It’s a pleasure! iVisa have a bit more user-friendly experience if you want to use their services to do the Kenya eTA for you. Here’s their link: www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa?
Great video!!! I have been to Kenya many times and up to 2021 thru 2023 the old site would not accept my Visa credit card. Had a friend may the payment for me - he uses a US Military credit card. Just wondering if folks are still having payment problems with eTA application. I'm not leaving until May 2024 this trip. Thanks for any replies :>)
Thank you! If I recall correctly, they’re using Stripe as their payment processor so it should be less-glitchy. As an alternative, travellers could apply through iVisa (affiliate): www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa?
Well done, however as someone who has been traveling to Kenya frequently since 2020 I'm asking myself how this process is any different than the old visa system. The best improvement they could have made was to allow a larger jpeg to be uploaded on the old system. To me it just seems like the same system under a new name. I guess its less expensive but man I don't find this to be a move in the positive direction for travelers. Thanks for the info.
Thank you, and you’re welcome! Yes, it doesn’t hugely differ from the old system. I think being able to say “You don’t need a visa for Kenya” is what they find appealing to travellers, though they instead need the ETA. It is basically the same thing, except the payment section is less buggy.
Hey great informative video, I’m traveling to Kenya and am wanting to stay longer then one entry allowance so I’ll renter. I heard you cannot travel to Tanzania and back into Kenya or from Kenya to Uganda and back to Kenya because of there union. Is this correct? Thank you keep up the good work
Thank you! I’m glad this was helpful, especially since this is such a new system and those of us in the industry are trying to wrap our heads around it. That’s correct. Kenya and Uganda (along with Rwanda) basically have their own agreement, and then Kenya and Tanzania have their own. You’d therefore have to travel somewhere else, like South Africa for example. You might be able to extend your time in Kenya by going to an immigration office. I also found this online, and it may be useful for you. immigration.go.ke/extension-of-visitors-pass-application/ Hope this helps!
Hi very nice video. I am planning to visit kenya by air. With air asia airlines. However there is no air asia. In the list of ETA system. Anyone know what to do?. I email / call the ETA information. But no reply
Hi there, and thank you! Air Asia may not be appearing as I believe that route hasn’t yet started and the ETA system has yet to be updated. I believe it starts from KL in November? The ETA support lines never reply, unfortunately. If you would prefer to have assistance from a visa processing company that can ensure your application is in order and approved, you can check out this one: ivisatravel.com/a/kenya? It will cost more, but you’ll have the support, and they’ll know a workaround for when airlines are not listed.
Hi I’m visiting Kenya for 2 weeks from the USA. I am staying with a friend. Can the letter of invitation be typed (word document/pdf) and uploaded or is there a more formal document they are expecting?
How fun! What I would suggest is just have your friend type something up in Word and save it as a PDF for you to include with your application. They could include information about who they are, how they know you, your personal details (name, DOB, passport details, etc), how long you’ll be staying with them in Kenya, your travel dates (including flight info), where you’ll be staying (include the address) and what the purpose of your visit is. I would also include your passport details, just so they can cross-reference anything they may need to check. Be sure to have your friend include their contact details in the letter in case they want to contact them. I’m sure this should be sufficient as the eTA isn’t quite a visa, but more of a formality. In these situations I always recommend being really honest and thorough. Hope this helps, and have a great time! 😊
You're welcome! I like the Crowne Plaza as it's got all you need, and their service is consistently good. You can check it out here with my Expedia affiliate link: expedia.com/affiliates/catherinetme/crowneplazajkia
They do! They're complimentary, though they do offer private ones at an additional cost. You'll want to contact the hotel for more info if you want a private transfer to the Crowne Plaza.
Its more or less the same process as for the eVisa. But it has one huge disadvantage. That you have to attach a flight booking confirmation. All those years I applied for an eVisa first and after it was granted I checked for a flight. But as you said now it would be recommendable to buy a refundable ticket . Which is always much more expensive. and also no chance for last minute tickets anymore. And what will happen if the flight is postponed just a day? Does it require a new eTA. It s said its 90 days valid but I also heard you have to enter the exact date you filled in the form
The evisa was certainly a much easier process (apart from the glitchy website), and it’s a shame they got rid of visas on arrival, too. I’ve not heard of anyone being turned away because they arrived the day after their eTA became valid. I have, however, heard of plenty of people arranging their eTAs waaaay too soon in advance and it not being valid for their trip, so they therefore had to get new eTAs. For those in a hurry or for those who don’t want to wait, third party companies like iVisa offer a rushed Kenya eTA service, but you do have to pay extra for it. Here’s the link: www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa?
Very good video, thanks so much :) Do you also know how to apply for the East African Visa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda) with arrival in Kenya after these new changes? All of the websites that worked before are apparently offline now :(
Thank you! 😊 Getting an East Africa Visa from Kenya is pretty up in the air right now, and I’ve not seen any updates on what to do. Even the Rwanda application appears to have changed, so that to me is a hint that it’s probably going to be phased out. Uganda still lists it as an option on their site, but my guess is they haven’t removed it yet. As annoying as it is, I think the safest option (for now) would be to apply individually for the other visas you need.
My Visa is about to expire. Is the old system still up in order to extend the visa? I have a pending permit application and would like to stay in Kenya without having to leave and come back. Thanks for this video and for any info you can provide regarding my question. Cheers
Hi there! My understanding is that previous Kenya tourist e-visa system is no longer operational. You may wish to visit your local immigration office to see if they are able to extend it, otherwise the Kenya eTA is needed as it replaces the Kenya tourist e-visa system.
So if I hadn’t seen this video, I’d be a scam victim. Someone told me it costs $750 to get the Kenyan eVisa and now I’m seeing only $30+. Thank you very much
Hello, when attaching ticket itinerary do I need to have a ticket showing I’m flying back to my home country because I plan on going to other countries after visiting Kenya. Or do they just want proof of leaving the country and it can be to anywhere? Any advice is appreciated.
Hello! I just applied for eta. But my problem was that since I applied as a group, the questions in the system were quite different from the individual questions. For example, there was no health insurance question. Are there other people like me?
Great video thanks. We're flying with British Airways from London directly to Nairobi but only staying a few hours in the airport before catching an onward Kenya Airways flight to Zanzibar. As I understand it we don't need an eTA because we're not leaving the airport, but BA can't check our hold bags through from London to Zanzibar as they don't have any handling arrangements with Kenya Airways. If we go to the transit lounge how do we get our bags from the baggage reclaim area? Do we have to get an eTA just so that we can get through immigration to reach our bags so that we can check them in for our onward flight? (We haven't been to/through Kenya before).
Hello, and thank you! And thank you for your great question! To get your bags and check-in for your Kenya Airways flight, you would need to clear immigration. To be very honest with you, I have met people who just didn't bother arranging a visa (as it was at the time) and were let in to collect their bags and check in for their onward flight. The way Kenya immigration officials saw it as you were in transit and wouldn't be leaving the airport. What I would be more concerned about is if BA would deny you boarding. I say this because I have seen families turned away at Heathrow for not having the necessary paperwork, despite claiming they were going onward to Tanzania. For a peace of mind, I would go with getting the eTA, just so you have it should you be asked for it. Compared to the cost of your holiday, the cost of the eTA would be minimal. Hope this helps!
Thanks Catherine, this is really helpful. I think we'll get the eTAs, just to be on the safe side - but If we have to give an address and contact details in Kenya as part of the eTA application process, how do we get round the fact that we're not actually entering Kenya and are only staying at NBO airport for 10 hours(!) before flying to Zanzibar? Our only address would be NBO airport itself. We land from London at 21:30 and catch our onward flight to Zanzibar at 08:00 the following day (there was an earlier Kenya Airways flight but it disappeared from their schedule so we have a long layover). Is it safe in the airport, are any lounges open or is there an airport hotel we could use? Thanks again.
It's a pleasure! You can get a transit eTA as you'll be in Kenya for under 72 hours. Given your arrival and departure times, I would just get a hotel. I couldn't in good faith recommend you spend overnight at the airport (I'm also not sure they'd let you). You could check out the Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport Hotel with my Expedia affiliate link (they have a complimentary airport shuttle, too): expedia.com/affiliate/yhEu3g8 Hope this helps!
Thanks Catherine, we'll go for the airport hotel and shuttle. I'll have a look at the Transit eTA now to make sure there are no tricky questions! I presume we need one for each way ie London to Nairobi, 10 hour layover and then on to Zanzibar and a second Transit eTA for our return from Zanzibar to Nairobi, 4 hour layover and then on to London. So glad I found your TME site, it's really useful, thank you..
It's a pleasure! For the eTA, I would actually just get the "single entry" option as you can use it to re-enter Kenya after your trip to Zanzibar. Kenya and Tanzania have an agreement whereby you can use single entry visas for the two countries to re-enter the other (If you want to fact-check this, it's on their site: www.etakenya.go.ke/en/pages/FAQS )
Very helpful. What do you do if you plan to leave Kenya to go to Tanzania but then have to come back to Kenya for your flight out of east Africa? (I’m taking a bus between Kenya and Tanzania)
Thank you! Great question! Previously, the single-entry Kenya visa would've been valid because of the relationship between Kenya and Tanzania. However, there has been absolutely no guidance on what the policy is now. I hope this is something the Kenyan government can address soon because I'm sure other travellers are wondering the same. I did see on their official website they're encouraging frequent travellers to Kenya to download the app (which isn't yet available, from what I understand) so that they can quickly complete the form each time they travel to Kenya. Based on that statement, my interpretation is that that they want people to apply each time they travel to Kenya, which is really not ideal. Unless you have an EAC passport, it sounds like you'll annoyingly have to complete the Kenya eTA again.
Thanks for the detailed response. You’re right it’s quiet ambiguous. I put my ETA departure for when I leave east Africa but will be leaving Kenya and returning from Tanzania before then. Hopefully there won’t be any issues at the namanga border. Do you have to pay $30+ for every ETA application?
@@tehseenrana3006 It's a pleasure! Yes, and they're very good at being ambiguous! My understanding is you do have to pay each time you do the eTA application. I read a few news articles where people who normally travelled regularly for business to Kenya were really annoyed that they previously had visa free access to Kenya, but now have to pay $30 each time they go there. I would be pretty annoyed, too. From what I'm seeing within the safari industry, the eTA is causing a lot of chaos. Hopefully it's streamlined soon.
Great point! At the time the eTA was introduced back in January there was no FAQ section, and little to no information was available to anyone. It’s great they’ve come up with an FAQ section, though it would’ve been helpful much sooner.
Hi very good info, I'm kinda confused on if i still need to pay for my single entry visa for Kenya after filling out the application and paying the fee? Also i will be traveling to Kenya first then Tanzania then back to kenya. Can i still use my single entry kenya visa to re enter
Hi there, great question! If I understand your question correctly, you’re asking about the Kenya tourist visa, which is actually different from the Kenya eTA in this video. Kenya tourist visas stopped being issued with the launch of the Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA) on 4 January 2024, and I think a lot travel websites possibly haven’t been updated to reflect this change. The Kenya eTA is a brand new system, so I can appreciate it’s a bit of work to wrap your head around it. If you already have a valid Kenya visa that was issued to you prior to the Kenya eTA launching, then you can re-enter Kenya after Tanzania on that visa. However, if you are applying for the Kenya eTA then you will pay that fee as part of your application. Annoyingly, there hasn’t been any guidance on whether or not the Kenyan government will honour the previous rules about re-entering Kenya after Tanzania, so it is likely you will need to do another Kenya eTA application as they’re only valid for one entry. Hope this helps!
No, you can not. Single entry means just that. Unfortunately. With the system changing to this new eTA we will all have to do some research on how we can re-enter. Good luck.
Hello, thank you for your useful information. Just wanted to ask you I’m travelling on February to Kenya is it possible if I can apply for the eTA from next week which will be on the 110th of January? Also how many days do they give you to stay in Kenya does it have an expiring date?
It’s a pleasure! You can apply up to three months before your date of arrival into Kenya, so for your trip in February you’re good to apply now. My understanding is the validity is just like the old visa requirements, and would be valid for a single entry for 90 days from the date of issue.
Hello, thank you for your feedback. I’m going for a nine weeks holiday travelling on February 14th I’ll be in Kenya. if I do apply for my eTA application on the 15th of January. Will my days start when I arrive in Kenya or as soon as I receive the email That’s my application has been a approved
Hi, thank you so much for your feedback I did apply for my eTA Two days ago and I received it today on the 10th of January Expiring date, 10th of April And I’m travelling back on the 17th of April. Is there any option that I can extend my ETA? If yes, how do I do it while I’m in Kenya ? It’s expiring before my departure date which is 17th of April and is expiring on the 10th of April. Any option for me to extend it
It's a pleasure! My guess is they'll suggest you leave and re-enter Kenya with a new eTA, but you could try reaching out to your nearest Kenya embassy or support@etakenya.go.ke to see what they suggest.
HEY, this was really useful information . but the only problem i am facing is m not getting the option of kenya on destination column and its not going further. please help me this .
Hi, glad it’s been useful! Is this in the “Trip Information” section? If so, this will be the country where your flight is coming from. For your departure flight, the destination will be the country you’re flying to.
Great question! My understanding is that as long as your visa is valid, it’s still good for travel. My friend was in Kenya last week and met people who were still using visas and had no issues. For a peace of mind, I would recommend contacting your local Kenya Embassy.
Kenya eTAs can’t be renewed. But per their website, you just need to make sure it’s valid for entry. Source: www.etakenya.go.ke/en/FAQ/0acf997d-7e2b-478b-9204-6be9516713de
I was to travel to kenya today for a funeral but i couldnt coz my kid neede eTA,i wanted to know if there is a way i can have epedited on mon so i can leave on mon night ....advice please
I’m really sorry to hear that. I’m unfortunately not affiliated with Kenyan immigration so I’m unable to assist with that. At the moment, there isn’t an expedited service offered, but you could try calling their support number on +254 202 222 022
Is “other airline” an option? I saw someone else say their airline wasn’t listed, so they selected “other airline” and then typed in the flight numbers and it worked. Hope this helps!
I'm a uk citizen gping to kenya in April.....how much is the ETA in sterling please ? As before i traveled 4 times to kenya each time with a kenyan e-visa which cost me around £86.00
The cost is US$32.50, and the eTA is charged in USD. If you’d prefer to pay in GBP, you can use iVisa with my affiliate link: www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa? Hope this helps!
You will want to speak to your doctor or local travel clinic about the Yellow Fever vaccine, but it may be a requirement if you’re coming from a destination where transmission is widespread. You can learn more here: health.go.ke/incoming-travellers
@@CatherineTME I'm doing ETA for Kenya because I'll stay there two months in total but in between I'll go one week in Tanzania (I'll apply for Visa) and one week in Uganda(I'll apply for Visa) or u suggest me something?.
I have applied eta on last sunday its thursday already and still says processing!! I have got only one day left from travel Im visiting kenya from eu im worried this would cost me my flight??
I have same issue, my flight is Sunday. Today's is the second day, hopefully I get it tomorrow. they ain't picking up their numbers and also not replying chat. The status still shows PROCESSING😢😢😢😢.. Is it possible to travel without the approval? What happens if I don't get it before my departure time?
Oh no, hopefully it comes through quickly! Very annoyingly (and not surprisingly), the Kenya eTA's website has been updated to say "eTA applications are usually processed within 3 days, but in some cases it may take longer." This was of course not what they said originally! Their website also says that you must present your eTA when checking in for your flight, so I would interpret that as you would need your eTA beforehand before travelling.
⚠ Need help with your Kenya eTA application? In a hurry? Get your Kenya eTA here: www.ivisa.com/?
Thank you for this!
@@ErinMacTYou’re welcome! I hope it was helpful.
Used them for my Tanzania visa too for this trip. Thank you for the tip.
I really love these step-by-step directions.
Thank you! ☺️
Great video! well done!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this as I cant do it but I will get someone to do it for me great
It’s a pleasure! iVisa have a bit more user-friendly experience if you want to use their services to do the Kenya eTA for you. Here’s their link: www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa?
The total fee for ETA is $34.09 the only E-visa was $55.20. the new ETA has less questions than E-visa.
Not necessarily
Thank you for information.
You’re welcome! Have a great time! 🇰🇪
Great video!!! I have been to Kenya many times and up to 2021 thru 2023 the old site would not accept my Visa credit card. Had a friend may the payment for me - he uses a US Military credit card. Just wondering if folks are still having payment problems with eTA application. I'm not leaving until May 2024 this trip.
Thanks for any replies :>)
Thank you! If I recall correctly, they’re using Stripe as their payment processor so it should be less-glitchy.
As an alternative, travellers could apply through iVisa (affiliate): www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa?
You only need the 1st night accommodation. Not for all the trip.
Well explained! Thanks.
Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful!
@@CatherineTME Got my ETA today. Thanks again for the video.
We pay eta for children under 18yrs?
@@mzangicatherine1046 Yes, my understanding is that every traveller (including children) must pay.
@@CatherineTME do you know how much of child,3yrs en 1yr
Well done, however as someone who has been traveling to Kenya frequently since 2020 I'm asking myself how this process is any different than the old visa system. The best improvement they could have made was to allow a larger jpeg to be uploaded on the old system. To me it just seems like the same system under a new name. I guess its less expensive but man I don't find this to be a move in the positive direction for travelers. Thanks for the info.
Thank you, and you’re welcome! Yes, it doesn’t hugely differ from the old system. I think being able to say “You don’t need a visa for Kenya” is what they find appealing to travellers, though they instead need the ETA. It is basically the same thing, except the payment section is less buggy.
What about Kenya SIM card?
I can see you've asked this on another video, so thank you for being a fan! As I said, you could take a look at Airalo (affiliate): bit.ly/AiraloCTME
Hey great informative video, I’m traveling to Kenya and am wanting to stay longer then one entry allowance so I’ll renter. I heard you cannot travel to Tanzania and back into Kenya or from Kenya to Uganda and back to Kenya because of there union. Is this correct? Thank you keep up the good work
Thank you! I’m glad this was helpful, especially since this is such a new system and those of us in the industry are trying to wrap our heads around it.
That’s correct. Kenya and Uganda (along with Rwanda) basically have their own agreement, and then Kenya and Tanzania have their own. You’d therefore have to travel somewhere else, like South Africa for example.
You might be able to extend your time in Kenya by going to an immigration office. I also found this online, and it may be useful for you. immigration.go.ke/extension-of-visitors-pass-application/
Hope this helps!
Hi very nice video. I am planning to visit kenya by air. With air asia airlines. However there is no air asia. In the list of ETA system. Anyone know what to do?. I email / call the ETA information. But no reply
Hi there, and thank you! Air Asia may not be appearing as I believe that route hasn’t yet started and the ETA system has yet to be updated. I believe it starts from KL in November? The ETA support lines never reply, unfortunately. If you would prefer to have assistance from a visa processing company that can ensure your application is in order and approved, you can check out this one: ivisatravel.com/a/kenya?
It will cost more, but you’ll have the support, and they’ll know a workaround for when airlines are not listed.
Hi I’m visiting Kenya for 2 weeks from the USA. I am staying with a friend. Can the letter of invitation be typed (word document/pdf) and uploaded or is there a more formal document they are expecting?
How fun! What I would suggest is just have your friend type something up in Word and save it as a PDF for you to include with your application. They could include information about who they are, how they know you, your personal details (name, DOB, passport details, etc), how long you’ll be staying with them in Kenya, your travel dates (including flight info), where you’ll be staying (include the address) and what the purpose of your visit is. I would also include your passport details, just so they can cross-reference anything they may need to check. Be sure to have your friend include their contact details in the letter in case they want to contact them. I’m sure this should be sufficient as the eTA isn’t quite a visa, but more of a formality. In these situations I always recommend being really honest and thorough. Hope this helps, and have a great time! 😊
Thanks for this! Do you know of a good airport hotel in Nairobi?
You're welcome! I like the Crowne Plaza as it's got all you need, and their service is consistently good. You can check it out here with my Expedia affiliate link: expedia.com/affiliates/catherinetme/crowneplazajkia
@@CatherineTME Thank you! I'll give it a go! Do you know if they do airport transfers?
They do! They're complimentary, though they do offer private ones at an additional cost. You'll want to contact the hotel for more info if you want a private transfer to the Crowne Plaza.
@@CatherineTME That’s really helpful, thank you!
You're welcome! Have a great time in Kenya!
Thank you ❤
You’re most welcome 😊 Have a great time in Kenya!
Its more or less the same process as for the eVisa. But it has one huge disadvantage. That you have to attach a flight booking confirmation. All those years I applied for an eVisa first and after it was granted I checked for a flight. But as you said now it would be recommendable to buy a refundable ticket . Which is always much more expensive. and also no chance for last minute tickets anymore. And what will happen if the flight is postponed just a day? Does it require a new eTA. It s said its 90 days valid but I also heard you have to enter the exact date you filled in the form
The evisa was certainly a much easier process (apart from the glitchy website), and it’s a shame they got rid of visas on arrival, too. I’ve not heard of anyone being turned away because they arrived the day after their eTA became valid. I have, however, heard of plenty of people arranging their eTAs waaaay too soon in advance and it not being valid for their trip, so they therefore had to get new eTAs.
For those in a hurry or for those who don’t want to wait, third party companies like iVisa offer a rushed Kenya eTA service, but you do have to pay extra for it. Here’s the link: www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa?
Very good video, thanks so much :)
Do you also know how to apply for the East African Visa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda) with arrival in Kenya after these new changes? All of the websites that worked before are apparently offline now :(
Thank you! 😊
Getting an East Africa Visa from Kenya is pretty up in the air right now, and I’ve not seen any updates on what to do. Even the Rwanda application appears to have changed, so that to me is a hint that it’s probably going to be phased out. Uganda still lists it as an option on their site, but my guess is they haven’t removed it yet.
As annoying as it is, I think the safest option (for now) would be to apply individually for the other visas you need.
My Visa is about to expire. Is the old system still up in order to extend the visa? I have a pending permit application and would like to stay in Kenya without having to leave and come back. Thanks for this video and for any info you can provide regarding my question. Cheers
Hi there! My understanding is that previous Kenya tourist e-visa system is no longer operational. You may wish to visit your local immigration office to see if they are able to extend it, otherwise the Kenya eTA is needed as it replaces the Kenya tourist e-visa system.
So if I hadn’t seen this video, I’d be a scam victim. Someone told me it costs $750 to get the Kenyan eVisa and now I’m seeing only $30+. Thank you very much
WHAT?! That’s wild! I’m so glad this video was helpful! Have a great time in Kenya 🇰🇪
@@CatherineTME Thanks again for your video. Truly helpful ❤️
@@Cawabangha It’s my pleasure 😊
Hello, when attaching ticket itinerary do I need to have a ticket showing I’m flying back to my home country because I plan on going to other countries after visiting Kenya. Or do they just want proof of leaving the country and it can be to anywhere? Any advice is appreciated.
Hello, great question! They just want to see you’re leaving Kenya. 🙂
@@CatherineTME ok so I can attach a ticket to any country after Kenya because I plan on traveling more after leaving the country. Thank you
@@NJ77792 As long as it show you’re leaving Kenya and going to another country that’s fine. They just want to see proof you’ll be leaving Kenya.
Im traveling February to kenya i normally use visa, do i need both visa and ETA or just ETA?
The eTA replaces the visa. Have a great time! ✈️
Hello! I just applied for eta. But my problem was that since I applied as a group, the questions in the system were quite different from the individual questions. For example, there was no health insurance question. Are there other people like me?
Hi there! I have a group Kenya eTA video and perhaps that may be helpful to you? ruclips.net/video/jzQ0hwhDAgU/видео.htmlsi=20xSpmyVEnhu4x9v
Great video thanks. We're flying with British Airways from London directly to Nairobi but only staying a few hours in the airport before catching an onward Kenya Airways flight to Zanzibar. As I understand it we don't need an eTA because we're not leaving the airport, but BA can't check our hold bags through from London to Zanzibar as they don't have any handling arrangements with Kenya Airways. If we go to the transit lounge how do we get our bags from the baggage reclaim area? Do we have to get an eTA just so that we can get through immigration to reach our bags so that we can check them in for our onward flight? (We haven't been to/through Kenya before).
Hello, and thank you! And thank you for your great question! To get your bags and check-in for your Kenya Airways flight, you would need to clear immigration. To be very honest with you, I have met people who just didn't bother arranging a visa (as it was at the time) and were let in to collect their bags and check in for their onward flight. The way Kenya immigration officials saw it as you were in transit and wouldn't be leaving the airport. What I would be more concerned about is if BA would deny you boarding. I say this because I have seen families turned away at Heathrow for not having the necessary paperwork, despite claiming they were going onward to Tanzania. For a peace of mind, I would go with getting the eTA, just so you have it should you be asked for it. Compared to the cost of your holiday, the cost of the eTA would be minimal. Hope this helps!
Thanks Catherine, this is really helpful. I think we'll get the eTAs, just to be on the safe side - but If we have to give an address and contact details in Kenya as part of the eTA application process, how do we get round the fact that we're not actually entering Kenya and are only staying at NBO airport for 10 hours(!) before flying to Zanzibar? Our only address would be NBO airport itself. We land from London at 21:30 and catch our onward flight to Zanzibar at 08:00 the following day (there was an earlier Kenya Airways flight but it disappeared from their schedule so we have a long layover). Is it safe in the airport, are any lounges open or is there an airport hotel we could use? Thanks again.
It's a pleasure! You can get a transit eTA as you'll be in Kenya for under 72 hours. Given your arrival and departure times, I would just get a hotel. I couldn't in good faith recommend you spend overnight at the airport (I'm also not sure they'd let you). You could check out the Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport Hotel with my Expedia affiliate link (they have a complimentary airport shuttle, too): expedia.com/affiliate/yhEu3g8 Hope this helps!
Thanks Catherine, we'll go for the airport hotel and shuttle. I'll have a look at the Transit eTA now to make sure there are no tricky questions! I presume we need one for each way ie London to Nairobi, 10 hour layover and then on to Zanzibar and a second Transit eTA for our return from Zanzibar to Nairobi, 4 hour layover and then on to London. So glad I found your TME site, it's really useful, thank you..
It's a pleasure! For the eTA, I would actually just get the "single entry" option as you can use it to re-enter Kenya after your trip to Zanzibar. Kenya and Tanzania have an agreement whereby you can use single entry visas for the two countries to re-enter the other (If you want to fact-check this, it's on their site: www.etakenya.go.ke/en/pages/FAQS )
How can I apply for the 5 year multiple entry visa?
I’m not aware of these being issued for tourists since the introduction of the eTA in January of this year.
Very helpful. What do you do if you plan to leave Kenya to go to Tanzania but then have to come back to Kenya for your flight out of east Africa? (I’m taking a bus between Kenya and Tanzania)
Thank you! Great question! Previously, the single-entry Kenya visa would've been valid because of the relationship between Kenya and Tanzania. However, there has been absolutely no guidance on what the policy is now. I hope this is something the Kenyan government can address soon because I'm sure other travellers are wondering the same.
I did see on their official website they're encouraging frequent travellers to Kenya to download the app (which isn't yet available, from what I understand) so that they can quickly complete the form each time they travel to Kenya. Based on that statement, my interpretation is that that they want people to apply each time they travel to Kenya, which is really not ideal.
Unless you have an EAC passport, it sounds like you'll annoyingly have to complete the Kenya eTA again.
Thanks for the detailed response. You’re right it’s quiet ambiguous. I put my ETA departure for when I leave east Africa but will be leaving Kenya and returning from Tanzania before then. Hopefully there won’t be any issues at the namanga border. Do you have to pay $30+ for every ETA application?
@@tehseenrana3006 It's a pleasure! Yes, and they're very good at being ambiguous! My understanding is you do have to pay each time you do the eTA application. I read a few news articles where people who normally travelled regularly for business to Kenya were really annoyed that they previously had visa free access to Kenya, but now have to pay $30 each time they go there. I would be pretty annoyed, too. From what I'm seeing within the safari industry, the eTA is causing a lot of chaos. Hopefully it's streamlined soon.
In the FAQ on the site it says if you are visiting an EAC Partner state you can use same eta and it says Tanzania.
Great point! At the time the eTA was introduced back in January there was no FAQ section, and little to no information was available to anyone. It’s great they’ve come up with an FAQ section, though it would’ve been helpful much sooner.
Hi very good info, I'm kinda confused on if i still need to pay for my single entry visa for Kenya after filling out the application and paying the fee? Also i will be traveling to Kenya first then Tanzania then back to kenya. Can i still use my single entry kenya visa to re enter
Hi there, great question! If I understand your question correctly, you’re asking about the Kenya tourist visa, which is actually different from the Kenya eTA in this video. Kenya tourist visas stopped being issued with the launch of the Kenya electronic travel authorisation (eTA) on 4 January 2024, and I think a lot travel websites possibly haven’t been updated to reflect this change. The Kenya eTA is a brand new system, so I can appreciate it’s a bit of work to wrap your head around it. If you already have a valid Kenya visa that was issued to you prior to the Kenya eTA launching, then you can re-enter Kenya after Tanzania on that visa.
However, if you are applying for the Kenya eTA then you will pay that fee as part of your application. Annoyingly, there hasn’t been any guidance on whether or not the Kenyan government will honour the previous rules about re-entering Kenya after Tanzania, so it is likely you will need to do another Kenya eTA application as they’re only valid for one entry.
Hope this helps!
No, you can not. Single entry means just that. Unfortunately. With the system changing to this new eTA we will all have to do some research on how we can re-enter. Good luck.
Hello, thank you for your useful information. Just wanted to ask you I’m travelling on February to Kenya
is it possible if I can apply for the eTA from next week which will be on the 110th of January?
Also how many days do they give you to stay in Kenya does it have an expiring date?
It’s a pleasure! You can apply up to three months before your date of arrival into Kenya, so for your trip in February you’re good to apply now. My understanding is the validity is just like the old visa requirements, and would be valid for a single entry for 90 days from the date of issue.
Hello, thank you for your feedback. I’m going for a nine weeks holiday travelling on February 14th
I’ll be in Kenya.
if I do apply for my eTA application on the 15th of January. Will my days start when I arrive in Kenya or as soon as I receive the email
That’s my application has been a approved
@@AbdulAzizAhmed-y6s It's a pleasure! My understanding is that its validity begins from the date of issue.
Hi, thank you so much for your feedback I did apply for my eTA
Two days ago and I received it today on the 10th of January
Expiring date, 10th of April
And I’m travelling back on the 17th of April. Is there any option that I can extend my ETA? If yes, how do I do it while I’m in Kenya ?
It’s expiring before my departure date which is 17th of April and is expiring on the 10th of April. Any option for me to extend it
It's a pleasure! My guess is they'll suggest you leave and re-enter Kenya with a new eTA, but you could try reaching out to your nearest Kenya embassy or support@etakenya.go.ke to see what they suggest.
HEY, this was really useful information . but the only problem i am facing is m not getting the option of kenya on destination column and its not going further. please help me this .
Hi, glad it’s been useful! Is this in the “Trip Information” section? If so, this will be the country where your flight is coming from. For your departure flight, the destination will be the country you’re flying to.
I have a Kenyan 5 year visa that permits unlimited entries. Do you know if Kenya will still honor my 5 year visa?
Great question! My understanding is that as long as your visa is valid, it’s still good for travel. My friend was in Kenya last week and met people who were still using visas and had no issues.
For a peace of mind, I would recommend contacting your local Kenya Embassy.
Thank you for your reply.
It's a pleasure, and have a great time in Kenya!
I have my Eta application approved, but it expires while i am in Kenya do i need to renew it during my stay?
Kenya eTAs can’t be renewed. But per their website, you just need to make sure it’s valid for entry. Source: www.etakenya.go.ke/en/FAQ/0acf997d-7e2b-478b-9204-6be9516713de
what if I don't have a return ticket? do I need to get one?
You will need to submit proof you’re leaving Kenya.
I was to travel to kenya today for a funeral but i couldnt coz my kid neede eTA,i wanted to know if there is a way i can have epedited on mon so i can leave on mon night ....advice please
I’m really sorry to hear that. I’m unfortunately not affiliated with Kenyan immigration so I’m unable to assist with that. At the moment, there isn’t an expedited service offered, but you could try calling their support number on +254 202 222 022
my flight isn’t popping up. i have a flight from nbo to mgq nd it didn’t show flight 362 of kenya airways or 363 on the return flight. what do i do
Is “other airline” an option? I saw someone else say their airline wasn’t listed, so they selected “other airline” and then typed in the flight numbers and it worked. Hope this helps!
@@CatherineTME yeah i did that. thanks. it worked. i got approved in literally a day. they must be working overtime lol
@@abubana-f1m Oh good! Glad to hear it! Have a great time in Kenya 🙂
I'm a uk citizen gping to kenya in April.....how much is the ETA in sterling please ?
As before i traveled 4 times to kenya each time with a kenyan e-visa which cost me around £86.00
The cost is US$32.50, and the eTA is charged in USD. If you’d prefer to pay in GBP, you can use iVisa with my affiliate link: www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa? Hope this helps!
After flight ticket confirmation upload.....it's saying upload a travel extension document whats this mean ?
Are you looking at the website from the video? I discuss documents at 8:00.
Does the work eTA takes more time than the Visa’s :)?
If you need your Kenya eTA in a hurry, I suggest looking at iVisa’s services: www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa?
Do you need a temporary ecitizen account for the application of eta?
No, that’s basically for paying park fees (provided you’re a tourist).
A vistor ,visiting friends and family
How can i apply for someone?
Assuming you have their consent, you can just apply with their details.
Is there anyone here who was asked to get a yellow fever vaccine?
You will want to speak to your doctor or local travel clinic about the Yellow Fever vaccine, but it may be a requirement if you’re coming from a destination where transmission is widespread. You can learn more here: health.go.ke/incoming-travellers
My doctor said I had to because I was going to South Africa after Kenya. South Africa required it because I would be spending time in Kenya.
What is the websites for eta
The link is in the description of the video. 🙂
Can I just pay someone to do this for me?
Yes, you can absolutely use a third-party to do your Kenya eTA on your behalf. iVisa can take care of it for you: www.ivisa.com/kenya/e-visa?
@@CatherineTME thank u. can I pay. in. Canadian. dollars?
Anyone having issues uploading their passport photo
Are you getting an error message? If so, is it related to the image file size and type?
Can u go out of the country (for example Tanzania) during yours ETA and come back?
You can do this with Tanzania because of an agreement the two countries have. Otherwise, it’s not multi-entry.
@@CatherineTME Uganda too right?
Are you getting an East Africa visa?
@@CatherineTME I'm doing ETA for Kenya because I'll stay there two months in total but in between I'll go one week in Tanzania (I'll apply for Visa) and one week in Uganda(I'll apply for Visa) or u suggest me something?.
@@lucagnan9702 You should be fine, based on this: www.etakenya.go.ke/en/FAQ/105537e0-2011-4ee1-9029-af55f4fc90e6
I have applied eta on last sunday its thursday already and still says processing!! I have got only one day left from travel Im visiting kenya from eu im worried this would cost me my flight??
You could try giving them a call. This is the number on their website for urgent queries: +254 202 222 022.
I have same issue, my flight is Sunday. Today's is the second day, hopefully I get it tomorrow. they ain't picking up their numbers and also not replying chat. The status still shows PROCESSING😢😢😢😢..
Is it possible to travel without the approval? What happens if I don't get it before my departure time?
@hassankafy7787 did you get your application approved before your trip, please kindly share the update
@hassankafy7787😢😢😢
Oh no, hopefully it comes through quickly! Very annoyingly (and not surprisingly), the Kenya eTA's website has been updated to say "eTA applications are usually processed within 3 days, but in some cases it may take longer." This was of course not what they said originally!
Their website also says that you must present your eTA when checking in for your flight, so I would interpret that as you would need your eTA beforehand before travelling.