Everything You Need Before Traveling to Kenya: Visa, Vaccines & Entry Requirements (2026 Guide)
Preparing for a trip to Kenya can feel a bit overwhelming with vaccine, visa, and entry requirements. While it may seem like there are many moving pieces to get in order prior to traveling to Kenya, it is actually rather straight forward and simple, once you know what you need to enter Kenya.
Here I will outline visa and vaccine requirements for enter Kenya and break down the timeline and steps to get everything in order before traveling to this incredible East African country.
Passport Requirements for Kenya Travel
Passport requirements for Kenya are:
📅Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond their scheduled arrival date
📘To travel to Kenya, your passport must have at least two blank pages
Prior to travel to Kenya, assure your passport is valid for at least six (6) months and has two full blank pages. ⭐If your passport needs to be renewed, do not apply for your Kenya eVisa until you have received your new passport, as your visa is linked to your passport.
Vaccines for Travel to Kenya
Before traveling abroad, it is always best to speak with your healthcare provider or consult a travel clinic about which vaccines are required and recommended for your destination.
Recommendations may vary not only based on your destination, but also by your age and health status.
💉Required Vaccines for Kenya:
Yellow Fever: Required for all travelers. Vaccination is recommended by the CDC for all travelers aged 9 months or older.
When should you get your Yellow Fever Vaccine for travel to Africa?
The Yellow Fever Vaccine is a lifetime vaccine, so you can get it at any time prior to travel. It is recommended to get the Yellow Fever Vaccine no less than 2 weeks prior to travel.
Are there side effects to the Yellow Fever Vaccine?
Yes, there can be. This is why it is a good idea to get the Yellow Fever Vaccine at least 2 weeks in advance of travel. I had no side effects, while others may have fever, headache, muscle aches, and soreness or swelling at the injection site lasting up to a week.
✨You are required to present your Yellow Fever Vaccine book at immigration and will be denied entry without it. Always carry your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) for yellow fever, as well as a copy of your Visa.
Recommended Vaccines for travel to East Africa:
Hepatitis A: Recommended for all travelers, as it can be contracted through contaminated food or water.
Typhoid: Recommended for most travelers, especially those visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas, as it is spread through contaminated food/water.
COVID-19: Up-to-date vaccines and boosters are recommended.
Routine Vaccinations for Travel to Africa:
Travel abroad is a great time to review your vaccination records and assure you are up to date on all your routine vaccinations!
Ensure you are up-to-date on MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), chickenpox, polio, and influenza.
💊Anti-Malaria Treatment for Travel to Kenya
An anti-malaria course of medication is recommended for travel to Kenya, particularly in ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ zones. Some travelers opt to take the course of medication regardless of destination in Kenya, and others opt to take it only for high-risk areas.
Talk to your health care provider or a travel clinic to establish the best course of action for your anti-malaria treatment when traveling to Kenya.
✨If you are traveling in to Nairobi (low risk zone) and opting not to take anti-malaria medication until you visit other areas of the country, you can easily obtain anti-malaria medication while in Nairobi at very affordable rates, and delivered to your accommodations.
Kenya Visa Requirements
Do I need a Visa to travel to Kenya?
Yes.
Almost all foreign visitors, including citizens from the USA, UK, Canada, and EU nations need a visa to enter Kenya.
The visa process is quite easy and straight forward.
What Visa Do You need for Kenya? How Much does the Kenya Visa Cost?
Most travelers to Kenya will obtain the “Single Entry” visa, which allows just that: one time entry. If you leave Kenya and return, you will need to obtain a new single-entry visa.
💵$30USD
For travelers planning to travel within Kenya, Rawanda, and Uganda, the East Africa Visa is available and can be obtained through the country in which you are starting.
✨If you are traveling to other African Countries, you will need to obtain a visa for each country. The East Africa Visa is void once you exit the three countries it includes.
💵 $100USD
For travelers who will be traveling in and out of Kenya frequently in the period of one year, the One Year Multi-Entry eTA, allows for multiple entries into the country for a period of one year.
💵 $300
How to apply for your Kenya Tourist Visa
Use the official Kenya Government website to apply for your E-Visa.
There are MANY fake sites, or sites with inflated fees.
The ONLY official website for the Kenya visa is here: Your visit to Kenya begins here · Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
What you will need for your Kenya Visa:
🛂Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity with at least one blank page)
🤳🏽Selfie or passport-type photo
📱Contact details (email & phone number)
🛫Travel itinerary (transit confirmation for arrival & departure)
🏨Accommodation booking confirmation
💳Payment method (credit/debit card, etc.)
✨Two friends and I have a very hard time making the payment via credit card. We were all able to do so using debit cards. If your payment for the Kenya visa is not going through via credit card, you may need to use a debit card.
When to Apply for Your Visa for Kenya
The Kenya Tourist visa is valid for 90 days.
The 90 days is valid from the time of ISSUE, not the time of ENTRY. If you are planning an extended stay, be sure to consider this when applying for your visa.
The estimated approval time is 72 hours. For most travelers, the Kenya E-visa is received via email within 12 to 24 hours of applications.
✨ I would not recommend waiting until the very last minute (live it, learn it). While the approval and turn around is generally quite quick, things like holidays and weekends can delay the receipt of the visa… and you might be praying for it’s arrival on your way to the airport.
⭐While some sources say you can obtain a visa on arrival; most airlines will not let you board without it.
