What you need to enter Kenya with a Canadian passport

Authorization system

eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)

Since 2024 Kenya has required an eTA from every visitor, including infants and children, replacing the old eVisa system — no nationality truly enters without prior paperwork. Application only through the official etakenya.go.ke portal. Standard processing up to 72 hours (standard fee); an immediate-processing option exists for an extra charge.

Visa, e-Visa, or electronic authorization? What's the difference →

Fee

USD 30.00

USD 30 for standard processing (up to 72 hours); an immediate-processing option exists with an additional USD 100 surcharge. Non-refundable even if the application is denied.

Processing time

Standard processing up to 72 hours; applying at least a week in advance is recommended.

Required documents

• An approved eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before your journey begins. It is mandatory for every visitor, infants and children included
• A passport valid for at least 6 months with at least one blank page
• Proof of accommodation: a confirmed hotel booking or a letter of invitation from your host in Kenya
• A confirmed flight reservation showing your arrival and departure dates
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate, required depending on the country you are travelling from
• Nationals of East African Community partner states (Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda) are exempt from the eTA for periods of up to 180 days

Vaccinations

• Yellow fever certificate if arriving from, or transiting more than 12 hours through, a country with transmission risk (from one year of age; exempt under 9 months).

Health insurance

Not mandatory for this destination.

Transit rules

The eTA itself does not separately set the authorized length of stay — it's determined at passport control on arrival.

Customs limits

Cash

Declare via Form F88 if carrying USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent in another currency).

Alcohol

1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of wine, duty-free, for those aged 18 or over.

Tobacco

250g of cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, tobacco or snuff (combined), duty-free, for those aged 18 or over.

Overstay penalties

The Directorate of Immigration Services confirms on its own site that overstaying without authorization is a violation that can result in fines, penalties, or deportation, but doesn't publish a numeric fine schedule. Secondary sources place the written admission-of-violation fine at up to KES 50,000 at the immigration officer's discretion, and a USD 601 penalty for overstays exceeding 6 months — figures not confirmed against a published official fee schedule.

Common reasons for denial

• Turning up to board without an approved eTA: it is required of every visitor before the journey begins, with no exemption by age, and approval takes three working days (sometimes longer), so leaving it to the last minute is the most avoidable mistake.