Kenya travel Requirements: Make sure your trip runs smoothly

Kenya is an African paradise with vast expanses of savanna filled with wildlife, snowy mountains and nomadic people with traditional robes all waiting for you to visit.

There are buzzing cities like Nairobi and Mombasa that will be fun to be immersed in. Read this article to ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork before your trip to Kenya and meet all the entry requirements for Kenya.

Kenya entry requirements

Passport 

All travellers must have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity and at least two blank pages to complete Kenya travel requirements. All travellers must also have a booked return or onward ticket before they enter the country. Make sure you meet the travel requirements for Kenya. 

Visas 

Every traveler to Kenya will need to apply for and obtain a tourist eTA. This is an electronic travel authorization that allows you to enter the country for different reasons. To get the eTA travel authorization you will need: 

• Passport
• Personal photograph
• Flight bookings (if you travel by air)
• Travel itinerary (if you travel by land or sea)
• Email address to receive the final document
• A bank card to pay the fees

These are just some general documents. Depending on the purpose of your trip, you will need to show additional documents. You can check out more information about the different requirements depending on the purpose of your trip here. 

Additionally, depending on your nationality and the purpose of your trip, you might need to apply for a tradicional eVisa Kenya.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to apply for your Kenyan visa as they take a bit longer to process if you apply in the high season. 

Travel insurance

Although travel insurance is not one of Kenya's entry requirements, it is a good idea to book some insurance as it covers a lot of unexpected events that could occur while you are traveling. 

Currency 

The official Kenya currency is the Kenyan shilling (KES). Each shilling has 100 cents. There are banknotes worth 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 and coins worth 1, 5, 10 and 20 Ksh and 40 and 50 cents.

As Kenyan currency is closed,  you won’t be able to order any in your home country. However, this won’t be a problem as there are plenty of ATMs available all around Kenya, so withdrawing money shouldn’t be a problem. You can also exchange USD, EURO or GBP once you’re in the country. 

Vaccination

Visitors to Kenya need to have the following vaccinations up to date: 

• Typhoid
• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis A
• Polio
• Tetanus

The CDC says that the risk of Covid-19 is low in Kenya, but in any case travelers should have their vaccinations up to date as you must show proof of vaccination to enter the country. You can check with the CDC website for more information.

There is also a health declaration form that must be filled in before travel. A random rapid antigen test may be administered upon arrival in Kenya. 

Some parts of Kenya still have high risk of Malaria, for example Western Kenya. If you are planning on visiting national parks you should take particular precautions by covering up with long sleeved clothes and also using insect repellent, as well as considering taking anti-malaria medication. Check with your doctor before traveling.