East Africa · official source reviewed 2026-07-31

Kenya Visa and Entry Requirements

A visa label alone does not explain every entry condition for Kenya. Nationality, passport type, duration, transit arrangements and planned activities all affect the correct route. The official source reviewed for this guide is Kenya ETA.

What the official reference confirms

The source reviewed identifies Kenya ETA and the route described as Electronic Travel Authorisation. It does not automatically confirm eligibility for every passport.

Reviewed route
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Authority or portal
Kenya ETA
Review status
Official-source reference reviewed

Who needs a visa?

Eligibility depends on nationality, passport type, travel purpose and entry route. Confirm through the official authority or the AfricaTourVisa visa checker. This page does not display an empty or guessed nationality list.

Visa-free, electronic, arrival and embassy routes

Visa-free or waiver

Confirm permitted stay, activity limits, passport validity and whether advance registration is still required.

Electronic route

Use only the authority-linked portal. Check document formats, payment hostname, approval format and accepted entry points.

Visa on arrival

Do not assume availability. Confirm nationality eligibility, border location, fee currency, supporting documents and airline acceptance.

Embassy or consular visa

Confirm which mission has jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence and whether an appointment or prior authorization is required.

Passport and supporting documents

Preparation checklist for Kenya
Document areaWhat to verify
PassportRequired validity after travel, blank-page requirement, condition and passport type.
Travel planArrival point, onward ticket, accommodation and intended duration.
Purpose evidenceTourism booking, invitation, company letter, medical letter, study confirmation or sponsor documents.
Financial evidenceRequired amount, statement period, sponsor evidence and accepted format.
Health documentsYellow fever certificate or other destination-specific public-health documentation where applicable.

Fees, processing, validity and permitted stay

These values can change and may differ by nationality or visa category. Check the official source immediately before payment. Keep government fees separate from any private agency charge. The validity of a visa is not always the same as the length of stay granted at entry.

Extensions and in-country immigration services

An extension, status change or residence renewal is a separate process from the initial visa. Apply before the authorised stay expires and obtain written evidence of the application. Local office routing belongs in the Visa-from-City section.

Immigration and visa guidance in Nairobi

How to build a reliable application file

The file should reflect the traveller’s exact circumstances, not a generic checklist.

Neighbouring states in East Africa may use different portals, exemptions and arrival rules from Kenya.

Use the Visa-from-City page for Nairobi when the question is where to visit, not whether a visa category applies.

Electronic Travel Authorisation is the route identified in the reviewed reference. It should be checked again immediately before submission.

The official starting point reviewed for this guide is Kenya ETA.

For Kenya, the safest sequence is to establish the traveller’s category before collecting documents.

Traveller scenario to test

A traveller planning medical travel in Kenya should confirm whether the reviewed Electronic Travel Authorisation route accepts that purpose. The supporting file may need hotel and onward-travel evidence. A common avoidable risk is using a portal that does not accept the passport nationality.

Ten checks for this destination

  1. Check whether the passport is ordinary, diplomatic, official, emergency or refugee travel documentation.
  2. Confirm passport validity, blank pages and physical condition.
  3. Verify the intended airport, seaport or land border accepts the selected route.
  4. Check whether accommodation, funds, onward travel or invitation evidence is mandatory.
  5. Review extension rules before the authorised stay expires.
  6. Match the trip purpose to tourism, business, family, transit, study, work, media or residence.
  7. Save the application reference, payment receipt and approval file.
  8. Read the fee currency, payment method and refund terms on the official domain.
  9. Confirm the applicant’s passport nationality and any second nationality.
  10. Compare visa validity with the permitted stay granted at entry.

At the border

Carry the passport, approval or visa, accommodation details, onward travel and purpose evidence used in the application. Border officers may ask questions independently of the online or consular decision. Any mismatch should be resolved before travel rather than explained for the first time on arrival.

Official source reviewed

Kenya ETA — reviewed for the public authority or application route on 31 July 2026.

Official ETA portal

Kenya visa questions

Do all nationalities use the same Kenya visa route?

No. Eligibility may differ by nationality, passport type, residence, purpose and entry point. Use the official source before applying.

Can I rely on an agent’s checklist for Kenya?

Use an agency checklist for preparation only. The official authority controls eligibility, fees, processing and admission.

Where can I find local immigration guidance in Nairobi?

Use the separate Visa-from-City guide for Nairobi; country visa policy remains on this page.

Editorial review

Prepared by the AfricaTourVisa Visa Research Team. Last reviewed 3 August 2026.

Visa rules can change without notice. AfricaTourVisa is an independent travel and visa-support agency, not an embassy, consulate, immigration authority or government agency.