Kenya Entry and Travel Requirements
The Kenya Entry and Travel Requirements outline the rules that anyone planning to visit Kenya must follow to enter the country easily. Each visitor must have a valid passport and a valid Kenyan visa.
Kenya's visa policy regulates the type of visa required for a given traveler based on their nationality, purpose of travel, and expected length of stay in Kenya.
Visitors to Kenya for short-term stays, including vacations, business trips, family reunions or medical treatment, can apply for a Kenya visa online. The electronic system replaces the old entry visa system. Some nationalities may need to apply for a regular visa from the nearest Kenyan diplomatic mission. Applying for a Kenya visa in person will also be required to work, live and study.
Additionally, citizens of about 45 countries are allowed to visit Kenya without a visa.
Visitors to Kenya should take note of specific entry and travel requirements to avoid problems when entering the country. In addition to a valid passport and Kenyan e-visa, those planning to travel to Kenya may face certain restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These include vaccination and testing requirements as well as the requirement to complete a traveler health monitoring form before a planned trip.
Before you travel to Kenya, make sure to check for the latest update on Kenya's entry requirements. Due to the increasingly complex Corona virus situation, requirements may change at short notice.
Who can enter Kenya?
Kenya allows entry of vaccinated and unvaccinated foreign visitors. However, they can only enter Kenya if they fall within one of the following exemption categories:
- Travelers cannot receive the Covid-19 vaccine due to various medical contraindications (confirmed by a letter from an approved doctor);
- Travelers who have recovered from coronavirus infection or received convalescent plasma within the last 90 days (they must also provide medical documentation confirming this);
- Unvaccinated Kenyan citizens or permanent residents are returning to Kenya and cannot access the vaccine abroad.
Document checklist for entry into Kenya
- valid passport
- Electronic visa for Kenya
- Covid vaccination certificate (if vaccinated)
- negative PCR test result (if not vaccinated)
- Traveler health monitoring form completed
- Travel insurance with Covid-19 coverage (optional)
Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements
Request an inspection
The following Covid-19 testing requirements apply to all passengers aged 5 years and over.
Check before departure
Passengers unable to provide a valid vaccination certificate (but eligible to travel) must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test report to enter Kenya. The test must be taken no earlier than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time from the first starting point. Additionally, the inspection certificate must include a QR code.
Check in on arrival
An unvaccinated traveler arriving at any point of entry into Kenya will be subject to a rapid antigen test, which must be taken at their own expense ($30). Those who test positive will then be required to take a PCR test at their own expense ($50). They must also self-isolate until they receive their PCR test results.
Please note:
As Covid-19 test results or vaccination certificates cannot be verified upon arrival in Kenya, airlines must ensure that each traveler has uploaded their documents via www.globalhaven.org to authenticate them .
Vaccination required
If you have received your full Covid-19 vaccination schedule, you can use it as documentation to confirm your vaccination status. As someone with valid proof of vaccination, you will not need to take a Covid-19 test before departure or upon arrival. Kenya accepts all Covid-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization.
The traveler has recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days
Travelers who have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 90 days can enter Kenya without proof of vaccination. However, they must submit a doctor's letter confirming their recovery from coronavirus. They are not exempt from pre-departure testing requirements.
Quarantine required
Currently, Kenya does not require travelers to quarantine on arrival until they have a temperature above 37.5°C (99.5°F), difficulty breathing, cough or other Covid-like symptoms. Quarantine is also not required for all travelers with a negative PCR test result or a valid vaccination certificate.
Traveling from Kenya
If you plan to leave Kenya for another country that requires the presentation of a negative Covid-19 PCR test as a condition of entry, or want to transit through a destination that requires a test, you will need to visit a laboratory. test the test, perform the test and test it. via Global Haven.
You cannot leave Kenya if your certificate has not been verified. You must also meet all health requirements applicable to the destination country you wish to travel to or transit through.
Traveling to Kenya
To enter Kenya, most visitors must have a certificate confirming they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Unvaccinated travelers can only travel to Kenya if they fall into one of the exempt categories.
Additionally, all required Covid-related documents, i.e. negative test results or proof of vaccination, must be authenticated through Global Haven. All travelers must also fill out a Traveler Health Monitoring Form when entering and exiting Kenyan airports and domestic ports.
In addition to coronavirus-related documents, travelers should remember to check visa requirements (outlined below) and consider purchasing travel insurance. All visitors to Kenya must also continue to follow international coronavirus guidelines, including wearing face masks when necessary and maintaining social distancing. Temperature checks and random health checks may be conducted before travelers are allowed into Kenya.
Entry Rules for Children
Children under 5 years old
These young travelers are exempt from testing requirements before arriving in Kenya.
Children 17 years old and under
Travelers aged 17 and under do not need to provide a Covid-19 vaccination certificate to enter Kenya.
All children
All children must have a Kenya e-visa and present a QR code confirming completion of the Travel Health Monitoring Form. The child's visa application and health declaration must be completed separately by the legal guardian or parents. They cannot simply be added to an adult traveller's documents. Additionally, adult travelers should ensure that children are included in their insurance policy (if they decide to purchase travel insurance).
Transit through Kenya
visa
You must have an electronic transit visa to make a transit stop in Kenya before traveling to another destination. Additionally, your transit stop cannot last more than 72 hours as this is also the period for which the transit e-Visa remains valid.
If you only plan to take a connecting flight in Kenya and will not leave the transit area at the airport, you do not need to apply for a transit visa.
Documents on Covid-19
All passengers must provide a COVID-19 PCR test, which must be performed in an accredited laboratory. Passengers in transit are not exempt from this requirement. Additionally, they have a maximum of 48 hours to catch their departure flight from their arrival in Kenya. For longer stops or if they want to leave the transit area, they will need to fill out a passenger health monitoring form.
Visa requirements
Visa-free countries
Currently, citizens of more than 40 countries can enter Kenya without a visa. Most are allowed to stay in Kenya without a visa for up to 90 days, with some exceptions including Malaysians and South Africans, who can stay a total of 30 days without a visa.
These visa-exempt nationals must still have a valid, unexpired passport for at least 6 months from their intended date of entry into Kenya. Additionally, Ugandan and Rwandan citizens are allowed to travel to Kenya only with a valid national identity card.
Additionally, some citizens with diplomatic or official passports can also enter Kenya without a visa. These countries include:
- China
- Brazil
- India (diplomatic passport holders only)
- Cuba
- Iran
- Turkey
- Israeli
Electronic visa system
The Kenyan government introduced the e-visa system in 2015, making applying for a Kenyan visa easier and less time-consuming. As of January 2021, the e-visa service has completely replaced the issuance of Kenyan visas. Since then, all travelers from non-visa-exempt countries must apply for a Kenya e-Visa before their intended trip. Travelers can choose between the following types of electronic visas:
- Tourist electronic visa
- Business electronic visa
- Electronic transit visa
- East Africa e-visa (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda)
All Kenya e-visas, i.e. tourist, business and transport visas, are issued as single permits allowing their holders to enter Kenya only once within a validity period of 90 years. day. In contrast, the East Africa e-Visa is a multiple-entry visa that allows its holder to visit Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda multiple times within its validity period (90 days).
Kenya Health Surveillance Form
Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Kenyan authorities have introduced a mandatory health declaration known as the Traveller Health Monitoring Form. This form is required for anyone entering Kenya.
Travelers must complete a declaration with certain essential information about their trip and health, and provide certain personal information, including contact details.
The Kenya Health Surveillance Form must be completed entirely online using any electronic device with internet access. After submitting all the details, a unique QR code will be generated and sent to the applicant's email address. The code will be checked upon entry into Kenya.
Travel Insurance
Kenya does not require visitors to have travel insurance but it is highly recommended. If something goes wrong during your time in Kenya – a flight is cancelled, you get sick or your luggage is lost – travel insurance can help cover the costs.
There are many types of travel insurance policies, so it's important to compare your options and find the right one for your needs. Protect yourself on your trip to Kenya during the pandemic by choosing travel insurance that covers Covid-19!
