Kenya eTA from UK 2026: Replacement for the Old Visa System

Kenya replaced its traditional visa system with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) in January 2024. For British passport holders, this changed the route into Kenya from a paper or stamp-based visa to a fully online authorisation lodged before departure. The official eTA costs $30 plus a small processing fee, takes around three days to issue, and is valid for 90 days single entry. This guide explains who needs the eTA, how to apply on the government portal, what documents are required, and why third-party expediters offering "Kenya visa services" for £40 to £60 are charging markup over the official $30 fee. It does not provide regulated immigration advice.

Last reviewed: May 2026 · Sourced from GOV.UK

How the Kenya eTA works for UK travellers

The Kenya eTA is the only authorised pre-arrival travel document for short visits to Kenya by UK passport holders. Since the January 2024 replacement of the old e-Visa, there is no visa-on-arrival option and no separate tourist visa for stays under 90 days. Every UK traveller, regardless of age, must hold an approved eTA on arrival. The eTA is electronic, linked to the passport used to apply, and shown on a phone screen or printout at immigration.

The eTA covers tourism, business, transit, and short family visits. It permits a single entry into Kenya and a stay of up to 90 days from the date of entry. Multiple entries on a single eTA are not supported, which is a meaningful change from the old visa, and travellers planning a regional trip with re-entry to Kenya from neighbouring countries need a separate eTA for each entry.

Children and family applications

Children, including infants, require their own eTA. Each application is linked to one passport. Group applications are not currently supported by the portal, so each family member's eTA must be lodged separately. The applicant or a parent can complete the form on behalf of a child, but the child's own passport number, photograph, and travel details must be entered.

What replaced the old e-Visa

Until January 2024, British travellers applied for a Kenya e-Visa at $50 single entry. The eTA replaces it at $30 plus a small processing fee, generally working out cheaper after exchange. Anyone holding an unused Kenya e-Visa issued before the changeover should check the Kenya immigration website for the current acceptance rules; the eTA is now the established route.

How to apply for the Kenya eTA

The official application portal is etakenya.go.ke, operated by the Government of Kenya. A complete application takes around 15 minutes for a first-time user. Required materials are a colour passport-style photograph taken within the last six months, a scan or clear photograph of the passport biographical page, the address of accommodation in Kenya, a return or onward flight booking, and a credit or debit card for payment. Hotel confirmation, conference registration, or tour booking documents may be requested for purposes other than standard tourism.

The application form asks for full personal details, travel history including any previous visits to Kenya, employment status, and the planned itinerary. Honest declarations are important; misstatements can lead to refusal or revocation of an issued eTA. Once submitted, the applicant receives a confirmation email with a reference number. The eTA itself is delivered by email when approved.

What to do if the portal rejects your application

The most common rejection reasons are photo specification failures, mismatched passport details, and incomplete itinerary information. The portal does not always state a reason for rejection. Applicants can submit a fresh application after correcting the identified issue. Repeated rejections from the same passport number can trigger additional review, so it is worth confirming all details before resubmitting.

Cost: official fees and third-party markup

The Kenya eTA carries a $30 government fee plus a service or processing fee of around $4, depending on the payment provider. The total is typically charged in US dollars and converted to sterling by the cardholder's bank. There is no premium or expedited processing tier offered by the Kenya government; every application goes through the same queue.

A range of third-party visa services market "Kenya visa from UK" packages at £40 to £60. These services collect the applicant's documents and lodge them on the same official portal. The applicant pays the $30 government fee inside the £40 to £60 total, with the difference retained as a service fee. For most UK travellers using a smartphone or laptop and reading English, the official portal is straightforward enough that the third-party markup is paying for convenience rather than expertise.

Where an expediter can genuinely add value

For applicants with complex travel histories, prior refusals in any country, or unusual passport status (recent renewal, second passport, emergency travel document), an experienced agent who handles Kenya eTA applications daily can be useful. The value is in lodging the form accurately first time rather than in the form itself. For a standard British tourist with a clean record, the official portal is the more sensible route.

Processing time and travel planning

The Kenya government's stated processing time for the eTA is 72 hours from a complete application. In practice, approvals often arrive within 24 to 48 hours, but the 72-hour benchmark exists for a reason and tight applications can fail to clear in time. The Kenya High Commission in London advises applying at least one week before travel; for any trip with non-changeable flights, applying two weeks ahead is more sensible.

Where an application is delayed beyond 72 hours, the applicant should check the portal status page using the reference number from the confirmation email. Email enquiries to the Kenya eTA support address can take several days to receive a response, so building in buffer time is the practical safeguard. Anyone whose travel date arrives without an issued eTA should not assume they can enter Kenya and resolve it at the airport; the eTA must be approved before boarding the flight.

Common refusal reasons and how to avoid them

The most common refusal reasons documented on the Kenya immigration site are inadequate or mismatched documentation, insufficient information about the purpose of travel, and a passport with under six months of validity remaining. Photo issues, particularly the wrong aspect ratio or background, account for many initial portal rejections rather than full refusals.

For applicants who have previously been refused entry to Kenya, who have an immigration record in another country, or who have visited certain regions in the past, the eTA process is the same form but additional supporting documentation should be uploaded if asked. The Kenya Immigration Department generally does not provide a detailed refusal letter, so applicants who experience an unexplained refusal often face limited options for appeal. In such cases, contacting the Kenya High Commission in London is the recommended route rather than continuing to resubmit through the portal.

Longer stays and alternatives

The eTA covers stays up to 90 days. For visits longer than 90 days, or for purposes beyond tourism and short business, a class M or class K visa or a work permit issued by the Kenya Department of Immigration Services is the route. These applications are typically lodged through the Kenya High Commission in London rather than the eTA portal and require more substantial documentation including invitation letters, sponsor details, and in some cases police clearance certificates.

Holders of the East African Tourist Visa, a multiple-entry visa covering Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, can use that visa instead of the Kenya eTA where the visa is still valid. The East African Tourist Visa costs $100 and is issued via the relevant participating country; it is most useful for travellers genuinely visiting all three jurisdictions in a single trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do British passport holders still need a visa for Kenya?

British passport holders no longer need a traditional visa for Kenya. Since January 2024, Kenya operates an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system that replaced both the e-Visa and visa-on-arrival options. Every UK traveller, regardless of age, must apply for and hold an approved eTA before boarding a flight to Kenya. The official fee is $30 plus a small processing fee and the application is made directly at etakenya.go.ke.

How long does the Kenya eTA take to process?

The Kenya government states a processing time of 72 hours from a complete application. In practice many approvals arrive within 24 to 48 hours, but the 72-hour figure is the official benchmark and not all applications clear faster. The Kenya High Commission in London advises applying at least one week before the travel date. For trips with non-changeable flights, two weeks of buffer is more sensible.

How much does the Kenya eTA cost?

The official Kenya eTA fee is $30, with a small additional processing or service fee of around $4 charged by the payment provider. The total is in US dollars and converted to sterling by the cardholder's bank at the prevailing rate. There is no premium or expedited processing tier offered by the Kenya government; any third-party site advertising fast-track processing is operating outside the official channel.

Is the Kenya eTA single entry or multiple entry?

The standard Kenya eTA is single entry, valid for a stay of up to 90 days from the date of entry. Travellers planning a regional trip with re-entry to Kenya from neighbouring countries need a separate eTA for each Kenya entry. Holders of the East African Tourist Visa, which covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda on a multiple-entry basis, may use that visa instead of the eTA where the trip genuinely covers all three jurisdictions.

What happens if your Kenya eTA is refused?

The Kenya Immigration Department does not always provide a detailed refusal reason. Applicants can submit a fresh application correcting any errors they identify. Common issues include passport validity below six months, mismatched details between the form and passport, photo specification failures, and incomplete itinerary information. Where a refusal appears unexplained, contacting the Kenya High Commission in London is the recommended route rather than repeatedly resubmitting through the portal.

Why are third-party Kenya visa services so much more expensive?

Third-party Kenya visa services typically charge £40 to £60 for an application that costs $30 plus a small fee on the official government portal. The third-party site collects documents and lodges the application through the same official channel, retaining the difference. For a standard UK applicant with a clean travel history and reasonable English literacy, the official portal is the lower-cost route. Where an expediter genuinely adds value is in complex applications with prior refusals or unusual passport status.

Primary Sources

• Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation portal - official application and current fees
• UK Foreign Travel Advice for Kenya - entry requirements for British nationals
• Kenya High Commission in London - consular services and visa categories
• UK Foreign Travel Advice for Kenya - overview and safety information
• Kenya Department of Immigration Services - long-stay visa categories and work permits