The Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) is now the cornerstone of how Kenya handles entry. Travellers holding passports from 121 countries, among them the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Poland and the majority of the EU, must have an approved eTA in hand before boarding their flight. For the standard eTA you pay USD 30, and the wait is normally around three working days. Meanwhile, people from 77 nationalities, largely in Africa and the Caribbean, may enter without one.
What you are reading is an independent guide, and it is not a government website. We take no fees and we are unable to submit anything on your behalf. The application is yours to complete at etakenya.go.ke/how-to-apply, and you should confirm the rules there before booking anything.
Kenya Visa Policy: Who Is Required to Obtain an eTA?
An eTA is required for visitors from Poland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, China and every other nation appearing on the 121-strong list set out on the eTA eligibility page. Nobody is exempt from that requirement, infants and children included, and the authorisation has to be approved before your journey begins, as the Directorate of Immigration Services explains on its How to Apply page.
Entry without an eTA comes in three tiers, and how long you may remain depends on the tier your passport belongs to.
| Your passport | What you need | How long you can stay |
|---|---|---|
| 121 listed countries (US, UK, Poland, Canada and others) | Approved eTA before travel | Per the eTA you’re granted |
| East African Partner States: Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda | No eTA | Up to 180 days |
| 44 countries including South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Jamaica, Ghana | No eTA | Up to 90 days |
| 28 African countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Seychelles | No eTA | Up to 60 days |
eTA Types and Associated Fees
Four paid categories appear on the eligibility page, and a fifth is still to come.
- Transit eTA, USD 20: for those flying through Kenya in transit.
- Standard eTA, USD 30: grants a single entry into Kenya.
- One Year Multi-Entry eTA, USD 300: permits several entries across one year.
- Five Year Multi-Entry eTA, USD 185: aimed at American nationals who visit repeatedly over five years.
- East African Tourist eTA: marked as coming soon.
A health requirement sits alongside the eTA as well. According to a Ministry of Health notice displayed within the application, every traveller has to hold valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under the IRA (Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026).
Required Documents and Processing Time
Have the following six items ready before you open the form, because the application asks for each of them.
Passport
Valid for at least six months with one blank page.
Photo
A selfie or passport-style photograph.
Contact details
An email address and a phone number.
Travel plan
Showing your arrival and departure.
Accommodation confirmation
Proof that your accommodation is booked.
Payment method
A credit or debit card.
Processing normally takes around three working days, although it can run longer, so submit everything well before your flight. Extra paperwork may be required depending on why you are travelling: a hospital referral letter for medical visits, a conference invitation, an employment contract, or, for business trips, a company invitation together with a copy of its registration.
How to Apply and Other Exemptions
File online at etakenya.go.ke/how-to-apply before your journey starts. What counts is an approved eTA, not an application still pending, so keep the confirmation together with your passport.
Certain groups are excused from the eTA entirely, over and above the visa-free nationalities.
- Travellers transiting Kenya who stay inside the airport precincts.
- Those who arrive and leave aboard the same ship and never step off it.
- Crew members named on the manifest of a ship, aircraft, train, vehicle or carrier bound for a destination outside Kenya.
- Owners of private aircraft that stop only to refuel and who remain in the airport.
- People carrying Laissez-Passers issued by bodies such as the UN, African Union, IMF and World Bank, while on official business.
Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports are handled under separate arrangements: Iran for stays of up to 30 days, Turkey for transit or stays of up to 90 days, Brazil and India up to 90 days, and China up to 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do Polish citizens need a visa for Kenya?
You do not need a visa, but an eTA is required. Poland sits on the 121-country list, so file your application online before you travel and pay USD 30 for the standard single-entry eTA.
Under the Kenya visa policy, which countries do not require a visa?
Seventy-seven nationalities may enter without an eTA. Citizens of East African Partner States receive up to 180 days, 44 countries, South Africa and Singapore among them, receive up to 90 days, and 28 African countries receive up to 60 days.
What is the cost of the Kenya eTA?
A single entry on the standard eTA costs USD 30. The transit eTA runs USD 20, the one-year multi-entry eTA USD 300, and the five-year multi-entry eTA for US nationals USD 185. Payment goes straight to the government portal.
For US citizens, what is the Kenya visa policy?
Americans must obtain an eTA, and the standard USD 30 option is good for one entry. If you visit repeatedly, the five-year multi-entry eTA for American nationals is priced at USD 185. Submit it at etakenya.go.ke/how-to-apply before your trip.
What is the processing time for the Kenya eTA?
The Directorate of Immigration Services puts it at about three working days, though it can stretch longer. Apply early, and hold off on non-refundable plans until your approval comes through.
Are infants and children required to have an eTA for Kenya?
They do. All visitors are covered by the rule, infants and children included, so each member of the family needs an approved eTA of their own before departure. Store all the approvals in one place.
Is it possible to obtain a visa on arrival in Kenya?
Anyone from a country subject to the authorisation requirement has to hold an approved eTA before boarding. Only the exemption groups named in the rules, citizens of East African Partner States among them, arrive without one.
Does Kenya offer multi-entry eTA options?
There are two. The One Year Multi-Entry eTA is USD 300, while the Five Year Multi-Entry eTA, priced at USD 185, is reserved for American nationals. For frequent visitors, either beats paying USD 30 per trip.
Sources and Verification
- Kenya eTA portal – ETA Eligibility: the country lists, the eTA categories and their fees (verified 2026-10-13)
- How to Apply – Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization: documents you must supply, exemptions and how long processing takes (verified 2026-10-13)
- Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya: the body responsible for the eTA system, along with its contact details (verified 2026-10-13)
- United Nations – Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 13, covering the right to leave and to return to your own country (verified 2026-10-13)
