What Are Kenya Entry Requirements for Travellers in 2026?

Most international travellers must obtain an approved Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before beginning their journey, unless they fall within an official exemption. Travellers should carry a passport valid for at least six months from arrival, keep two blank pages available and bring proof of yellow fever vaccination when arriving from a country listed as a transmission risk.

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

This article provides general information, not legal or immigration advice. Kenya's authorities set and enforce the rules, and requirements can change according to nationality, passport type, residence status, travel purpose and route.

Kenya entry requirements: quick answer

Requirement	What international travellers should know
Passport validity	Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.
Blank passport pages	Kenya's eTA portal specifies at least one blank page, while US and UK government guidance specifies two. Carry a passport with at least two blank pages to meet the stricter published guidance.
Visa or eTA	Most visitors need an eTA approved before travel unless an official exemption applies. Apply only through the Kenya government eTA portal.
Application timing	Kenyan authorities recommend applying at least two weeks before departure, according to UK government travel advice.
Standard application documents	Prepare a passport, selfie or passport-style photograph, email address, telephone number, arrival and departure itinerary, accommodation confirmation and an accepted payment method.
Yellow fever certificate	A vaccination certificate is required when arriving from a country listed as a yellow fever transmission risk.
eTA fee	The supplied official sources do not establish a current fee. Confirm the current fee on the official portal before paying.

Kenya introduced the eTA system in January 2024, replacing the former eVisa portal for affected travellers. This distinction matters when searching online: use the government eTA website rather than an unofficial website advertising a Kenya eVisa.

Passport and document requirements

Passport validity and blank pages

Your passport must have at least six months of validity when you arrive in Kenya. Published sources differ on the number of blank pages: the official eTA application page requires at least one, but the US Department of State and UK government advise travellers to have two. The safest practical approach is to travel with two blank pages.

Check the passport number, spelling and personal details entered in your eTA application against the passport you will present. UK guidance warns that travellers may be denied entry if they lack a valid travel document or attempt to use a passport reported lost or stolen.

Who needs a Kenya eTA?

The general rule is that visitors obtain an eTA before entering Kenya, but the official portal publishes exemptions. Those exemptions include holders of Kenyan permanent residence, valid work permits or passes, people with valid Kenyan re-entry authority and citizens of East African Partner States travelling for no more than 180 days.

The East African Partner States named by the official portal are Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. The portal also lists nationality-based and diplomatic, official, special or service-passport exemptions, some of which are limited by length of stay. Check the full official list rather than assuming that an exemption applies because of a previous trip.

British passport holders can consult SafariFind's Kenya eTA guide for British citizens, while US travellers can review the Kenya eTA guide for American citizens.

Documents needed for an eTA application

The Kenya government tells applicants to prepare the following standard documents and information:

• A passport with at least six months of validity and at least one blank page.
• A selfie or passport-style photograph.
• An email address and telephone number.
• An itinerary showing arrival and departure.
• Accommodation booking confirmation.
• A supported credit card, debit card or other accepted payment method.

Additional evidence depends on the purpose of travel. The government portal identifies a hospital referral letter for medical travel, an invitation or participation letter for a conference, a contract for employment and supporting documents for resettlement. It may also request vaccination or test certificates. Business travellers may need an invitation from the company and a copy of its registration.

The current official sources supplied for this guide do not establish a guaranteed standard processing time. UK government guidance says local authorities recommend applying at least two weeks before departure, so do not leave the application until your travel day.

Yellow fever and health documents

Travellers arriving from a country listed as a yellow fever transmission risk must carry a certificate proving vaccination. The US Department of State warns that a traveller arriving from an endemic country without proof may be denied entry. Whether the rule applies depends on the countries in your itinerary, not only the nationality shown in your passport.

British travellers can read the detailed Kenya vaccination and health rules for British citizens. US travellers can use SafariFind's guide to Kenya vaccinations and health rules for US citizens. Confirm the current transmission-risk list and any medical recommendations with an official health authority before departure.

UK travel advice also states that some arrivals, particularly travellers coming from Uganda, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, may face enhanced health screening related to Ebola. Screening measures can change quickly, so check official travel and health notices shortly before flying.

Kenya customs: what you can bring

The Kenya Revenue Authority's Customs Services Department controls imports and exports and is responsible for prohibited goods, including drugs of abuse, hazardous chemicals, pornography, weapons and explosives. All restricted items should be declared to Customs on arrival or departure, and passengers may be required to complete Passenger Declaration Form F88.

Alcohol, tobacco and personal allowances

The Kenya Revenue Authority's passenger guidance lists the following duty-free allowances for passengers covered by its Category C rules:

Item	Published allowance
Spirits or wine	Spirits, including liquor, up to one litre, or wine up to two litres.
Perfume and toilet water	Up to one-half litre in total, of which no more than one-quarter litre may be perfume.
Cigarettes and other tobacco products	Cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff up to a combined weight of 250 grams.

Declare goods bought for commercial or business-promotion purposes, goods acquired abroad that require declaration and inherited items carried into Kenya. If you are uncertain whether an item is restricted or dutiable, present it to a customs officer rather than choosing a declaration-free channel.

Drones, cameras and safari equipment

The supplied official customs research does not establish a general tourist allowance or permit procedure for drones. Before taking a drone to Kenya, confirm the current import and aviation requirements directly with the relevant Kenyan authorities and your airline. Do not assume that permission to carry a drone on an aircraft is permission to import or operate it.

Kenya Revenue Authority guidance says travellers departing Kenya should declare cameras and accessories intended for filming abroad and later return to Kenya, along with jewellery, sporting equipment, musical instruments, toolboxes and other temporarily exported items. Travellers using temporary-import paperwork should retain the documents and any customs payment advice or bank receipt until their return.

Medication

The supplied official sources do not give medicine-specific quantities or a complete list of controlled medicines. Carry medication in its original packaging with supporting prescription or medical documentation, and confirm restrictions with a Kenyan diplomatic mission and your airline before travelling. Declare medicine when instructed by Customs, especially if there is any uncertainty about its status.

Currency limits

The US Department of State reports no currency restriction on entry and a maximum of 100,000 Kenyan shillings on exit. Because currency rules can be updated, confirm the limit with Kenya Revenue Authority or a Kenyan diplomatic mission before carrying a substantial amount of cash.

Kenya arrival process step by step

1. Before boarding: Keep your passport, approved eTA where required, itinerary, accommodation evidence and applicable yellow fever certificate accessible. Most visitors need the eTA before their journey begins.
2. Follow health-screening instructions: Present vaccination evidence if your route triggers the yellow fever requirement and comply with any additional screening in force on your arrival date.
3. Attend immigration in person: Kenya's Directorate of Immigration states that all travellers, including foreign nationals, Kenyan citizens and residents, are responsible for appearing in person before an immigration officer on arrival.
4. Present matching documents: Use the same passport associated with your application and have your accommodation and onward-travel details ready because these form part of the eTA documentation.
5. Complete Customs formalities: Declare restricted items and any goods requiring declaration on Passenger Declaration Form F88 when instructed.
6. Keep copies secure: Store digital copies of your passport identification page, eTA and health documents separately from the originals. The US Department of State advises its citizens to carry a copy of their passport and entry stamp while securing original documents.

Departure requirements

Before leaving Kenya, check that your passport and onward-destination documents are accessible. Entry permission for Kenya does not establish that you meet the immigration or health requirements of the country you will visit next.

Declare restricted goods at departure. If you temporarily imported equipment or previously completed customs paperwork, retain the relevant forms and receipts. Travellers leaving with Kenyan currency should note the reported maximum of 100,000 Kenyan shillings.

Allow enough time for airline document checks, immigration and Customs. Confirm terminal and check-in instructions directly with the airline because airport procedures are not established by the sources used in this guide.

Travelling to Kenya with children

Check every child's status separately against the current eTA exemptions and document rules on the official portal. Do not assume that a parent's approval automatically covers a child. Each traveller should have the passport and supporting records required for their own nationality, residence status and journey.

Children whose route falls under the yellow fever rule must have the documentation required by the current health regulations. Parents or guardians should also confirm whether airlines or border authorities require consent documents when a child travels with one parent, another adult or alone, because the supplied research does not establish a universal Kenyan consent-document rule.

When considering whether kids can go on a safari in Kenya, ask operators about minimum ages, private-vehicle options, journey lengths and lodge policies before paying. Those are operator-specific booking conditions rather than national entry requirements.

Practical arrival and safari-planning tips

• Apply through the government eTA portal and verify the website address before entering passport or payment information.
• Use a passport with two blank pages because official published guidance differs between one and two pages.
• Apply at least two weeks before departure, following the timing recommendation reported by UK government travel advice.
• Print key documents and retain offline copies in case mobile data or airport Wi-Fi is unavailable.
• Check your entire flight route when deciding whether you need yellow fever evidence.
• Ask before packing a drone, controlled medicine or specialised professional equipment because the supplied sources do not establish complete import rules for those items.
• Declare restricted or uncertain items to Kenya Customs.

Travellers can compare safari packages on SafariFind after confirming their entry eligibility. When assessing how to book a guided safari online in Kenya or identifying reputable safari companies operating in Maasai Mara, verify the itinerary, inclusions, cancellation terms, child policies and operator credentials before making payment.

Finally, recheck the Kenya eTA portal, your airline and the relevant Kenyan embassy or high commission shortly before departure. An approval obtained months earlier does not prevent health, Customs or document rules from changing before your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa for Kenya in 2026?

Most international visitors need an approved Kenya electronic travel authorisation rather than the former eVisa, unless an official exemption applies. Check your nationality and passport category on the government eTA portal before departure.

How much is the Kenya eTA in 2026?

Confirm the current fee on the official Kenya eTA portal. The supplied official research does not establish a reliable current fee, so travellers should not rely on amounts advertised by third-party application websites.

How long does a Kenya eTA take to process?

The supplied official sources do not guarantee a standard processing time. UK government travel advice says Kenyan authorities recommend applying at least two weeks before departure.

How long must my passport be valid to enter Kenya?

Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date. Carry a passport with two blank pages because US and UK guidance requires two, although the official eTA application page specifies at least one.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Kenya?

You need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from a country listed as a transmission risk. Travellers arriving from an endemic country without the required proof may be denied entry.

Can kids go on a safari in Kenya?

Yes, children can be included in a Kenya safari trip, but their entry status and documents must be checked separately. Review the official eTA exemption list for each child and ask the safari operator about minimum ages, lodge rules and private-vehicle options.

What documents do I need for a Kenya eTA application?

Prepare a passport, selfie or passport-style photograph, contact details, arrival and departure itinerary, accommodation confirmation and an accepted payment method. Additional documents may be required for business, conferences, employment, medical travel or other purposes.

Can I bring a drone into Kenya for a safari?

Do not take a drone without first confirming the current import and operating rules with the relevant Kenyan authorities. The supplied official customs research does not establish a general tourist drone allowance, and airline carriage approval should not be treated as permission to import or fly one.

How to book a guided safari online in Kenya?

Compare the route, accommodation, park visits, inclusions, vehicle arrangements, cancellation terms and child policies before paying. For reputable safari companies operating in Maasai Mara, verify operator credentials and recent traveller feedback rather than choosing solely by the lowest advertised price.

List essential items to pack for a week-long safari adventure.

Pack your passport, approved eTA where required, applicable yellow fever certificate, travel insurance details, prescribed medication, sun protection, neutral-coloured clothing, closed shoes, a hat, binoculars and charging equipment. Confirm medicine and equipment restrictions before travel, and keep immigration documents in your hand luggage.