The short answer
For Kenya you need two things: the eTA, an online entry permit for 30 US dollars, and, since 5 October 2026, proof of travel health insurance. As things stand, you have to take out the Kenyan policy for this. It costs up to 44 US dollars per person. Your insurance from home does not replace it. Apply for both only via the official websites and at least two weeks before your flight.
Quite a lot changed for entry into Kenya in 2026. Many older blogs don’t know about the new insurance requirement yet. Here is what you need to know, with dates and official sources. And the mistakes travellers make most often right now.
What has changed?
There is no longer a classic visa for Kenya. Instead, you apply online for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before your trip.
New since 5 October 2026: almost all visitors also need proof of travel health insurance. Kenya calls it “Inbound Travel Health Insurance”. You take it out as part of the eTA application. Without it, you can’t proceed with the eTA.
How much does entry into Kenya cost?
Official prices · information as of 22 October 2026
- Standard eTA: 30 US dollars per person, only via etakenya.go.ke
- Kenyan travel health insurance: up to 44 US dollars per person, valid for up to 3 months
- Insurance hotline: +254 719 044 777
Beware of intermediary websites that look like the official site. They often charge many times the price as a service fee.
Is my insurance from home enough?
No. As things stand (27 October 2026), you have to take out the Kenyan mandatory travel health insurance in addition, for up to 44 US dollars per person. Your insurance from Switzerland, Germany or Austria does not replace it. And conversely, the Kenyan policy does not replace your own insurance either. You keep that as well.
Important
Last updated: 27 October 2026. As soon as Kenya publishes new information, I update the website and products. Please still check the rules yourself on the official site shortly before you apply. You travel at your own risk.
Who needs to check this?
The requirement applies to almost all foreign visitors. There are exceptions for certain groups. However, the official websites don’t describe them consistently. That’s why I don’t give you a list of exceptions here.
According to travellers’ reports, the requirement also applies if your eTA was approved before 5 October 2026. So check your case again live on the official websites shortly before departure.
How the application works
- Check your passport: it should still be valid for at least 6 months on entry.
- Apply for the eTA: only on etakenya.go.ke, at least two weeks before your flight. It usually arrives within three working days.
- Take out the insurance: you buy the Kenyan policy as part of the application or separately via eCitizen.
- Keep your confirmations safe: you need the eTA and insurance at check-in and on entry.
Exactly which documents to store offline on your phone, what should also be on paper and what to show at the airport is in the free Kenia-Check.
The most common mistakes
- Applying on an intermediary website instead of the official one
- Applying for the eTA too late, a few days before the flight
- Forgetting the new insurance because the blog article is from 2025
- Name spelled differently in the application than in the passport
- Confirmations stored only online – and then the battery dies
A piece of paper has never had a flat battery. And if something is still missing at check-in or on entry? What to do then, whom to call and which phrases help is in the Kenia-Kompass.
Do the Kenia-Check before you book
Free and instantly downloadable, read in 5 minutes. With the mandatory points for entry and insurance and 5 tips for your first day.
Planning the whole trip yourself? Then Kenia wie ein Local will help: entry, money, phone, safari and beach.
Questions about entry
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
No, not a classic visa. You need an eTA, an online entry permit. You apply for it only on etakenya.go.ke. The standard eTA costs 30 US dollars.
How much does entry into Kenya cost in total in 2026?
The standard eTA costs 30 US dollars. The Kenyan mandatory travel health insurance costs up to 44 US dollars per person. Together that’s up to 74 US dollars per person if you do both via the official websites.
Is my travel insurance from home enough?
No. As things stand (27 October 2026), you have to take out the Kenyan mandatory travel health insurance in addition. It costs up to 44 US dollars per person. You keep your own travel insurance as well.
How long before the flight do I need to apply for the eTA?
Apply at least two weeks before departure. It usually arrives within three working days, but not always.
How long is the Kenyan travel health insurance valid?
According to the official website, up to three months.
Official websites
- Kenya eTA – official application site
- Kenya eTA – who needs an eTA
- eCitizen – Inbound Travel Health Insurance
- FDFA – travel advice for Kenya
- German Federal Foreign Office – Kenya
About the author
Saimen Bearth grew up in Kabati in Kitui County (Kenya) and now lives in Basel. He travels to Kenya regularly and explains to travellers from Switzerland, Germany and Austria how everyday life in Kenya works. He is not a lawyer or an authority: the official websites are always authoritative. You travel at your own risk.
Last updated: 27 October 2026.