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UK passport to Kenya

UK citizens need an eTA to visit Kenya. It costs $30 on the official site, and since 5 October 2026 you also have to buy Kenyan health insurance (up to $44) as part of the application. Everyone needs their own eTA, including babies and children.

Apply on the official Kenya eTA site Check my dates

The rules

What you need: eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)
Costs: $30, plus Inbound Travel Health Insurance: $44
When to apply: At least 2 weeks before you travel. It usually takes 3 working days. Don't apply more than 90 days ahead, because you must use it within 90 days.
How long it lasts: One entry. Use it within 90 days of it being issued.
Other options: Short of time? An expedited eTA is processed straight away for $100 more.
How long you can stay: Up to 90 days. The officer decides your exact stay when you arrive. You can apply online to Kenya's immigration department to extend your stay, up to 6 months in total. Apply before your permitted stay runs out.
Your passport: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages. Kenya's eTA site asks for 1 blank page; GOV.UK says 2.
Arrival card: None needed

Only changing planes in Kenya? You don't need an eTA if you change planes in Kenya without leaving the airport, and you don't need Kenya's health insurance either. Coming from a yellow fever risk country? Carry your certificate. See the rules for changing planes.

Quick answers

Do UK citizens need a visa for Kenya?

Not a visa, but you need an eTA before you travel. UK citizens need an eTA to visit Kenya. It costs $30 on the official site, and since 5 October 2026 you also have to buy Kenyan health insurance (up to $44) as part of the application. Everyone needs their own eTA, including babies and children.

How much does the eTA cost?

$30, plus Inbound Travel Health Insurance ($44) on the official site. Apply at least 2 weeks before you travel. It usually takes 3 working days. Don't apply more than 90 days ahead, because you must use it within 90 days. Other websites charge more for the same form.

How long can UK citizens stay in Kenya?

Up to 90 days. The officer decides your exact stay when you arrive. You can apply online to Kenya's immigration department to extend your stay, up to 6 months in total. Apply before your permitted stay runs out.

How long does my passport need to be valid for Kenya?

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages. Kenya's eTA site asks for 1 blank page; GOV.UK says 2.

Good to know

Health insurance is compulsory. Since 5 October 2026 most visitors must have Kenya's own Inbound Travel Health Insurance, even if you already have travel insurance. It costs up to $44 per person and covers 90 days. You buy it during the eTA application; if your eTA was approved before then, buy it on insurance.ecitizen.go.ke. Airlines can check it before you board.

Use only the official eTA site. Apply only on etakenya.go.ke or Kenya's official eTA app. Sites that look similar aren't run by the Kenyan government. Your eTA must be approved before you set off.

Plastic bags are banned. Kenya bans plastic carrier bags. Leave plastic bags, including duty-free bags, on the plane or at the airport when you arrive. Fines for breaking the ban can be very high.

Yellow fever and Ebola checks. If you're coming from a country with a risk of yellow fever, including a stop of 12 hours or more in one, carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate. You can be refused entry without it. Because of the Ebola outbreak centred on the DRC, arrivals are being health-screened, especially people coming from Uganda, Ethiopia or the DRC.

Checked 28 October 2026 against Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya, eCitizen, Government of Kenya and GOV.UK.

See the 9 official sources

How to Apply: Terms of Application (Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya (official eTA site))
General Information (Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya (official eTA site))
Kenya ETA Eligibility (eTA types and fees) (Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya (official eTA site))
FAQs (Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya (official eTA site))
Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) (Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya)
Extension of Visitor's Pass (Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya)
Directorate of Immigration Services Service Delivery Charter 2025 (Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya)
Kenya Inbound Travel Health Insurance (eCitizen, Government of Kenya)
Kenya travel advice: Entry requirements (GOV.UK)