Compare Kenya visa types clearly before travel. Kenya now mainly uses eTA categories for foreign visitors, while some travelers are exempt under EAC, African-national, transit, residence or official-document rules.
The correct Kenya entry route depends on your nationality, passport type, travel purpose, entry pattern and whether you are exempt. A tourist, transit passenger, frequent business traveler, U.S. multi-entry traveler, diplomatic passport holder and EAC citizen may all follow different rules.
Africa Tour Visa is a private assistance service. Kenya eTA approvals, exemptions and final entry decisions are made by Kenyan immigration authorities.
Kenya travelers often search for tourist visa, business visa, transit visa or eVisa. In practice, most short-stay foreign visitors now need to select the correct Kenya eTA category unless they are exempt.
The Standard eTA is the main route for non-exempt travelers entering Kenya once for tourism, safari, holiday, private visit, family visit, short business meeting or similar short-stay travel.
It is not suitable for local employment, residence, study or long-stay immigration routes.
Transit eTA is for travelers passing through Kenya to another country who need to leave the airport precincts during the stopover.
Passengers who remain inside the airport transit area and do not enter Kenya may fall under the transit exemption.
This category is intended for regional tourism involving Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Travelers should verify current availability before relying on this route because the category may be listed as coming soon or subject to current immigration-system availability.
The One Year Multi-Entry eTA is for eligible travelers who need to enter Kenya multiple times during a 12-month period. It may suit frequent business visitors, regional travelers and repeat private visitors.
The Five Year Multi-Entry eTA is listed for American nationals who visit Kenya multiple times over five years. It is designed for repeated travel, not residence, employment or study.
Diplomatic, Official and Courtesy eTA categories apply to eligible diplomatic, service, official or mission travelers. Supporting official letters and passport type evidence may be required.
Select the category that matches the real trip. Choosing the wrong type can delay approval, create boarding problems or cause questions at arrival.
| Kenya category | Best for | Entry position | Fee indicator | Important warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard eTA | Tourism, safari, holiday, family visit, private visit, short business meeting. | Single entry. | USD 30. | Not for employment, study, residence or long-stay immigration. |
| Transit eTA | Passengers transiting through Kenya who need to leave the airport precincts. | Short transit use. | USD 20. | Airside transit without leaving the airport may be exempt. |
| East African Tourist eTA | Regional tourism involving Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. | Regional tourist route; verify current availability. | Verify before application. | Do not rely on it without confirming current availability. |
| One Year Multi-Entry eTA | Frequent visitors entering Kenya multiple times within 12 months. | Multiple entries for one year. | USD 300. | Each entry remains subject to immigration checks. |
| Five Year Multi-Entry eTA | American nationals making repeated visits to Kenya. | Multiple entries for five years. | USD 185. | Listed specifically for American nationals. |
| Diplomatic eTA | Diplomatic passport holders traveling on official duty. | Official category. | May be fee-exempt or specially handled. | Private travel may not qualify as diplomatic travel. |
| Official eTA | Official or service passport holders on government or institutional duty. | Official category. | May be fee-exempt or specially handled. | Official letter or mission evidence may be required. |
| Courtesy eTA | Eligible courtesy or special-status travelers. | Special category. | Depends on eligibility. | Requires clear supporting basis for courtesy handling. |
| eTA exemption | EAC citizens, listed exempt nationalities, listed African nationals, airside transit and valid Kenya permit holders. | No eTA required when exemption applies. | No eTA fee for exempt route. | Carry proof of exemption and normal travel documents. |
Kenya eTA categories and fees can change. Expedited processing may add extra cost. Always verify the current category, fee and availability before payment, especially for regional and multi-entry travel.
Some travelers do not need to select an eTA type because Kenya lists them as exempt. Exemption does not remove the need to carry a valid passport, travel documents and proof of purpose.
| Exemption type | Who it covers | Stay / condition |
|---|---|---|
| EAC citizen exemption | Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. | Up to 180 days. |
| 90-day listed nationality exemption | Selected listed countries, including several African and Commonwealth-linked nationalities. | Up to 90 days. |
| 60-day African nationality exemption | Selected African countries including Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and others. | Up to 60 days. |
| Airside transit exemption | Passengers connecting through Kenya without leaving airport precincts. | Must remain within the airport transit area. |
| Kenya residence / permit exemption | Kenya permanent residents, valid work permit holders, valid pass holders or re-entry authority holders. | Carry valid supporting document. |
| Official-document exemption | Some UN, AU, COMESA and recognized laissez-passer holders on official duty. | Carry official-duty evidence. |
| Somalia and Libya special handling | Somalia and Libya passport holders. | Do not treat as ordinary African visa-free exemption. Verify current route before travel. |
Kenya does not apply one identical exemption period to every African passport. EAC citizens have a separate 180-day rule. Some listed nationalities are exempt for 90 days, while another listed African group is exempt for 60 days. This is why each traveler should check their specific nationality before booking fixed travel.
The basic documents are similar for most eTA categories, but the supporting evidence changes by travel purpose. A tourist, transit passenger, business visitor and official traveler should not prepare the same file.
| Visa / eTA type | Core documents | Extra documents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard eTA | Passport, selfie/photo, email, phone, travel itinerary, accommodation and payment method. | Tour booking, hotel confirmation, host address or family invitation where applicable. |
| Business visit under eTA | Passport, photo, travel details, accommodation and payment method. | Invitation letter, company details, conference confirmation or business purpose evidence. |
| Transit eTA | Passport, transit itinerary, onward ticket and destination travel permission. | Short stopover accommodation if leaving airport overnight. |
| Multi-entry eTA | Passport, photo, repeated travel purpose, itinerary and payment method. | Business history, travel history, frequent-visit explanation or supporting invitation. |
| Diplomatic / Official / Courtesy eTA | Diplomatic, service or official passport, travel details and contact information. | Official letter, mission note, government letter or institutional duty evidence. |
| Exempt traveler | Passport or accepted travel document and exemption evidence. | Return/onward ticket, accommodation, proof of funds and purpose documents may still be requested. |
Start with nationality and exemption status, then confirm entry type, passport type and travel purpose.
Confirm whether you are EAC-exempt, 90-day exempt, 60-day African-exempt, airside-transit exempt or a valid permit holder.
Tourism, family visit, business meeting, transit, official duty, employment and study are different immigration situations.
Choose Standard, Transit, Multi-Entry, Diplomatic, Official or Courtesy eTA based on the actual journey.
Match the documents to the category selected. Wrong or missing documents can delay approval or create entry questions.
Standard eTA is not a work permit, residence permit or study permit. Travelers going to Kenya for employment, local work activity, study or long stay should check the correct permit or pass route instead of using a tourist-type entry.
Continue with dedicated Kenya pages for eTA, eVisa wording, requirements, fees, transit and processing time.
Start with the main Kenya visa guide and nationality eligibility explanation.
View Kenya Visa HubUnderstand how old Kenya eVisa wording relates to the modern Kenya eTA system.
View Kenya eVisaLearn the Electronic Travel Authorization process, categories and approval basics.
View Kenya eTAReview passport, photo, itinerary, accommodation and purpose-specific documents.
View RequirementsCompare standard, transit, one-year multi-entry and five-year multi-entry fee indicators.
View FeesBegin Kenya eTA assistance and document preparation support.
Start ApplicationKenya now mainly uses eTA categories for short-stay foreign visitors. Main categories include Standard eTA, Transit eTA, One Year Multi-Entry eTA, Five Year Multi-Entry eTA for American nationals, Diplomatic eTA, Official eTA and Courtesy eTA. Some travelers are exempt.
Non-exempt tourists usually use the Standard Kenya eTA. It is suitable for tourism, safari, holiday, private visit, family visit and similar short-stay purposes.
Short business meetings or conferences may normally use the Standard eTA route when the traveler is not exempt. Employment, paid local work or long-term assignments should not be treated as ordinary business travel.
Travelers who leave the airport precincts during transit usually need Transit eTA. Passengers who remain airside and do not leave the airport may be exempt.
Kenya lists a One Year Multi-Entry eTA for repeated entries within 12 months and a Five Year Multi-Entry eTA for American nationals. These are not the same as residence or work permits.
Citizens of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda are listed as eTA exempt for stays not exceeding 180 days.
Many African nationals are exempt for either 60 days or 90 days, while EAC citizens have a separate 180-day exemption. Somalia and Libya should be checked separately and should not be treated as general African exemption cases.
No. Africa Tour Visa is a private assistance and document preparation service. Kenya eTA approvals, exemptions and final entry decisions are made by Kenyan immigration authorities.
Check your nationality, passport type, travel purpose and entry pattern before applying. Choose the correct Kenya eTA category and prepare your documents before departure.
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