Updated on 20th March 2024.
By Elainer Mogoa
Visa requirements
Kenya has implemented a visa-free policy, exempting all foreign nationals from visa requirements, effective 1 January 2024. This means that foreign visitors will no longer be required to obtain a visa for entry into Kenya regardless of nationality. In lieu of the traditional visa requirement, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services has introduced the Republic of Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), a semi-automated system designed to assess the eligibility of visitors intending to travel to Kenya. The visa-free policy applies to travellers entering Kenya for tourism or business travel purposes and allows for stays of up to 90 days.
Previously, the government of Kenya automated the new electronic visa processing system with effect from 1st January 2021. All visa applications were processed online on the Kenya e-visa portal.
COVID -19 Health requirements
All passengers arriving in or transiting through Kenya must have a negative PCR COVID-19 certificate for a test conducted 96 hours before travel. You can find the complete list of quarantine exempt countries here https://kcaa.or.ke/quarantine-exempted-states.
All travellers arriving or passing through Kenya must also complete a COVID-19 Travellers Health Surveillance Form before their arrival.
Outgoing travellers must similarly obtain a negative COVID-19 certificate in accordance with the Trusted Traveler (TT) Initiative and the PanaBios system if their transit or destination country requires it. Travellers who intend to depart Kenya must first visit an authorized laboratory, obtain a negative PCR COVID-19 test, and be issued a TT code verified by airlines and immigration authorities. Follow this guide to obtain the TT code.
Yellow Fever Requirements
The Republic of Kenya requires travellers from countries with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission to have a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. The requirement applies to travellers of one year of age and older and to travellers in airport transit for more than 12 hours.
A Yellow Fever certificate is valid for ten days after vaccination.
Foreigner ID
The law requires that foreigners resident in Kenya for a period exceeding 90 days be registered. Registration entails receiving, verifying, approving applications, and taking Fingerprint impressions to produce the final product, a foreign nationals certificate (alien card).
Section 2 of the repealed Aliens Cap 173 Laws of Kenya defines an alien as any person who is not a citizen of Kenya. A foreign national is defined in the Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011 as any person who is not a citizen of Kenya.
A foreign national will be required to produce a valid passport, two recent passport-sized photographs not more than twelve months before the date of attendance, and any additional particulars as required by an immigration officer and shall have biometrics taken. Residents will be required to produce a valid permit or pass, while visitors will be required to have a valid visitor’s pass.