Kenya eTA for US Travelers: Official Channel, Fees, Timing & How to Apply
Short answer: A US citizen making an ordinary visit to Kenya generally needs an approved electronic travel authorization (eTA) before starting the journey, including when the traveler is a child. You can apply directly through Kenya's government eTA portal or its official mobile app. Apply ahead of departure: the published processing expectation can be exceeded, and an approved eTA permits travel rather than guaranteeing entry. As of 24 September 2026, the Kenya Embassy's published exemption list does not include US citizens.
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What is a Kenya eTA?
Kenya's eTA is a government authorization to travel to Kenya under its visa-free regime. It is a pre-travel decision: you should have approval before beginning your journey, but an immigration officer decides whether you may enter when you arrive. Keep your approval available for travel and be ready to present the documents supporting your trip at the border.
The Kenya Embassy says an eTA is valid for travel within 90 days of issuance. That is a window in which to use the authorization to travel, not a promise that you may stay in Kenya for 90 days. Your permitted length of stay is determined at the point of entry. If your itinerary changes, check that your authorization still covers your travel date and that your trip details remain accurate.
Official apply channel
For a direct application, use www.etakenya.go.ke or the official Kenya Travel Authorisation mobile app. The government says an application must be made for each individual traveler. The Kenya Embassy says this eTA portal replaced the former eVisa portal on 5 January 2024, so an old eVisa bookmark is not the current starting point for an ordinary eTA application.
The portal is also where you can check the current application requirements and review the amount presented for your application before payment. If you prefer help preparing a supported eTA filing, private assistance is available; the government still makes the authorization decision.
Who needs an eTA (US citizens)
For an ordinary US passport holder visiting Kenya, plan to obtain an approved eTA before travel. Kenya's visa-free regime does not mean that a US visitor can begin the journey without pre-travel authorization: the eTA is the authorization required under the current rule. The Kenya Embassy states that visitors, including infants and children, need approval before the start of their journey, subject to the exemptions it publishes. US nationality is not on that published exemption list. A family should therefore check each traveler's position individually rather than treating one adult's approval as covering everyone.
An exemption may depend on the traveler's circumstances, including whether the trip involves entering Kenya at all. For an airside connection, see the Kenya transit guide and check the current official exemption list before relying on it. If any traveler has a different nationality or travel status, assess that person's case against the live government rules.
Passport and documents
Prepare a passport valid for at least six months after your planned arrival in Kenya, with at least one blank page. The government's standard checklist also calls for a selfie or passport-style photo, contact details, an arrival and departure itinerary, accommodation confirmation, and a payment method. These items connect your identity to the trip you describe in the application. If a passport detail or travel date does not match the documents you intend to use, resolve the difference before submitting; otherwise you cannot rely on the application as an accurate account of that traveler and trip.
The official form may ask for further documents according to the purpose of travel. Gather the documents for your actual trip, then use the government's current instructions as the final checklist. A business, family, or other purpose may raise different questions from an ordinary visit. If you spot a discrepancy after submission, use the official channel to ask how to address it before relying on the application for travel.
Processing time
The official guidance describes processing as generally three working days / 72 hours, while warning that verification can make it longer. Those figures are an expectation, not a decision deadline. If departure is close, a still-pending application leaves you without the approved eTA the Embassy says travelers need before the journey begins.
The government recommends applying at least two weeks before travel to allow adequate processing time. That margin is useful if the authorities request further verification or your plans need correcting. The official FAQ also describes an expedited option for urgent applications; check the live portal for availability and terms rather than assuming that choosing it will secure approval or a particular completion time.
Fees
The applicable government fee depends on the travel application selected. Review the amount and payment terms shown in the official eTA application checkout for your own submission before you pay. If you choose optional private assistance, review that service's terms separately at the Kenya assistance page.
How to apply — overview
Start at the official eTA portal or its official app, select the application that matches your trip, and enter each traveler's passport, contact, and itinerary details. Upload the documents the form requests, review the submission, and complete its payment stage. The application is individual even when several people travel together.
After submission, use the official channel to follow the application and read any decision or request for more information. Confirm that the eTA has been approved before travel and keep the approval evidence with your travel documents. Submission or payment alone should not be treated as approval; the government decides the eTA, and admission is assessed again on arrival.
Prefer the old eVisa, visa on arrival, or an embassy sticker?
For an ordinary US visitor seeking pre-travel authorization, the current government route is the eTA portal, which replaced the former eVisa portal. A visa-free policy does not remove the published eTA requirement for a US traveler in this ordinary case. Waiting until arrival also does not resolve a requirement to have approval before your journey starts.
Other travel purposes or personal circumstances can call for a different assessment. Use the Kenya entry guide to compare the main paths, or read how the eTA differs from the former eVisa. For a case that appears to need an embassy process, follow the relevant official authority's instructions; my-evisas.com provides electronic filing assistance, not embassy appointments or sticker-visa submission.
FAQ
Do US citizens need an eTA for Kenya?
For an ordinary visit, yes. The Embassy's general rule includes children and infants, and its published exemption list does not include US nationality. Check the live exemptions if your travel circumstances differ.
How long does a Kenya eTA take?
The published general expectation is three working days / 72 hours, but an application can take longer. The government recommends applying at least two weeks before travel; do not travel on the assumption that a pending application will be approved in time.
How much does a Kenya eTA cost?
Fees depend on the application type. The official checkout shows the amount applicable to the application you select before payment.
What is the official Kenya eTA website?
The government application website is www.etakenya.go.ke. The official Kenya Travel Authorisation mobile app is another direct route.
What if my eTA is refused or payment fails?
If the eTA is denied, the official FAQ says you cannot travel to Kenya for the moment and directs you to contact the eTA support channel for details. If payment or submission has not completed, check your application status through the official portal and follow its support instructions before making travel plans; a payment attempt is not an approval.
What is a consent commitment letter on the Kenya eTA form?
If you are completing an application for another traveler, confirm that you have their permission and check what the live form asks you to confirm on their behalf. If the form asks for a consent commitment letter, follow the explanation attached to that field and the official portal's guidance for that application. Submit only when you can answer the request accurately; if you cannot tell how it applies to that traveler, pause and ask the portal's support channel before submitting.
How my-evisas.com can help
You can file directly at the government eTA portal or through its official app. If you would like support with a Kenya eTA application, my-evisas.com's optional filing assistance is a private service for the electronic route. Kenyan authorities decide whether to approve the authorization and whether to admit a traveler on arrival. Embassy appointments and sticker-visa submission are outside this service.
Sources
- Kenya Embassy Washington D.C. — Electronic Travel Authorization (accessed 24 September 2026).
- Republic of Kenya eTA — General Information (accessed 24 September 2026).
- Republic of Kenya eTA — FAQs (accessed 24 September 2026).
Important Notice
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. my-evisas.com is a private service provider and not a government authority, embassy, or consulate.
Visa requirements and entry regulations can change at short notice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Only the official regulations in force at the time of your application are authoritative.
As of: 24 September 2026
Binding and up-to-date information is provided exclusively by the relevant official authorities. Please verify the currently applicable requirements before your application or travel: https://www.etakenya.go.ke/