Do I need an eTA if I am only transiting or on a layover at JKIA?

If you stay airside and do not pass immigration, no eTA is needed. But if you leave the airport during a layover, for a safari, city tour, hotel or transfer to Wilson Airport, you are clearing immigration and need an approved eTA, unless you are an exempt African or EAC national. Arrange it before you fly.

Does an approved eTA guarantee entry into Kenya?

No. An eTA is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry. It lets you board and reach Kenya, but the immigration officer makes the final decision on admissibility and length of stay. Carry supporting documents such as a return ticket, accommodation and, where relevant, a yellow-fever certificate.

The JKIA.co.ke guide · Entry requirements

Kenya eTA and Entry Requirements

Q: Is Kenya visa-free now, and do Africans need a visa?

Kenya is visa-free for nationals of most African countries as of January 2025, who can enter without an eTA for about two months (six months for East African Community citizens). The only African exceptions are Somalia and Libya, whose nationals still need an eTA. Travellers from outside Africa are not visa-free and need an eTA. Visa-on-arrival has ended.

Q: How much does the Kenya eTA cost?

The eTA fee is USD 30 per person, roughly KSh 3,880, and is the same for adults and children with no family discount. It is non-refundable whether or not the application is approved. Confirm the exact current amount on the official portal and beware third-party sites charging more.

Q: How long does the eTA take to process?

Standard processing is up to three working days, and can take longer in busy periods, though Kenya has introduced a faster option targeting approval within 72 hours. Apply at least a week before travel. You receive an email when approved; download or print it before you fly.

Q: How long is the eTA valid and how long can I stay?

An approved eTA requires you to enter Kenya within 90 days of issue. It is normally single entry, and your length of stay, usually up to 90 days for eTA holders, is set by the immigration officer on arrival. Visa-free African nationals get about two months and EAC citizens up to six months. Stays can often be extended in Nairobi up to 180 days total.

Q: Do children and babies need their own eTA?

Yes. Every traveller, including infants and children, needs their own approved eTA and a separate application and fee. There is no reduced rate for minors. Apply for each family member individually using their own passport.

Q: What is the official Kenya eTA website and how do I avoid scams?

The only official application site is etakenya.go.ke, linked from the immigration department at immigration.go.ke. Many look-alike and third-party sites charge inflated fees for a form you can complete yourself, so check the address ends in .go.ke, expect to pay around USD 30, and never enter passport details on a non-government page. No agent can approve or speed up an eTA beyond the official system.

Q: Can I still get a visa on arrival in Kenya?

No. Visa on arrival has been discontinued. If you need an eTA you must apply and be approved online before starting your journey. Arriving without one can mean being denied boarding or facing a penalty on arrival.

Most travellers flying long-haul into JKIA — from Europe, the UK, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania — need an approved eTA before departure. Since January 2025, nationals of most African countries no longer do. Here’s exactly who needs one, and how to apply on the official portal.

You likely need one

Non-African passport holders (plus Somalia & Libya). Apply online before you fly.

You’re likely exempt

Most African nationals & East African Community citizens. Enter visa-free.

Transiting only?

Staying airside needs nothing. Leaving the airport needs an eTA (unless exempt).

Check if you need one Apply on the official portal

Checked 15 July 2026 · Source: Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services & the official eTA portal · Rules change — always reconfirm before you travel.

Checked15 July 2026

Primary sourceKenya immigration & official eTA portal

What may changeEligible nationalities, fee & stay length

What is the Kenya eTA?

The Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is a digital pre-travel approval that replaced the country’s visa system in January 2024. Eligible visitors apply online before they fly, and carry the approval to show at check-in and on arrival. It is not a visa and does not guarantee entry — it is permission to travel, and an immigration officer still decides admissibility at the border.

Who needs it

Non-African visitorsmost African nationals now exempt

Cost

USD 30per person, incl. children · non-refundable

Processing

Up to 3 working daysapply at least a week ahead

Validity

Enter within 90 dayssingle entry · stay set on arrival

Airside transit

Not requiredif you don’t leave the airport

Visa on arrival

No longer offeredyou must apply before travel

Apply at

etakenya.go.kethe official government portal only

Children

Own eTA eachno reduced fee for minors

The key question

Do I need a Kenya eTA?

You need a Kenya eTA if you hold a passport from outside Africa, or from Somalia or Libya, and you will pass through immigration. If you are a national of most African countries, an East African Community citizen, or a Kenyan resident, you do not. Find your situation below.

You need an eTAApply online before you fly

You must apply for and receive an approved eTA before departure if you are:

A passport holder from outside Africa — Europe, the UK, the US, Canada, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere
A national of Somalia or Libya (still required, on security grounds)
Any eligible traveller leaving the airport in Kenya, including on a layover

This covers the large majority of long-haul arrivals at JKIA. How to apply →

You don’t need an eTAEnter visa-free

You are exempt and can travel without an eTA if you are:

A national of most African countries — visa-free for up to about two months (since January 2025)
An East African Community citizen — Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania or Uganda — for up to six months, entering on a national ID or EAC passport
A holder of Kenyan permanent residence, a valid work permit or pass, or a valid re-entry pass (endorsed in your passport)

Somalia and Libya are the two African exceptions and still need an eTA.

Airport transitIt depends on leaving

If you are connecting through JKIA:

Staying airside — same or onward aircraft, not passing immigration — you do not need an eTA
Leaving the airport — a layover tour, a night in the city, a transfer to Wilson Airport — you do need one (unless separately exempt)
Crew on a manifest and refuelling stopovers that stay airside are also exempt

Planning to leave on a layover? Connections guide →

An eTA is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry. Approval lets you board and arrive; the immigration officer at JKIA still decides admissibility and how long you may stay. Because eligible nationalities and stay periods have changed recently and can change again, always confirm your own situation on the official portal before booking flights.

Why the rules feel different

What changed: Kenya’s move to visa-free travel for Africa

If you travelled to Kenya a couple of years ago, the process has changed twice. In January 2024, the eTA replaced the old visa and eVisa system entirely — every visitor, including infants, needed to apply online in advance, and visa-on-arrival ended.

Then in January 2025 the Cabinet exempted nationals of all African countries — except Somalia and Libya — from the eTA, allowing visa-free entry for a stay of around two months, with East African Community citizens continuing to enjoy six months under regional free-movement rules. The change was written into Kenya’s citizenship and immigration regulations.

For everyone else — most long-haul visitors arriving at JKIA — the eTA remains required, though the government has added faster processing. The practical takeaway: check your nationality against the current official list rather than relying on older guides or past experience.

Jan 2024eTA launches, replacing visas & eVisa — etakenya.go.ke replaces evisa.go.ke; visa-on-arrival ends

Feb 2024eTA fees waived for many African nationalities — application still required at the time

Jan 2025Africa-wide eTA exemption approved — all African countries except Somalia & Libya; ~2-month stay

2025Faster processing introduced — an expedited option targeting approval within 72 hours

Before you start

What documents do I need for the Kenya eTA?

Have these ready before you begin — the online form asks you to enter details and upload files, and each traveller needs a separate application.

Valid passport

At least six months’ validity beyond your arrival date and at least one blank page. You’ll upload the bio-data page.

Passport photo

A recent colour photograph on a plain background, or a selfie taken during the application, as prompted.

Travel itinerary

Your confirmed flight booking, including a return or onward ticket showing you’ll leave Kenya.

Accommodation details

Your hotel booking, or the name and address of a host, or an invitation letter if you’re visiting someone.

Payment card

A valid Visa, Mastercard or accepted card for the fee. Payment is non-refundable, approved or not.

One per traveller

Children and infants need their own eTA and their own application and fee — there is no family or child discount.

Step by step

How to apply for a Kenya eTA

The whole process is online and usually takes 15–20 minutes per person. Use only the official government portal — see the scam-avoidance note below before you start.

Go to the official portal

Open etakenya.go.ke — the only official government site. Ignore ads and look-alike sites that charge extra. Start a new application.

Enter your passport & personal details

Fill in your name, nationality and passport information exactly as they appear in your passport. Errors can delay or invalidate your approval.

Add your travel & stay details

Enter your arrival date, flight details and where you’ll stay in Kenya. The system asks eligibility questions based on your answers.

Upload your documents

Attach your passport bio-data page, photo, confirmed return or onward ticket and accommodation proof. Clear, legible files avoid rejections.

Pay the fee

Pay the USD 30 fee per traveller by card. It’s non-refundable whether or not the application is approved. Keep the payment confirmation.

Wait for approval, then carry it

You’ll be notified by email, usually within about three working days. Download and print your approved eTA (or save it offline) and present it with your passport at check-in and on arrival.

Ready to apply?

Applications are handled entirely on the Kenyan government’s official portal.

Open the official eTA portal

The numbers

Fees, processing time, validity and length of stay

Fee & processing

eTA feeUSD 30 / person

Children & infantsSame fee

Refundable?No

Standard processingUp to 3 working days

Faster optionTargeting ≤72 hrs

Apply≥1 week ahead

The fee is roughly KSh 3,880 and is subject to change — always confirm the current amount on the official portal, which shows the exact charge before you pay. Don’t leave the application to the last minute, as processing can run longer in busy periods.

Validity & stay

Enter Kenya within90 days of issue

Entry typeSingle entry

Stay (eTA holders)Set on arrival, up to 90 days

African nationalsUp to ~2 months

EAC citizensUp to 6 months

ExtensionsAt Nyayo House, Nairobi

A single-entry eTA generally ends if you leave Kenya, but it stays valid for re-entry if you only pop into another EAC state (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DR Congo or South Sudan). Visitor stays can usually be extended at the Immigration office up to a total of 180 days.

Avoid eTA scams and overchargingCopycat sites charge large mark-ups for a form you can complete yourself

Do

Apply only on the official government portal, etakenya.go.ke
Check the address bar ends in .go.ke before entering any details
Expect to pay around USD 30 per person — no more
Keep your approval email and payment receipt

Don’t

Don’t pay third-party “visa” sites that add service fees on top
Don’t trust anyone promising a guaranteed or “instant official” approval
Don’t click sponsored ads assuming they’re the official site
Don’t share passport details on any non-government page

The only official application website is https://www.etakenya.go.ke (the immigration department also links to it from immigration.go.ke). No agent can process an eTA faster than the government’s own system.

Official portal

The layover question

Do I need an eTA to transit or leave the airport at JKIA?

This is the one that trips people up on a Nairobi stopover, so here is the clean rule.

Staying airside — no eTA

You’re only connecting

If you arrive and leave on the same or an onward aircraft and stay within the airport transit area without passing immigration, you don’t need an eTA. Rest in a lounge, grab food and make your connection.

Book a lounge Connections guide

Leaving the airport — eTA needed

You want to step out

A layover safari, a city tour, a hotel night or a transfer to Wilson Airport all mean clearing immigration — so you need an approved eTA (unless you’re an exempt African or EAC national). Sort it well before you fly.

Layover safari Minimum connection time

How we keep this accurate

Independent, sourced and dated — not an official portal

Entry rules are high-stakes and they change, so we track them against the government’s own channels, date every review, and always send you to the official portal to apply. We don’t sell eTAs or add fees.

Maintained by the JKIA.co.ke Flightline Desk

Entry rules reviewed 15 July 2026

Where this comes from

Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services
The official eTA portal, etakenya.go.ke
Kenya Citizenship & Immigration Regulations (2024–2025)
Kenyan government & embassy notices on the 2025 exemptions

JKIA.co.ke is an independent passenger information website and is not Kenya Airports Authority, the Directorate of Immigration Services, or any government body. We can’t issue, approve or expedite an eTA. This page is a guide — always confirm current requirements, fees and eligibility on the official portal before you book flights or travel.

Common questions

Kenya eTA — frequently asked questions

Do I need an eTA to enter Kenya?

Yes, if you hold a passport from outside Africa, or from Somalia or Libya, and you’ll pass through immigration. Since January 2025, nationals of most African countries and East African Community citizens are exempt and enter visa-free. Kenyan permanent residents and valid permit holders are also exempt. Everyone who needs one must apply and be approved before travelling — there is no visa on arrival. Check your situation →

Is Kenya visa-free now? Do Africans need a visa?

Kenya is visa-free for nationals of most African countries as of January 2025 — they can enter without an eTA for a stay of about two months (six months for East African Community citizens). The only African exceptions are Somalia and Libya, whose nationals still need an eTA. Travellers from outside Africa are not visa-free; they need an eTA. The old paper-visa and visa-on-arrival systems no longer apply.

How much does the Kenya eTA cost?

The eTA fee is USD 30 per person (roughly KSh 3,880), and it’s the same for adults and children, with no family discount. It’s non-refundable whether or not your application is approved. Always check the exact current amount on the official portal before paying, and be wary of third-party sites charging much more. Avoiding overcharging →

How long does the eTA take to process?

The standard processing time is up to three working days, though it can take longer in busy periods, and Kenya has introduced a faster option targeting approval within 72 hours. To be safe, apply at least a week before you travel. You’ll get an email when it’s approved; download or print it before you fly.

How long is the eTA valid, and how long can I stay?

An approved eTA means you must enter Kenya within 90 days of issue. It’s normally single entry, and your actual length of stay — usually up to 90 days for eTA holders — is set by the immigration officer on arrival. Visa-free African nationals get about two months and EAC citizens up to six months. Stays can often be extended at the Immigration office in Nairobi up to 180 days total.

Do I need an eTA if I’m only transiting or on a layover at JKIA?

If you stay airside and don’t pass immigration, no eTA is needed. But if you want to leave the airport during a layover — for a safari, a city tour, a hotel or a transfer to Wilson Airport — you’re clearing immigration, so you need an approved eTA (unless you’re an exempt African or EAC national). Sort it before you fly. Layover safari →

Do children and babies need their own eTA?

Yes — every traveller, including infants and children, needs their own approved eTA and a separate application and fee. There is no reduced rate for minors. Apply for each family member individually, using each person’s own passport.

What’s the official Kenya eTA website, and how do I avoid scams?

The only official application site is etakenya.go.ke (linked from the immigration department at immigration.go.ke). Many look-alike and third-party “visa service” sites charge inflated fees for a form you can complete yourself, so check the address ends in .go.ke, expect to pay around USD 30, and never enter your passport details on a non-government page. No agent can approve or speed up an eTA beyond the official system.

Can I still get a visa on arrival in Kenya?

No. Visa on arrival has been discontinued. If you need an eTA, you must apply and be approved online before you start your journey. Arriving without one can mean being denied boarding by your airline or facing a penalty on arrival, so don’t rely on sorting it at the airport.

Does an approved eTA guarantee I’ll be let into Kenya?

No. An eTA is permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry. It lets you board and reach Kenya, but the immigration officer at JKIA makes the final decision on admissibility and how long you may stay. Carry your supporting documents — return ticket, accommodation and, where relevant, a yellow-fever certificate — in case you’re asked. Health requirements →

Next steps

Related arrival guides

Immigration at JKIA

The arrival process, e-gates and passport control.

Health & vaccination

Yellow fever rules and what to carry.

Arriving at JKIA

Everything from landing to onward transport.

Connecting flights

Transit, terminals and layover planning.

This guide is maintained by the JKIA.co.ke Flightline Desk and was last reviewed on 15 July 2026. Kenya’s entry requirements — including which nationalities are exempt, the eTA fee and permitted length of stay — can change at short notice. Nothing here is legal or immigration advice; always confirm your own situation on the official portal, etakenya.go.ke, before booking flights or travelling.