Nairobi Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Kenya flipped the switch on January 1, 2024. The old visa-on-arrival option? Gone. One unified Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system now rules every airport gate. East African Community (EAC) member states still walk through visa-free. Everyone else—US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, the lot—must secure eTA approval before they even reach the check-in desk.
East African Community members walk straight in—no visa, no eTA, nothing. Kenya just waves them through for short stays. A handful of other African nations share the same deal thanks to old bilateral agreements.
EAC citizens must carry a valid national ID or passport. Visa-free status doesn't guarantee entry—officers can turn you away on reasonable grounds. Bilateral agreements shift; always confirm your nationality's current status before travel via immigration.go.ke.
Since January 2024, the eTA has been the standard entry mechanism for the vast majority of international visitors. No more visa-on-arrival—it is gone. You must secure approval before you board your flight. Tourism, business visits, transit, and family visits all fall under its umbrella.
Cost: USD 32.50 for a single-entry eTA (as of 2025). Multiple-entry eTAs cost more. Pay online—credit or debit card only.
Print your eTA approval letter and carry it with your passport — immigration officers scan the QR code on arrival. The eTA is tied to your specific passport; renew the passport and you'll apply again. Your 90-day stay starts from the date you first enter, not the day the eTA was issued.
A handful of nationalities can't get Kenya's eTA online. They come from countries with no diplomatic deal—or limited ties—with Nairobi. They must queue at a Kenyan embassy or consulate back home.
Need to know if you need an embassy visa or qualify for an eTA? Check the official eTA portal — it will tell you during the application process. Never trust airlines or travel agents alone for visa eligibility information.
Arrival Process
JKIA punches you straight into East Africa. Most international visitors to Nairobi land here—Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, 15 km southeast of the city center. The drill is simple if you're ready. Disembark, queue at immigration, grab bags, clear customs—one smooth line.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
Plastic bags will cost you. At JKIA—and every other port of entry—Kenya Customs and Border Control officers confiscate them on sight. The ban has teeth; since 2017, single-use plastic bags are prohibited, and enforcement isn't gentle. Know the duty-free allowances. Memorize the prohibited items list. Arrive prepared or pay the price.
Prohibited Items
- Single-use plastic bags and certain plastic packaging—banned outright. Border agents will seize them, no exceptions, whatever your plans.
- Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances — severe criminal penalties apply
- Counterfeit currency and fraudulent financial instruments
- Pornographic materials
- Firearms, ammunition, and explosives won't clear customs without prior authorization from the Kenya Police Service.
- Kenya doesn't mess around. Ivory, rhino horn, and products from CITES-listed endangered species — they'll seize them, fine you, maybe jail you. The ban is total, the enforcement is aggressive, and the message is clear: don't even try.
- Hazardous chemicals and biological materials without proper authorization
- Hate speech materials and content deemed to incite ethnic or religious conflict
Restricted Items
- Bring a rifle to Kenya and you'll need two things: prior written authorization from the Kenya Police Service — and a declaration on arrival.
- Pack more than a month's supply of prescription meds—carry a doctor's letter plus every blister pack in original packaging. Narcotics-based medications won't clear customs without extra paperwork.
- Drones (UAVs) — you've got to declare them and register with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA). Commercial drone use? That'll need a permit.
- Agricultural products, seeds, and live plants — they'll all face inspection by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS).
- Live animals and animal products — you'll need health certificates and import permits from the Kenya Veterinary Board.
- Some radio frequencies in Kenya won't work without a license. The Communications Authority of Kenya controls them—get the paperwork first.
Health Requirements
Yellow fever vaccination is the only hard rule for entering Kenya. That is it. Once you're in, don't relax—Nairobi sits at 1,650 m above sea level, so malaria risk inside the city is lower than along the coast or lakes, but the tropical disease environment still demands proactive precautions.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow Fever — you won't board without it. The International Certificate of Vaccination, the 'Yellow Card', is mandatory for every traveler arriving from or transiting through yellow fever endemic countries. That means most sub-Saharan African nations and many South American countries. No proof? Two choices. Airport vaccination at your expense. Or refused entry.
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A—get the shot. One jab protects every traveler against the virus lurking in contaminated food and water.
- Typhoid — recommended if you plan to eat street food or travel outside Nairobi
- Hepatitis B — recommended for longer stays or travelers with potential medical exposure
- Get the shot—meningococcal meningitis hits hardest in the dry season. December through March and June through October are the danger months.
- Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis—get it. Adventure travelers, wildlife volunteers, anyone staying longer than one month needs this shot.
- Get the shots. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella, and your annual flu vaccines need to be current before you leave.
- Skip Nairobi's low-risk label—altitude won't save you elsewhere. Malaria prophylaxis is non-negotiable for coastal runs, game reserves like Maasai Mara and Amboseli, or Lake Victoria. Book a travel medicine specialist. They'll match you with the right antimalarial medication.
Health Insurance
No insurance? You can still enter Kenya—no paperwork needed. But skip travel insurance and you're gambling. A full policy with medical evacuation isn't optional; it is essential. Nairobi's top hospitals—Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, MP Shah Hospital—will patch you up well enough. Yet prices bite hard if you're uninsured. A serious case? You'll need evacuation to South Africa or Europe. That flight runs USD 50,000 or more.
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Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
Children need their own passport and eTA—no exceptions. When a child travels with just one parent, or with anyone who isn't their parent or legal guardian, Kenya immigration wants a notarized consent letter from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian. Bring proof of parental relationship too: the birth certificate. Single parents? Pack custody documentation if you've got it. Unaccompanied minors need consent letters from both parents or legal guardians. They also need contact details for whoever will receive them in Kenya. Airlines add their own rules for unaccompanied minors—you'll handle those separately.
You'll need to start early—Kenya doesn't mess around with pets. Importing animals demands coordination with the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB), full stop. Your dog or cat needs a microchip (ISO 11784/11785 compliant), current rabies vaccination with paperwork, and a veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Don't forget the import permit from KVB before departure. Dogs also require proof they're free from internal and external parasites. Kenya isn't part of the EU pet passport scheme—every document must follow KVB's exact format. Contact kvb.go.ke weeks ahead; permits take 7–14 business days to process.
Overstay past 90 days and you'll face fines, deportation—no exceptions. Apply for an extension at Nyayo House, Nairobi or through ecitizen.go.ke before your current stamp expires. Long-term options exist. Class G covers employment. Class I is for students. Class M helps dependents. The new Kenya Digital Nomad Visa—launched 2024—lets remote workers stay one full year with proof of remote employment and a minimum income.
Kenya recognizes dual nationality. Dual nationals who hold Kenyan citizenship must enter and exit using their Kenyan passport—no exceptions. Foreign nationals holding citizenship of a country whose laws do not permit dual nationality should know this: Kenya cannot offer consular protection to their secondary nationality in such cases. Always enter Kenya on the same passport each visit. This keeps your immigration record clean and consistent.
Airside transit at JKIA under 24 hours? You're good—no eTA needed. Stay in the international zone and keep moving. But step outside, even for a coffee run, and you'll need an eTA or transit visa. No exceptions. Some nationalities get hit harder—they'll need a transit visa even if they never leave the gate area. Check your specific situation at immigration.go.ke before you book that connection through Nairobi.
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