If you're preparing a Kenya visa from Dubai, the good news is that Kenya has significantly modernized and simplified its entry system over the past couple of years. Kenya abolished traditional visa requirements for foreign visitors back in January 2024 and replaced them with an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system. For UAE-based travelers heading off on safari or a coastal getaway, here's exactly what the current requirements look like.
1. The eTA Has Replaced the Old Visa and eVisa System
Kenya's Electronic Travel Authorization is now the standard entry requirement for nearly all foreign nationals, including UAE residents and Emirati citizens. It replaced the earlier eVisa platform in January 2024, and the application now runs through the official government portal at etakenya.go.ke. This is not technically a visa — it's a pre-travel screening and clearance system. Final admission into Kenya is still decided by immigration officers at the airport, so an approved eTA confirms you meet the basic entry conditions rather than guaranteeing entry outright.
2. Visa on Arrival Is No Longer Available
This catches a lot of travelers off guard. As of 2026, Kenya has eliminated visa-on-arrival entirely. Arriving without a pre-approved eTA can result in denied boarding at your departure airport or complications on arrival in Kenya. There's no fallback option at the border anymore — the eTA has to be sorted before you fly.
3. Everyone Needs One, Including Infants
Every visitor intending to travel to Kenya needs an approved eTA before departure, regardless of age. That means infants and children each need their own individual application and their own fee — there's no reduced rate or family bundling. If you're traveling with children, plan to complete a separate application for each one.
4. How to Apply and What It Costs
Applications are submitted online through the official portal, and the process typically takes just a few minutes to complete. You'll need to upload your passport bio-data page, a recent color passport photo on a white background, your return or onward flight booking, and proof of your accommodation in Kenya. The standard eTA fee is USD 30 per applicant, and it's non-refundable regardless of whether your application is approved or denied. Processing usually takes 48 to 72 hours, though it's recommended to apply at least three to five business days before travel to allow a buffer for any delays.
5. Passport and Document Requirements
Your passport needs to be valid for at least six months beyond your planned arrival date in Kenya, with at least one blank page available. You'll also need a recent passport-style photo in JPEG format with a white background, confirmed flight details, and accommodation proof — whether that's a hotel booking, an invitation letter, or your host's details.
6. Yellow Fever Certificate — Check If It Applies to You
If you're arriving in Kenya from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission, you'll need to submit a yellow fever vaccination certificate as part of your eTA application, regardless of whether you've actually visited that country recently or not — the requirement is based on where you're arriving from. Most UAE-based travelers flying directly from Dubai won't be affected by this, but if your itinerary includes a stopover in an affected country, it's worth checking in advance.
7. Validity and Length of Stay
A standard single-entry eTA is valid for entry within 90 days of approval — the clock starts running from the date it's issued, not from your travel date, so don't apply too far in advance. Once you enter Kenya, the standard stay allowed is up to 90 days. If you want to extend beyond that, you can apply for an extension at the Immigration Department in Nairobi before your permitted stay runs out, though extensions are granted at the discretion of the Director of Immigration rather than automatically.
8. Multi-Country Travel: The East African Tourist Visa
If your trip includes Uganda or Rwanda alongside Kenya, the East African Tourist Visa (EATV) might be a better option than three separate applications. It costs USD 100, covers all three countries, and allows a non-extendable 90-day multiple-entry stay — but it must be used to first enter whichever country issued it. This is a popular choice for travelers combining a Maasai Mara safari with Rwanda's gorilla trekking experiences.
9. Re-Entry Rules If You Leave Kenya Temporarily
If you leave Kenya to visit another East African Community member state — Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, or the DRC — and then return to Kenya without visiting anywhere else, your original eTA remains valid for re-entry. Step outside that regional bloc, though, and your eTA is voided; you'll need to apply for a new one to get back in.
10. Common Reasons Applications Are Delayed or Rejected
Most eTA problems come down to details that don't match — passport information entered incorrectly, photos that don't meet the format requirements, or accommodation and flight details that are incomplete or inconsistent. Since the eTA fee isn't refunded even if your application is denied, it's worth taking care with the details the first time rather than rushing the form.
Quick Checklist for UAE Travelers
- Apply for your eTA online at etakenya.go.ke — avoid third-party sites, as applications through them are automatically denied.
Apply at least 3–5 business days before departure, but no more than 90 days out.
Have a passport valid 6+ months beyond arrival, with a blank page.
Prepare a white-background digital photo, flight booking, and accommodation proof.
Budget USD 30 per traveler, including children and infants.
Check whether a yellow fever certificate applies to your specific routing.
With the eTA system now well established, Kenya's entry process is faster and more predictable than it used to be — as long as you apply ahead of time and get your details right. Once that's sorted, you're clear for the Maasai Mara, Diani Beach, or wherever your Kenyan itinerary takes you.
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