Kenya: no visa, but you need an eTA electronic authorisation

Kenya has replaced the tourist visa with the eTA, an electronic travel authorisation to be applied for online before departure. It applies to Italian citizens and, in general, to almost all non-African visitors.

Update of 11 October 2026. Since 5 October 2026, in addition to the eTA, travellers entering Kenya must hold compulsory travel health insurance issued by a Kenyan insurer: $44 plus taxes, valid for three months, with cover of at least $50,000. It is bought on the government portal insurance.ecitizen.go.ke and does not replace your travel insurance. Source: Viaggiare Sicuri page on Kenya (Italian Foreign Ministry).

What you need to know

Applications are made on the Kenyan government’s official portal, etakenya.go.ke. The basic fee is $30, plus small payment charges, and it is non-refundable even if the application is rejected. Every traveller needs their own eTA, children and infants included: families can submit a single group application, which issues an eTA for each person.

How far in advance

Processing usually takes a few working days. The practical advice is to apply at least two or three weeks before departure, with a passport valid for at least six months and your flight and accommodation details to hand. Without an approved eTA, the airline may refuse boarding.

Beware of unofficial websites

Searching online brings up many websites offering to submit the application on your behalf, at much higher prices. They are unnecessary: the only official address is the Kenyan government’s.

If the trip continues to Uganda or Rwanda

There is also a joint tourist visa for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, costing $100, useful for those combining a safari in Kenya with the gorillas. Tanzania, on the other hand, requires a separate visa. For Uganda, also bear in mind the Ebola outbreak: details in our Health and safety guide.

Fees and rules may change: always check the official sources listed before you travel.