To enter Kenya, travellers holding a Pakistani passport must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) rather than a conventional visa. A standard eTA is priced at USD 30, permits one entry, and a decision normally arrives within 72 hours. Submit your application through etakenya.go.ke, preferably two weeks ahead of your departure.
Is a Kenya Visa Required for Citizens of Pakistan?
Yes. Because Pakistan appears on the eTA portal’s list, no exemption is available. Anyone visiting, babies and older children alike, must hold an approved eTA before setting off. Those flying through Kenya on a transit flight pay USD 20 for a transit eTA, while passengers who stay inside the airport precincts need no eTA at all. Diplomats accredited to Kenya fill in an eTA too, yet they are not charged for the standard version. For a broader overview of who needs an eTA, see Kenya’s visa policy.
Kenya Visa Requirements for Pakistani Citizens: Documents and Health
Have the following ready before you start the application, because an absent document is what most often holds an application up.
Required Documents
- Biodata page of your passport: JPG, PNG or PDF format, taken from a passport valid for at least 6 months and containing one blank page.
- A selfie or a passport-style photograph: JPG, PNG or WEBP, or captured using your webcam or phone camera.
- Letter of consent or commitment: JPG, PNG or PDF.
- Your contact details: an email address and a phone number.
- An itinerary covering arrival and departure, together with confirmation of your accommodation booking.
- A credit or debit card to cover the fee.
Those travelling for business attach an invitation letter along with a copy of the company registration. Visiting family requires a host invitation plus the host’s ID, passport, alien card or entry permit. If you are travelling for medical care, a hospital referral letter is needed.
Mandatory Travel Health Insurance
As stated in Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026, a Ministry of Health notice inside the application calls for valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA. Within the application you may either verify your existing cover or arrange a policy, although no minimum cover amount is specified.
Vaccination Requirements
According to the WHO country list, an ICVP (yellow fever certificate) is required for anyone aged 1 or above who arrives from a country where transmission risk exists. Since the certificate is only required when you come from a country with yellow fever transmission risk, your route, not your nationality, determines whether you need it.
For every area below 2,500 m, game parks included, the CDC advises prescription antimalarials, although chemoprophylaxis is not advised in central Nairobi. Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine are among the usual choices. Ask at a travel clinic which one fits your itinerary.
eTA Fees and Processing Times
| eTA type | Fee | Entries | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard eTA | USD 30 | Single entry | Up to 72 hours |
| Expedited service | Additional USD 100 | Single entry | Immediate |
| Transit eTA | USD 20 | Transit flights | Up to 72 hours |
| One-year multi-entry eTA | USD 300 | Multiple, one year | Up to 72 hours |
| Five-year multi-entry eTA | USD 185 | Multiple, five years | Up to 72 hours |
Only American nationals may use the five-year option, which means the standard eTA is what concerns the majority of applicants. Verification may exceed three working days, so submit your application at least two weeks in advance (see above). Travelling is possible only after your application has been approved.
How to Apply for a Kenya Visa for Pakistani Citizens
The whole process is completed online, either at etakenya.go.ke or through the “Kenya Travel Authorisation” app.
Start your application
Visit etakenya.go.ke, hit “Apply Now”, then select either an individual or a group application.
Enter passport details and upload documents
Fill in your passport details and upload the biodata page together with your selfie or passport-style photo.
Attach supporting documents
Attach the consent letter, your itinerary and the accommodation booking.
Review each field carefully
Errors lead to delays or even refusal.
Submit and pay
Send the form and pay the fee, then hold on to the confirmation email and the reference number it contains.
Receive your decision
Await the decision email and, once approved, either print the PDF or store it in the app.
Another person may submit the application for you, provided they hold your details and indicate that they are applying on your behalf. Heading abroad with family or a group? Choose “Apply as a Group”, but remember that every passenger still receives an individual eTA.
To follow your application, click “Check Status” on the homepage and type in your reference number. If you are refused, email [email protected]. General questions can be sent to [email protected], WhatsApp +254 110 922 064 or phone +254 717 436 070.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filing through an unofficial website. Third-party sites add a surcharge for a form you are able to complete yourself at etakenya.go.ke.
- Rushing through the data entry. A passport number typed incorrectly, or a name that differs from your passport, may lead to refusal or a hold-up at the airport.
- Ignoring the insurance. Inbound Travel Health Insurance is a requirement for travel, so arrange it while applying rather than at the airport.
- Applying too late. Three working days is the usual turnaround, not a guarantee. Submit your application at least two weeks in advance (see above).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can someone else apply for a Kenya visa for Pakistani citizens on my behalf?
Yes. The eTA may be completed by a friend, a relative or an agent, as long as they state that they are applying on your behalf. You are still the named traveller, so review the details yourself before the form is submitted.
Is a separate Kenya eTA required for children and infants who travel from Pakistan?
Yes. Every child requires a separate application and the USD 30 standard fee. If you are travelling together, choose “Apply as a Group” right at the beginning.
In the event that my Kenya eTA application is rejected, what occurs?
For the time being, travel to Kenya is not possible. The refusal email sets out the situation, and you should write to [email protected] for more information. Avoid booking non-refundable flights until approval comes through in writing.
Does an approved eTA guarantee that I will be granted entry into Kenya?
No. Admissibility is decided by an immigration officer at the point of entry, so keep your passport, insurance details and onward travel documents with you.
In what way can I verify the status of my application for a Kenya visa for Pakistani citizens?
On the etakenya.go.ke homepage, click “Check Status” and type in the reference number sent to you by email after applying. Should the decision be overdue, reach out via [email protected] or WhatsApp +254 110 922 064.
Are Pakistani citizens who visit Kenya obliged to have travel health insurance?
Yes. Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026 obliges every traveller to hold valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA. Cover can be verified or arranged inside the application.
Is a yellow fever vaccination required for me to enter Kenya from Pakistan?
Not when you travel directly from Pakistan. Should your route pass through a country with yellow fever risk, obtain the ICVP before departure and keep it with you.
What is the cost of expedited processing for a Kenya eTA?
According to the Kenya eTA portal, expedited, immediate processing adds USD 100 to the USD 30 standard fee. It only makes sense when your flight is imminent.
Sources and Verification
- How to Apply · Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): the eTA obligation, the exemptions and the documents required (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA FAQs: the steps to apply, processing times, fees and status tracking (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA portal – ETA Eligibility: the list of countries, eTA categories and their fees (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eTA General Information: guidance on processing and document lists organised by purpose of travel (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA application, Notices step: the Ministry of Health notice concerning compulsory Inbound Travel Health Insurance (verified 2026-10-13)
- Kenya eTA application (individual tourist): the steps for uploading passport, photo and documents (verified 2026-10-13)
- WHO – International Travel and Health: country list of vaccination requirements: the yellow fever requirement together with the recommendations (verified 2026-10-13)
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Travelers’ health: Kenya: malaria prophylaxis and further health advice (verified 2026-10-13)
