Kenya eTA for US Travelers: Validity, Documents & How to Apply
Short answer: The Kenya Embassy in Washington, D.C. states that Kenya implemented the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) under the Visa Free Regime directive and Gazette Supplement No.1 of January 2, 2024. The official portal is etakenya.go.ke — it replaces evisa.go.ke effective January 5, 2024. All visitors including infants and children who intend to travel to Kenya must have an approved eTA before the start of their journey (subject to listed exemptions). The eTA is valid for travel within 90 days from issuance; stay length is decided at the point of entry. Passport: at least six months after planned arrival and at least one blank page. Processing is three working days, and may take longer. Confirm live fees on the official portal / Embassy before you pay. Start Kenya eTA help on my-evisas.com. Stand: 29 July 2026.
Navigation: ← Kenya hub · eTA vs old eVisa · Start eTA help
What is a Kenya eTA?
A Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is the electronic authorisation completed before travel under Kenya’s current regime (Embassy DC). For most U.S. tourism or short visits that do not clearly fit a listed exemption, it is the main sellable electronic product on my-evisas.com. Binding eligibility, permitted activities, and checkout totals are those published by Kenyan authorities — confirm on the live official portal before you pay.
Official apply channel
The Embassy presents the new digital portal https://www.etakenya.go.ke and states that it replaces the previously operational www.evisa.go.ke platform effective January 5, 2024. The Embassy encourages travelers to visit etakenya.go.ke for detailed application-process information.
Assisted filing through my-evisas.com supports the electronic eTA path — it does not turn a random lookalike form into a government site. Do not treat retired evisa.go.ke as your apply CTA.
→ Prefer assisted eTA support? Start on my-evisas.com/visas/kenya.
Passport and travel rules
- Approved before journey (Embassy): all visitors including infants and children need an approved eTA before travel (subject to exemptions listed on the Embassy page).
- Travel validity (Embassy): eTA valid for travel within 90 days from the date of issuance.
- Stay length (Embassy): once you arrive, duration of stay is determined at the point of entry.
- Passport (Embassy): valid for at least six (6) months after your planned date of arrival into Kenya, with at least one blank page.
- “Visa Free Regime”: does not mean typical US tourism skips eTA — see eTA vs old eVisa.
Documents checklist
Have ready before you start (Embassy — for all travellers):
- Valid passport (six months after planned arrival; at least one blank page)
- Selfie or passport-type photo
- Contact information, email address and phone number
- Details of your arrival and departure itinerary
- Accommodation booking confirmation(s)
- Credit card, debit card or other means of payment
Depending on purpose of visit, the Embassy notes extras may also be required (for example business invitation / company registration; family host ID; medical or conference letters; vaccination or test certificates). Confirm the live checklist on etakenya.go.ke.
Processing time
Processing time is three (3) working days, but in some cases it may take longer (Embassy).
Fees
The Embassy eTA page used for this article lists payment means but does not publish a fixed USD government fee table we can reprint. Confirm the live amount on etakenya.go.ke (or Embassy guidance) when you apply. Agency service fees (if you use assisted filing) are separate.
How to apply — overview
- Confirm you need an eTA for your itinerary (typical US tourism: yes, unless you clearly fit a listed exemption).
- Apply on the official portal etakenya.go.ke, or use assisted electronic filing via https://my-evisas.com/visas/kenya.
- Keep passport validity at least six months after planned arrival and at least one blank page.
- Allow usually three working days (may take longer).
- Travel within 90 days of issuance; stay length is set at entry.
Transit through Kenya (airside note)
The Embassy lists an exemption for passengers in transit through Kenya who arrive and leave by the same aircraft or transfer to another aircraft and do not leave the precincts of airports in Kenya. If your connection requires leaving the transit area or entering Kenya, treat the eTA path as the default and confirm on the official portal before you fly. This page does not invent separate airside vs landside fee tables.
Prefer the old eVisa site or VoA instead?
evisa.go.ke is the retired platform (replaced 5 January 2024). Visa-on-arrival myths and old “eVisa” branding are clarified in Kenya eTA vs Old eVisa. my-evisas.com’s primary product help is the current Kenya eTA, not VoA counters or the old portal.
FAQ
Do US citizens need a Kenya eTA?
For typical tourism, yes — plan on an approved eTA before travel. Embassy: all visitors including infants and children must have an approved eTA before the journey, subject to listed exemptions.
What is the official Kenya eTA website?
etakenya.go.ke. It replaces evisa.go.ke effective January 5, 2024 (Embassy).
How long is a Kenya eTA valid?
Valid for travel within 90 days from the date of issuance (Embassy). Stay length after arrival is determined at the point of entry.
How long does processing take?
Three working days, and in some cases longer (Embassy).
What if my eTA is refused or payment fails?
Re-check the decision, error, or payment status on the official portal (etakenya.go.ke) and any instructions shown in your application account / email. Do not invent a workaround on this page. Correct passport data mismatches and retry only through official channels (or assisted electronic support). The U.S. Embassy cannot “fix” a Kenya eTA for you.
What if I am only transiting?
See the airside transit exemption note above. If unsure whether you will leave airport precincts, obtain an eTA before travel and confirm with your airline.
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 help → https://my-evisas.com/visas/kenya
- Not provided: Old eVisa portal filing; VoA counter products; East Africa Tourist Visa; embassy sticker; work/student permit lodging
→ Start on my-evisas.com · Kenya hub
Sources
- Kenya Embassy Washington D.C. — Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) (accessed 2026-07-29)
- Government of Kenya eTA portal — etakenya.go.ke (encouraged by Embassy; accessed 2026-07-29)
Disclaimer
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: 29 July 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://kenyaembassydc.org/eta/ and https://www.etakenya.go.ke