Kenya ETA for US Citizens 2026: Do Americans Need a Visa, Cost, Processing Time and Safari Entry Rules

Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Kenya? (2026 Quick Answer)

Yes, though the document is an eTA rather than a classic visa. US citizens need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before flying to Kenya in 2026. It replaced the e-visa in January 2024 and covers every traveller, infants included.

There is no visa on arrival, and Kenya's eTA FAQ says you can travel only once your application is approved. The 2025 exemptions (Legal Notice No. 93 of 30 May 2025) covered East African Community citizens, most African countries and some Commonwealth and Caribbean states, not the United States.

An approved eTA does not guarantee entry, since admissibility is decided at the point of entry. And since 5 October 2026, visitors also need a Kenyan health insurance policy.

What the Kenya ETA Is and Who Needs It

The eTA is an online pre-travel check run by Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services. You submit biographic details and eligibility answers, a semi-automated system screens them, and an immigration officer decides.

US tourists, business visitors and family visitors all need one. Each child needs a separate eTA, with parents, guardians or accompanying adults responsible for the details submitted.

Passengers who stay inside the airport to connect onward are exempt. The portal also sells a USD 20 Transit eTA for travellers on a transit flight through Kenya.

The application start page reminds all foreign visitors except EAC citizens that Section 48 immigration forms are required, and skipping them risks denied boarding.

Cost, Processing Time and Validity

Official fees under aviation circular AIC 14/25, in force since 1 January 2025 and listed on the portal as of October 2026, excluding payment charges:

• Standard eTA, one entry: USD 30
• Five-Year Multi-Entry eTA for American nationals: USD 185
• One-Year Multi-Entry eTA: USD 300
• Transit eTA: USD 20
• Expedited processing: an extra USD 100

The US-only five-year eTA costs less than the one-year version. Its maximum stay per visit and passport validity rules are not published on the portal, so we recommend confirming both before buying.

Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, even after a refusal. The Kenyan health insurance adds up to USD 44 per person.

Processing generally takes three business days (72 hours) but can run longer during verification. Kenya recommends applying at least two weeks before travel. Expedited applications are processed immediately.

According to Kenya's Embassy in Washington, a standard eTA is valid for travel within 90 days of issuance, a point the eTA portal itself does not state. The officer sets your length of stay at entry, and a visitor's pass can be extended online up to six months.

How to Apply Step by Step

Applications go only through the official eTA website or the official "Kenya Travel Authorisation" app, and Kenya's Embassy in Washington warns about look-alike sites.

• Choose the eTA type: single entry for one trip, five-year multi-entry for repeat visits.
• Start one application per traveller. "Apply as a Group" suits families, and one person can apply on behalf of others.
• Enter passport, contact and trip details and upload the documents listed below.
• Buy the Kenyan health insurance when the form prompts you.
• Check every field before paying, since corrections are possible only before payment and a mistake may mean a new application and fee.
• Pay by card. Emails confirm receipt, payment and the officer's decision.
• Track progress with "Check Status" and the reference number from your email.
• Download or print the approved eTA PDF, or keep it in the app, for checks at departure and arrival.

Visarun helps prepare and check the application before it is submitted on the official portal. Kenyan immigration makes the decision, and no agency can guarantee approval.

Documents and Photo Requirements

Kenya's eTA portal lists these for every applicant, as of October 2026:

• a passport valid at least six months after your planned arrival, with at least one blank page
• a selfie or passport-type photo
• email address and phone number
• itinerary with arrival and departure dates
• accommodation booking confirmation
• a credit or debit card

Purpose-specific extras:

• Business: an invitation letter from the company and its registration copy
• Family visit: the host's invitation letter and the host's ID, passport, alien card or entry permit
• Conference: an invitation or participation letter
• Medical: a hospital referral letter

Vaccination or test certificates may also be requested. Kenya publishes no official photo specifications for size or background. The health insurance is not on that list. It is a separate purchase inside the eTA flow.

Yellow Fever, Health and Customs Checks

Yellow fever and malaria

According to the CDC, Kenya does not require a yellow fever vaccine for direct travel from the United States. It is required for travellers aged one and older arriving from a risk country, so we recommend carrying the yellow card if your route passes through one.

The CDC still recommends the vaccine from nine months of age for most of Kenya, safari areas included, but generally not for trips limited to Nairobi city, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa, or the former Coast Province counties other than Taita-Taveta, Mombasa among them.

The CDC also recommends malaria prophylaxis for areas below 2,500 m, game parks included, and only bite precautions for central Nairobi.

Kenya's Port Health guidance, which we last checked in early October 2026, says all travellers are health-screened on arrival.

Mandatory Kenyan health insurance (since 5 October 2026)

Under Gazette Notice No. 11492, non-Kenyan visitors staying under three months are generally required to hold Kenyan Inbound Travel Health Insurance, subject to exemptions. Per the official eCitizen insurance portal and the US Embassy in Nairobi (16 October 2026):

• up to USD 44 per person, levies and stamp duty included, no separate admin charge
• sold inside the eTA application or on the eCitizen insurance portal
• cover for up to three months with multiple entries, benefit limit USD 50,000 per person, full refund if cancelled before travel
• one individual policy per traveller, children included, with no family or group policies (the portal shows what applies to infants)
• a US travel policy does not replace it, though your own cover is still worth keeping
• eTAs approved before 5 October still need the policy before arrival
• airlines have been asked to check it before boarding, and visitors without it may not be granted entry
• exempt: diplomats, crew, Kenyan residents and transit passengers

Customs

Per Kenya Revenue Authority guidance, cash above USD 10,000 or the equivalent is declared on arrival and before departure. Drones need an import permit from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority in advance. Gifts above the USD 500 allowance are taxable unless exempt.

Combining Kenya With Tanzania, Uganda or Rwanda

The East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) costs USD 100 and covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only, not Tanzania. It is valid for 90 days with multiple entries inside the three countries, cannot be renewed after expiry or exit from the block, and should be issued by your first country of entry.

As of late October 2026, Kenya's eTA portal lists the East African Tourist eTA as "coming soon". So a Kenya-first trip uses a regular Kenyan eTA, while the EATV suits trips starting in Uganda or Rwanda. Kenya has not officially confirmed whether its officers accept those EATVs instead of an eTA, so we recommend checking before you fly.

Separate visas for US citizens:

• Tanzania: USD 100 multiple-entry visa valid 12 months for Americans, with a visitor's pass of up to three months (per the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington)
• Uganda: USD 50 single-entry tourist e-visa for up to three months, with the approval valid 90 days
• Rwanda: visa on arrival for all nationalities, capped at USD 50 single entry (30 days) or USD 70 multiple entry (90 days)

Coming back to Kenya: Kenya's Embassy in Washington says a single-entry eTA can be reused to re-enter from Tanzania or Uganda within your Kenyan stay, while re-entry from anywhere else, Rwanda included, needs a new eTA. The portal describes the standard eTA as one entry, so we recommend confirming with your airline or Kenyan immigration first, or choosing the five-year eTA.

Kenya is on the WHO yellow-fever-risk list. According to the CDC, Tanzania and Rwanda ask travellers aged one and older arriving from Kenya for proof of vaccination, and Uganda asks all arrivals aged one and older. That is the practical reason to get vaccinated for a multi-country safari.

Recent Changes (2025-2026)

Main changes for Americans, as of 27 October 2026:

• 1 January 2025: new fee schedule, including the USD 185 five-year eTA for US citizens and the USD 100 expedited surcharge.
• 30 May 2025: Legal Notice No. 93 exempts EAC citizens, most African states and some Commonwealth and Caribbean states. US citizens still need an eTA.
• 1 December 2025: airlines add a USD 4.95 API-PNR charge per passenger per international segment, shown on the ticket, not an eTA fee.
• 5 October 2026: Kenyan health insurance becomes mandatory. Kenyan media reported that the High Court in Marsabit dismissed a challenge to it on 7 October. We have not seen the judgment, and a second petition's outcome is unknown.
• 14 October 2026: Kenya's Ministry of Health reports two linked Ebola (Bundibugyo) cases and one death, no evidence of community spread and no travel restrictions. The CDC followed with a Level 1 "Practice Usual Precautions" notice on 19 October. The situation moves fast, so we recommend checking current updates.
• 19 October 2026: the US State Department moves Kenya from Level 2 to Level 3 "Reconsider Travel", citing health risks. Do Not Travel areas include Eastleigh and Kibera in Nairobi, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Lamu, Tana River (except Tsavo National Park), Kilifi north of highway C103 and the coast north of Malindi, among others.
• CDC guidance updated 22 October 2026: US citizens who were in Uganda or South Sudan in the past 21 days fly home via Washington-Dulles (IAD), Atlanta (ATL) or New York (JFK) for entry screening, so a Uganda side trip counts and Kenya alone does not. After 3 November, all US-bound passengers also attest they were not in the DRC in the prior 21 days.

The US Embassy in Nairobi also advises continuing malaria prophylaxis, since malaria can mimic Ebola, and monitoring your health for 21 days after visiting an outbreak area.

FAQ

Do Americans need a visa or an eTA for Kenya in 2026?

They need an approved eTA before departure. The US was not part of the 2025 exemptions, and there is no visa on arrival.

How much does the Kenya eTA cost for US citizens?

As of October 2026, USD 30 for single entry or USD 185 for the US-only five-year eTA, plus payment charges and up to USD 44 for the Kenyan insurance.

How long does the Kenya eTA take?

Generally three business days. Kenya recommends applying two weeks ahead, and expedited processing costs USD 100 more.

Do children need their own eTA?

Yes, infants included. Each child also needs its own insurance policy, and the portal shows infant rules.

Does my US travel insurance count for Kenya?

No. The Kenyan policy is a separate statutory requirement, though you can keep your own cover as well.

How long can I stay in Kenya on an eTA?

The officer sets your stay on arrival. A visitor's pass can be extended online up to six months.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccine flying from the US?

Not for direct flights, per the CDC, though it recommends the vaccine for most safari areas. Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda ask for the certificate when you arrive from Kenya.

Can I visit Tanzania and return to Kenya on one eTA?

Kenya's Embassy in Washington says yes for re-entry from Tanzania or Uganda within your stay. We recommend confirming first or choosing the five-year eTA.

Can I volunteer or intern on a Kenya eTA?

Kenya's Embassy in Washington says interns and volunteers enter on a single-entry eTA but need a permit or pass before starting work. That FAQ partly predates the eTA, so we recommend confirming with immigration.