Safari Planning, Travel Guides & Practical AdviceThe Kenya eTA (electronic travel authorization) is the permit most visitors now need before flying to Kenya, and it has replaced the old Kenya visa. You apply online at etakenya.go.ke, the fee reported at launch is USD 30 per traveler, and an approved eTA is valid for travel within 90 days of issue. Since 5 October 2026 most visitors must also hold Kenyan government travel health insurance, and this page sets out the entry rules for a safari, while our Masai Mara safari guide covers the trip itself.
Entry rules change quickly, so each point below names its source and was checked in October 2026. We plan safaris and are not an immigration authority, so confirm the details on the official portal before you pay.
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Kenya eTA at a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| What it is | An online electronic travel authorization that replaces the Kenya visa; an existing visa stays valid until it expires |
| Where to apply | The official portal, etakenya.go.ke, run by the Directorate of Immigration Services |
| Fee | USD 30 per traveler as reported at launch; citizens of a few countries pay nothing |
| When to apply | Two weeks before departure is the recommended lead time; 72 hours is the reported minimum |
| Validity | Travel to Kenya within 90 days of the issue date |
| Passport | Expires at least 6 months after arrival, with at least 2 blank pages |
| Health insurance | Kenyan government travel health insurance, required for most visitors from 5 October 2026 |
| Yellow fever | Certificate needed if you arrive from a country with a transmission risk |
Fees last verified: October 2026. The USD 30 figure comes from a February 2024 Nairametrics report, so check the amount when you apply.
The eTA is an entry permit for Kenya, not for one park. The same application covers a short stay such as our 3-Day Maasai Mara Roar & Roam Safari (from USD 1,420 per person, depending on season, group size and lodge choice) or a longer route that adds the Laikipia conservancies.
Who needs a Kenya eTA, and who does not
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) states that Kenya has replaced visas with the eTA, so if you were searching for a Kenya visa application, the eTA is now the route.
- Most visitors, tourists included, need an eTA before arriving.
- Citizens of East African Community partner states are exempt and may travel on a valid passport or national ID.
- Citizens of Ethiopia, Comoros, Congo-Brazzaville, Eritrea, Mozambique, San Marino and South Africa were reported in 2024 as exempt from the fee, though they still complete the form.
How to apply for the Kenya eTA
- Check your passport. It must expire at least 6 months after your arrival date and have at least 2 blank pages.
- Open the official portal. The etakenya.go.ke home page carries the application and status-check functions. Use only this address.
- Apply for each traveler, pay the fee and, if the rule applies, buy the Kenyan health insurance in the same application (see below).
- Track the status on the portal, then save or print the approval.
The portal sets out the documents it needs. We could not confirm the full list, so read it before you begin. For help, the portal lists WhatsApp +254 110 922 064 and phone +254 717 436 070.
When to apply: timing and validity
| Timing | What it means |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks before departure | The lead time the local authorities recommend, according to the FCDO |
| 72 hours before arrival | The minimum reported in 2024; a last resort, not a plan |
| Within 90 days of issue | The window in which an issued eTA is valid for travel |
| Processing time | Not confirmed from the portal, so check it when you apply |
Do not apply too early: an approval obtained six months ahead will not help, because the eTA is valid for travel within 90 days of issue. Apply once your flights are booked. For flights and costs, see our guides to a Kenya safari from the USA and a Kenya safari from the UK.
Two ways to see the Mara once your eTA is sorted
- 3-Day Maasai Mara Roar & Roam Safari: a short Mara stay for travelers with only a few days. From USD 1,420 per person.
- 10-Day Kenya Safari: Samburu to the Maasai Mara: two regions in one trip for travelers with more time. From USD 5,100 per person.
Prices depend on season, group size and lodge choice.
Kenya travel health insurance: the new 2026 rule
According to the FCDO, most travelers staying in Kenya for less than 12 months must hold Kenyan government-provided travel health insurance from 5 October 2026. If you need an eTA, you buy the cover during the application; if you already hold one, you use the Kenyan eCitizen insurance portal. The cover lasts 90 days with multiple entries. Kenyan citizens, residents, East African Community citizens and transit passengers who skip immigration control are exempt.
The Ministry of Health set the minimum cover under Gazette Notice No. 11492 of 30 July 2026, as reported by Kenyans.co.ke. Insurers must be licensed in Kenya.
| Cover item | Reported amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum total benefit | USD 50,000 |
| Medical cover | Up to USD 20,000 |
| Emergency medical transportation | USD 25,000 |
| Prescribed medicines | USD 300 |
| Mental health treatment | USD 1,000 |
| Repatriation of mortal remains | USD 5,000 |
The sources disagree on one point. The Ministry report says qualifying insurance from home can be uploaded to the eTA system, while the FCDO says foreign policies are not accepted. Treat the stricter reading as the safe one and follow the portal. We found no published price for the Kenyan policy.
Passport, drones and what to carry
If you plan to fly a drone, you need prior approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to import or export it. On travel day, carry your passport, your eTA approval, proof of your Kenyan insurance and, if the rule applies, your yellow fever certificate.
Yellow fever, malaria and other health points
Yellow fever certificate
The CDC says a certificate is required for travelers aged 1 year and older arriving from countries with yellow fever transmission risk. It is not required for direct travel from the US. The FCDO gives the same rule and links to a list, so check whether your departure country is on it.
Vaccine advice is separate. The CDC generally recommends yellow fever vaccination from 9 months of age, except for travel limited to Nairobi and a few other areas. A Mara trip falls outside those exceptions, so ask a travel clinic.
Malaria
The CDC reports malaria transmission in all areas of Kenya below 2,500 m (8,200 ft), including game parks. It does not name the Masai Mara, but the reserve lies below that height, so plan on precautions. A clinician should choose between the options it lists: atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine and tafenoquine.
Other vaccines
The CDC recommends hepatitis A, typhoid and up-to-date routine vaccines, and suggests discussing rabies with a clinician. The US advisory, as quoted by the Nation, says medical services are often unavailable in rural areas. For more, read our guide to health, malaria and security in the Masai Mara.
Ebola screening and travel advisories, October 2026
These details are perishable, so re-check them when you book and again before you fly. The FCDO says travelers arriving from Uganda, Ethiopia and the DRC may face enhanced health screening.
- AP reported 9 confirmed Ebola cases in Kenya on 20 October 2026. The first case was announced on 6 October, and the health ministry said it saw no evidence of spread beyond that patient’s known contacts.
- The CDC lists the location as Nairobi, in a Level 1 notice (usual precautions) dated 19 October 2026. No source we checked places a case in Narok County or the Mara.
- The US State Department raised Kenya to Level 3, “Reconsider travel”, on 19 October 2026, as reported by the Nation.
- The FCDO’s Kenya advice warns against travel to areas near the Somalia border and the north-east coast, and does not mention Narok or the Mara. Insurance may be invalid if you travel against FCDO advice.
Combining Kenya with Tanzania and Uganda
The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda only, so Tanzania needs its own entry arrangements. According to Uganda’s immigration service, it costs USD 100, is valid for 90 days, allows multiple tourism entries and must be issued by your first country of entry. We could not confirm from a Kenyan source that it replaces the eTA, so verify that before you buy it.
On a multi-country route, check the yellow fever rule when you re-enter Kenya. A circuit that stays inside Kenya, such as our 10-Day Kenya Safari: Samburu to the Maasai Mara (from USD 5,100 per person, depending on season, group size and lodge choice), needs only the Kenyan paperwork above.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Most visitors need an eTA instead of a visa. If you already hold a Kenyan visa, the FCDO says you can keep using it until it expires.
How much does the Kenya eTA cost?
The reported fee is USD 30 per traveler, from 2024 reporting, so confirm the current amount on etakenya.go.ke. Fees last verified: October 2026.
How long does the eTA take to process?
We could not confirm a processing time from the portal. Apply two weeks before you fly, as the local authorities recommend, and never later than 72 hours before arrival.
Do children need their own eTA?
We could not confirm the child rules from the portal text we could read, so ask the portal’s support lines before applying for a child. The yellow fever certificate rule applies from age 1.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for the Masai Mara?
The certificate is required only if you arrive from a country with transmission risk. The CDC still generally recommends the vaccine for a Mara trip, so ask a travel clinic.
Is my home travel insurance enough for Kenya?
The sources conflict. The FCDO says foreign policies are not accepted in place of the Kenyan cover, while a Ministry of Health report says qualifying home policies can be uploaded. Follow the portal.
Photo: Masai Mara Giraffe by HasselbladWhisperer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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