Visiting Kenya from the US, Canada, Europe or Asia? You need an eTA ($30), a passport valid for six months, and, since October 2026, proof of travel health insurance. Here's the full checklist, in the order you'll need it.
Kenya is one of the easiest countries in Africa to visit, and the process is fully online. It has changed a few times recently, though, so the advice you read in a two-year-old forum post may be out of date. This page is what we send our own guests. We keep it current, and we walk every Creeks traveller through it personally.
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Not a visa in the traditional sense. In January 2024 Kenya replaced visas with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). Citizens of the East African Community and most African countries are exempt. Visitors from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and almost everywhere else need an eTA.
How to apply for the Kenya eTA
- 12–4 weeks before you flyGather your documents
A clear photo of your passport's data page, a passport-style photo (a phone photo against a plain wall works), your flight details, and your accommodation. For a safari, your Creeks itinerary confirmation covers your accommodation. We send it in the format the portal expects.
- 2Apply onlineUse the official site only: etakenya.go.ke
Fill in the form, upload your documents and pay by card. Unofficial lookalike sites charge two or three times the fee for the same thing. The real address ends in .go.ke.
- 3New since October 2026Confirm your travel health insurance
Before payment, the portal now asks for your travel health insurance. You can upload proof of a qualifying policy you already hold, or buy the Kenyan policy offered on the portal (about $44 per person). See the details below.
- 4Usually within 3 working daysReceive your approval by email
Print it and save a copy on your phone. Airlines often check it at check-in, before you board for Nairobi.
Kenya's new travel health insurance requirement
This is the newest change, and the one most travellers haven't heard about. Under Gazette Notice No. 11492 (30 July 2026), non-Kenyan visitors staying under 12 months must hold travel health insurance that meets a set of minimum benefits. Enforcement through the eTA system began in early October 2026.
What this means in practice. Kenya's Ministry of Health has said that travellers with compliant cover from home only need to upload proof in the eTA system. The portal also offers a Kenyan inbound policy for about $44 per person, for those without suitable cover. The guidance has been evolving since launch, so we confirm the current position with every guest before they apply.
Health requirements and vaccines
Required only if you're arriving from, or have transited through, a country with yellow fever risk. Direct travellers from the US, Canada, Europe and most of Asia don't need one to enter Kenya. Recommended by the US CDC for most of Kenya outside Nairobi and the coast, which includes the Maasai Mara. A certificate is valid for life.
Malaria is present across most of Kenya below 2,500 m (8,200 ft), including the game parks. Risk in central Nairobi is low. Ask a travel clinic about antimalarial tablets, and pack long sleeves and repellent for the evenings.
Make sure routine vaccinations are up to date. Travel clinics commonly recommend hepatitis A and typhoid for East Africa. Visit one 6–8 weeks before you travel.
There are no COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements to enter Kenya.
Customs: what not to pack
Kenya has one of the world's strictest plastic bag bans. Bags can be confiscated at the airport, so unpack duty-free shopping into your luggage. Zip-lock bags for toiletries are generally fine.
Flying a drone needs prior approval from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and drones are banned in national parks. Unpermitted drones are often held at customs. Leave yours at home.
Bring clean, undamaged US dollars printed after 2009. Older or torn notes are routinely refused. Cards work in hotels and most lodges.
Your arrival-day checklist
Tick these off as you pack. Your progress is saved on this device.
What happens when you land
At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you go through immigration (where your eTA is checked and your fingerprints and photo are taken), collect your bags and pass through customs. With Creeks, a driver is waiting in arrivals with your name on a sign, ready to take you to your hotel or straight out to the parks. You're never left working it out alone.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Kenya?
US citizens don't need a traditional visa, but they do need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travelling. Apply online at etakenya.go.ke. The standard fee is $30 and approval usually takes about three working days.
How far in advance should I apply for the Kenya eTA?
We recommend applying two to four weeks before you fly. Most applications are approved within three working days, but leaving extra time removes any stress if the portal asks for more information.
Do I need travel insurance to enter Kenya?
Yes. Since October 2026 visitors must show travel health insurance that meets Kenya's minimum benefits (at least $50,000 in total, including $20,000 medical and $25,000 emergency evacuation) as part of the eTA process. You can upload a qualifying policy you already have, or buy a Kenyan policy through the portal for about $44.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for Kenya?
Only if you're arriving from or transiting through a country with yellow fever risk. The vaccine is recommended by the US CDC for most areas outside Nairobi and the coast, including the Maasai Mara. If you're travelling on from Kenya to Tanzania or Zanzibar, carry a certificate, as you may be asked for it.
Is the Kenya eTA the same as a visa on arrival?
No. Kenya no longer offers visas on arrival for most visitors. You must have an approved eTA before you board your flight, and airlines may refuse boarding without one.
Can children travel on their parents' eTA?
No. Every traveller, including infants and children, needs their own approved eTA.
