There are a number of things you should do before you die, from learning another language to attending a major sporting event, but one of the biggest ones is going on a safari. Well if you’re going to do it, then you might as well do it properly and the Masai Mara is the best option in the world.
We went a few years back and we plan on revisiting Kenya again some time soon as the experience was unbelievable. Watching lions resting in the sun, giraffes nibbling on leaves and looking out for the rare rhino to complete the ‘big five’ (the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo you’re meant to keep an eye out for).
But getting your head around the Kenya visa details is a bit tricky, especially with the government details not seeming to be up to date when I last checked, therefore I’ve provided the following guide to help anyone looking to book any time soon.
Do British Passport Holders Need A Visa For Kenya
Yes they do, you’ll need to arrange this before you head on your holiday. Historically, you could receive a visa on arrival, just by filling out the forms at the airport (which took a good 20 minutes), but this is no longer the case.
The eTA is the new method of visa for people from the UK. This is basically a paid electronic visa which you setup before getting on the plane.
To arrange this, you can use third party services like iVisa, where you answer a few questions, upload your passport shot and pay the set fee, while they also have a number of help guides on their website.
At the time of writing, iVisa charges $80.99, which in GBP is roughly £60 depending on exchange rates at the time. Just remember it’s processed in USD, so the exact amount may slightly vary from the £60 I’m mentioning due to your bank’s exchange rates.
While they charge more than using the government website, you are paying slightly more for a stress free experience and for a much more simplistic process. Considering how much of a headache it can be handling visa applications with government websites, this is a service that just makes like a bit easier.
What Is The Kenya eTA?
So the eTA stands for electronic travel authorisation, which as you can imagine is a move towards a digital visa permission which visitors to Kenya can get, including all British passport holders.
This was first introduced in Kenya back in January 2024, replacing the forms you used to fill out in the airport or application you used to have to go through online.
The eTA becomes connected to your passport, so you don’t get a stamp like you used to, it’s like a digital stamp, which also means you don’t have to print anything. Having said that, if you have a printer available, I always prefer to get these forms printed as evidence before flying, but that’s me being overly cautious.
The eTA needs approval before you can fly, so this isn’t something that can be done on the day, you need to arrange this all in advance.
It’s also worth noting that this is purely authorisation to travel, not a guarantee of entry, the immigration officials at airports still have total power to decide if you can enter the country.
If you’re entering the country for tourism, then this qualifies for you, as it can last up to 90 days and doesn’t give you permission to work.
Kenya eTA Requirements For UK Residents
You need to ensure you meet the up to date passport and entry requirements for Kenya, or risk your application being delayed or rejected.
Your passport must have at least 6 months validity remaining after your arrival date into Kenya, so if it’s getting close to the end, it could be worth quickly renewing it beforehand. This isn’t just for Kenyan immigration officials, the airlines may also refuse to board you onto the plane if your passport will be expiring soon.
Despite the eTA meaning you have a digital authorisation; the current UK government advice states that you must have ‘at least 2 blank pages’ free in your passport. If you take a lot of flights then this might be more relevant to you.
As someone who keeps the passport in my pocket when travelling, mine gets quite battered and that can bring massive risks. If your passport has suffered from water damage, ripped pages, or any of the core details are unreadable or marked, then you may be rejected by either the airline or immigration officers. The same can be said for the photo page, where a clear image of you needs to be visible, as well as no evidence of tampering.
I also just wanted to highlight that if you’re travelling with children or a baby that you’ll still need a passport for them and to apply for their own eTA. Remember that children’s passports have a much shorter expiry date (as they change in appearance so quickly).
You may also be asked if you have a return or onward flight, for the majority of people travelling they will have a return trip booked as well, but if you don’t then you may be questioned more as to your intentions.
Just the same, you may be asked where you will be staying on arrival, I was asked this and had to provide the name of the accommodation and the address, therefore it’s a bit easier if you have any details either printed or saved on your phone (such as a booking confirmation in your emails).
How To Apply For A Kenya eTA
This is pretty straightforward and you should have it done nice and quickly, just make sure to gather all your documents and passport details before beginning.
On average, it should take 15 minutes to complete, then you just need to wait for approval or whether further checks are required.
So you start by heading to a site like iVisa and clicking ‘apply now’. You’ll then need to add your first name (and middle, never forget it if you have a middle name on your passport) and last name, date of birth and your gender, before pressing continue.
You’ll then be asked which country issued your passport and whether you have the passport information available. Once you click yes, you’ll have to fill in the passport number, issue date and expiry date.
You’ll then have to add your country of residence and then your full home address.
The next page will ask you whether you’re currently employed, convicted of a criminal offence, the reason for your trip and whether you have confirmed travel plans (where you state when you’ll be arriving).
Once you’ve done this, the first traveller will be included, so you can then add the details for the next person on your trip, or if it’s just you travelling then you can press continue.
You’ll be asked for your email address, before carrying on through to the payment page. There are 3 processing time options, depending on how late you’ve left it to apply, being 5, 3 or 2 days, with an increased cost if you need it more urgently.
Common Kenya eTA Problems To Avoid
Don’t fall foul to the same issues as so many others, especially when they’re easy to avoid. Make sure you use a bank card which is up to date and has funds in. You also want to make sure your passport has a clear photo with a white background.
Your payment may fail if there are temporary verification issues or pending security checks from your bank. Remember that it’s an international payment and you sometimes have greater bank security checks or even potentially a fraud block, so double check it all went through properly.
It’s also best to be cautious to avoid a ‘retry loop’, where you keep re-putting in the details (like Einstein says “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”), as multiple attempts can lead to a temporary fraud lock on your account and prevent any pending transactions. If you do get a block, check your bank card for the number to call up and be prepared to explain some recent payments, therefore it can be worth loading up your online banking to check.
If you are facing issues, it might also be worth switching to a different bank card, or even changing what browser you’re using.
How Long Does The Kenya eTA Take?
The approval is a relatively quick process, while iVisa states that their base package means you should get it in 5 days, or if you pay more then you can get it in 3 or 2 days. It should however be remembered that iVisa cannot dictate the governmental decision and government approval is still required before progressing.
To be careful, I would always presume that’s working days and not weekends, while I’d also look to apply at least 2 weeks before your holiday just in case of a situation that causes a delay in the application approval process.
