers’ health: Kenya – advice on malaria, cholera, rabies and routine vaccinations (verified 2026-10-13)
