Kenya eTA for US Travelers: Official Channel, Fees, Timing & How to Apply
Short answer: Under Kenya’s Visa Free Regime, U.S. passport holders still need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travel — the United States is not on the published exemption list. Apply on the official etakenya.go.ke portal (which replaced evisa.go.ke from 5 January 2024), including for infants and children. An approved eTA is valid for travel within 90 days from issuance; how long you may stay is decided at entry. Passports need six months’ validity after your planned arrival and at least one blank page. Processing is typically three working days / 72 hours, with an expedited option on the official site — apply about two weeks ahead when you can. Official FAQs list normal fees from USD 30 and expedited at an additional USD 100; confirm the live amount at checkout. Start Kenya eTA help on my-evisas.com. Stand: 18 August 2026.
Navigation: ← Kenya · eTA vs old eVisa · Transit eTA · Start eTA help
What is a Kenya eTA?
Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) is the advance travel permission the Government of Kenya uses under the Visa Free Regime (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 1 of 2 January 2024). It replaces the old eVisa requirement for most leisure and short-stay visitors but is not the same as arriving without any paperwork — you still apply before you fly.
An eTA is permission to travel, authorised by the Government of Kenya. Border officers decide admissibility at the point of entry — an approval email or PDF is not a guarantee of entry.
Official apply channel
Kenya Embassy Washington D.C. directs travelers to etakenya.go.ke, launched to replace www.evisa.go.ke effective 5 January 2024.
Official FAQs state that applications must be completed only through this official website or the “Kenya Travel Authorisation” official mobile app, for each individual traveler (groups select “Apply as a Group” but each passenger still needs an eTA).
Apply on the official portal yourself, or use assisted filing: Start on my-evisas.com/visas/kenya. Airside layover rules: Kenya transit eTA.
Who needs an eTA (US citizens)
Kenya Embassy Washington D.C.: all visitors, including infants and children, must have an approved eTA before the start of the journey, unless they qualify for a published exemption (East African Community citizens, named visa-waiver nationalities, certain diplomatic/transit/crew cases, etc.).
United States nationality is not listed among those exemptions on the Embassy eTA page used for this guide. Plan on an eTA for typical U.S. tourism or short business trips.
The national “Visa Free Regime” branding can sound like “no visa” — in practice, for U.S. travelers it means apply online for an eTA rather than obtaining a traditional visa sticker first.
Passport and documents
Before you start, gather:
- Passport valid at least six months after your planned arrival into Kenya, with at least one blank page
- Selfie or passport-type photo
- Contact details (email and phone)
- Arrival and departure itinerary
- Accommodation booking confirmation
- Payment method (credit/debit card, etc.)
Depending on purpose, officials may also ask for invitation letters, company registration, medical referral letters, vaccination certificates, or other supporting documents listed on the Embassy and etakenya.go.ke pages.
Processing time
Kenya Embassy Washington D.C.: processing time is three (3) working days, but may take longer in some cases.
Official etakenya.go.ke FAQs describe three business days / 72 hours as typical, with longer verification possible. An expedited (immediate) option is available on the official platform.
General Information on etakenya.go.ke recommends applying at least two weeks before travel to allow adequate processing time.
Fees
Official FAQs on etakenya.go.ke state that fees vary by travel application type, with:
- Normal processing (may take up to 72 hours) starting at USD 30
- Expedited (immediate processing) at an additional USD 100
Confirm the live total on the official checkout screen (or assisted checkout) when you apply — do not rely on third-party price quotes. Agency service fees, if you use assisted filing, are separate.
How to apply — overview
- Confirm you need an eTA (U.S. travelers: yes, unless you clearly fit a published exemption).
- Open the official channel — etakenya.go.ke — or use assisted electronic filing via https://my-evisas.com/visas/kenya.
- Complete one application per traveler (use group mode if traveling together).
- Upload passport, photo, itinerary, accommodation proof, and any purpose-specific documents.
- Pay on the official checkout flow; keep your reference number to Check Status.
- If approved, print the PDF (or save it in the official mobile app) and carry it with your passport. If denied, see FAQ below.
Prefer the old eVisa, visa on arrival, or an embassy sticker?
The evisa.go.ke platform is retired in favor of etakenya.go.ke. Legacy “visa on arrival” or embassy sticker paths for short visits are DIY on official channels — compare timing and eligibility in eTA vs old eVisa. my-evisas.com assists the electronic eTA path on https://my-evisas.com/visas/kenya, not embassy appointment or East Africa Tourist Visa lodgement.
FAQ
Do US citizens need an eTA for Kenya?
Yes for typical U.S. passport travel: Kenya Embassy Washington D.C. requires an approved eTA before the journey for all visitors unless a published exemption applies — and the United States is not on that exemption list.
How long does a Kenya eTA take?
Usually three working days / 72 hours on the official FAQs, with possible delays. Apply about two weeks ahead when you can. Expedited processing is offered on etakenya.go.ke.
How much does a Kenya eTA cost?
Official FAQs: from USD 30 for normal processing (up to 72 hours) and USD 100 additional for expedited immediate processing — confirm live fees at checkout.
What is the official Kenya eTA website?
etakenya.go.ke (and the official Kenya Travel Authorisation mobile app). It replaced evisa.go.ke from 5 January 2024.
What if my eTA is refused or payment fails?
Official FAQs: if your application is denied, you cannot travel to Kenya for the moment and should contact official eTA support via the email given on etakenya.go.ke for next steps. Do not assume a U.S. embassy can override a Kenyan eTA decision. Retry payment or card issues on the official checkout; if payment succeeded but status is unclear, use Check Status with your reference number.
What is a consent commitment letter on the Kenya eTA form?
Some travelers see a consent commitment letter field in online discussions. It is not defined on the Embassy or FAQ pages reviewed for this guide — check the live form help text on etakenya.go.ke when you apply.
How my-evisas.com can help
my-evisas.com can help you start a Kenya eTA application — electronic support linked from https://my-evisas.com/visas/kenya.
- Provided: Kenya eTA assisted filing → https://my-evisas.com/visas/kenya
- Not provided: Embassy/consulate sticker appointments; East Africa Tourist Visa DIY lodgement; legacy visa-on-arrival letter services
→ Start on my-evisas.com · Kenya hub
Sources
- Kenya Embassy Washington D.C. — Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) (accessed 18 August 2026)
- Republic of Kenya eTA — Frequently Asked Questions (accessed 18 August 2026)
- Republic of Kenya eTA — General Information (accessed 18 August 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: 18 August 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/