To enter Kenya, travellers holding an Indonesian passport must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). A standard eTA comes with a USD 30 fee, permits a single entry, and typically takes up to 72 hours to process. The application is filed online via the Kenya eTA portal, and it has to be done before you set off. For a full overview of what’s needed, see our guide to Kenya visa requirements.
The text below is an independent guide and has no connection to any government office. We neither collect payments nor submit documents on your behalf. Applications are handled at etakenya.go.ke, the portal linked here.
Do Indonesian Citizens Need a Visa for Kenya?
Yes, you do. Indonesia does not appear on Kenya’s list of exempt countries, which means an approved eTA is required before travelling. The same rule covers infants and children.
For most visitors, the eTA has taken the place of the classic visa, and it remains valid for a single entry. According to the Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services, every visitor has to hold an approved eTA before the journey begins.
Holders of diplomatic passports also go through the eTA process. The standard option is free of charge for diplomats, although they may pay a surcharge if they want quicker handling.
Approval of an eTA does not automatically mean you will be let in, because the final call belongs to the immigration officer at the point of entry.
Required Documents and Health Entry Requirements
Required Documents
- A passport that stays valid for at least six more months and has one empty page – check the full Kenya passport requirements before you apply
- A photo of yourself, either a selfie or one taken to passport standards
- Contact information, meaning your email address and a phone number
- An itinerary that shows when you arrive and when you leave
- Confirmation that your accommodation is booked
- A card for payment, credit or debit
Extra items may be requested by the portal, depending on why you are travelling. Those on business upload an invitation letter along with a copy of the company registration. When visiting family, you need the host’s invitation as well as their ID, passport, alien card or entry permit. A hospital referral letter is expected for medical trips, an invitation or participation letter for conferences, and a contract document when the purpose is employment.
Mandatory Travel Health Insurance
As the Ministry of Health notice displayed in the eTA application explains, each person travelling to Kenya must hold valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA. That notice is tied to Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026. Neither a minimum cover nor a price is given there, so buy a policy before submitting the application and run the portal’s check to make sure it qualifies.
Vaccinations and Malaria
Travellers aged one year and over who arrive from a country where yellow fever transmission is a risk must be vaccinated against it. Only arrivals from those countries fall under the rule, so compare the WHO country list with your route, stopovers included. Learn more about Kenya’s yellow fever vaccination and health precautions.
In practice, malaria matters more. For every area below 2,500 m, game parks among them, the CDC advises prescription preventive medicine. The densely built centre of Nairobi is different: there no chemoprophylaxis is advised, and precautions against insect bites are enough.
eTA Fees and Processing Times
The starting point is the standard eTA at USD 30, and that is the option most Indonesian tourists require.
| eTA type | What it allows | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Standard eTA | One entry into Kenya | USD 30 |
| Transit eTA | Travellers on a transit flight through Kenya | USD 20 |
| One Year Multi-Entry eTA | Multiple entries over one year | USD 300 |
| Five Year Multi-Entry eTA | American nationals only | USD 185 |
Under normal handling, processing lasts up to 72 hours, and verification checks can extend that. If you pay an additional USD 100 for expedited processing, the case is dealt with immediately.
The Directorate advises submitting the application at least two weeks ahead of departure. Hold off on non-refundable flight bookings until the eTA has been approved.
Applying for a Kenya Visa for Indonesian Citizens
Applications go online at etakenya.go.ke or through the “Kenya Travel Authorisation” mobile app, and these are the only channels the Directorate accepts. For a detailed walkthrough, follow our step-by-step Kenya eTA application guide.
Go to the portal and select “Apply Now”
Fill in your information and review each field
Add your passport biodata page, a selfie or photo, and the consent letter
Send the application off
Watch for the email that confirms receipt, followed by the payment confirmation
Read the email with the immigration officer’s approval or refusal
When the answer is positive, print the PDF or keep it in the mobile app
Progress can be followed with the “Check Status” button, using the reference number sent to your email. Another person may complete the application for you, provided they indicate that they are applying on your behalf. Groups choose “Apply as a Group”, yet every passenger still requires an eTA of their own.
Should the application be refused, describe your situation in an email to [email protected]. For general enquiries, use [email protected], WhatsApp +254 110 922 064, or call +254 717 436 070.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can someone else apply for a Kenya eTA on my behalf?
Yes, that is allowed. Whoever assists you ticks the option saying the application is made on your behalf and fills in your data rather than their own. The passport page and the photo still have to show you.
How can I verify my eTA status via the etakenya.go.ke portal?
Use the “Check Status” button on the homepage and type in the reference number that was emailed once you applied. Should that message never reach you, write to [email protected] before you make any further bookings.
Must all travelers to Kenya have inbound travel health insurance?
Yes, it is. Under Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026, the Ministry of Health notice obliges every traveller to hold valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance. The notice sets neither a minimum cover nor a price.
Are Indonesian children and infants required to have an eTA for Kenya?
Yes, they do. An approved eTA is required of every visitor, infants and children included. A separate application is needed for each child, and every adult files one too.
Am I allowed to travel to Kenya before my eTA application is approved?
No, you cannot. Set off only once Kenya has approved the application, so wait for the email confirming approval.
What steps should I take if my application for a Kenya visa for Indonesian citizens is denied?
If you receive a refusal, travelling is not possible at this stage. Send an email to [email protected] explaining your situation.
Do Indonesian citizens traveling directly from Indonesia to Kenya need a yellow fever vaccination?
No, as long as your route avoids countries where yellow fever is a transmission risk. The rule concerns travellers aged one year and over arriving from such places. A stopover in a risk country would bring you within it.
What is the cost of an expedited Kenya visa for Indonesian citizens, and how quickly is it processed?
Standard processing begins at USD 30 and may last up to 72 hours. For an extra USD 100 you can request expedited processing, which is dealt with immediately and helps when departure is near.
Sources and verification
- WHO – International Travel and Health: country list of vaccination requirements, yellow fever rules listed per country (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA portal – ETA Eligibility, the list of countries, eTA categories and their fees (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA FAQs, how to apply, processing, status tracking and applications filed by third parties (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA application, Notices step, the Ministry of Health notice about compulsory inbound travel health insurance (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA application – Required Documents steps, uploads of the passport page, photo and other documents (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA General Information, exemptions, documents required and processing times (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- How to Apply · Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), who requires an eTA, who is exempt and passport validity rules (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Travelers’ health: Kenya, vaccinations, malaria prevention and health notices (zweryfikowano 2026-10-13)
