Kenya
Directorate of Immigration Services
What you need
Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) applied for online before boarding. Visas on arrival are no longer issued.
- Government fee
- ≈ USD 34 per traveller (eTA fee, paid online)
- Lead time
- Apply at least 7 days before travel; most eTAs are approved within 72 hours.
- Passport
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival, with 2 blank pages.
- Onward ticket
- Return or onward ticket required
Health
- • Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from, or transiting more than 12 hours through, a yellow-fever risk country.
- • Malaria prophylaxis recommended for the Maasai Mara, Tsavo, coast and lake circuits — consult your travel clinic 4–6 weeks out.
- • Routine vaccinations (tetanus, hepatitis A, typhoid) advised; no COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirement.
Money & payments
- • Kenyan Shilling (KES) is the local currency; USD notes dated 2013 or later are widely accepted in the safari trade.
- • Card payments are standard in Nairobi and lodges; carry small USD/KES for tips and community fees.
- • M-Pesa mobile money works nationwide and is the easiest way to settle small local costs.
Taxes & levies on your invoice
- • Park and conservancy fees are set in USD by the authority and are quoted separately on your proforma invoice.
- • 16% VAT applies to accommodation and ground services.
- • 2% catering levy and 2% service charge apply to lodge food and beverage.