If you've looked up "Kenya visa for Indians", you've probably seen mixed information. Some sites mention an e-visa, others visa on arrival, and others say Kenya is "visa-free". Here's the simple version: Indian travellers need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before they fly to Kenya, and they need a yellow fever certificate to come back home.
This guide explains both in plain language, step by step.
What the eTA Is and Who Needs It
In January 2024, Kenya replaced its old visa system with the eTA. It's a digital travel permit that you apply for online before your trip. It isn't stamped in your passport. You receive it by email, and you show it at check-in and immigration.
Who needs it:
- All Indian citizens with ordinary passports, travelling for tourism, business, family visits or transit
- Every traveller individually, including children and infants
Who doesn't:
- Holders of Indian diplomatic, official or service passports, for short stays
Visa on arrival: Not available for Indian travellers. You must have an approved eTA before you board your flight.
Documents Checklist
Keep these ready before you start the application:
- Passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date, with at least one blank page
- A recent photo with a plain background. A clear selfie usually works.
- Return or onward flight booking
- Accommodation details, such as hotel bookings or your safari itinerary. If you're staying with friends or family, you'll need their details and an invitation letter.
- Email address and phone number
- Credit or debit card for the fee
Tip: If you're booking a safari package, ask your travel company for a confirmed itinerary letter with lodge names and dates. It makes this step much easier.
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Go to the official Kenya eTA website. Use only the government portal. Many look-alike sites charge extra fees for the same service.
- Create an account with your email address.
- Fill in your personal details exactly as they appear in your passport.
- Upload your passport bio page and photo. Make sure the scans are clear and fully visible.
- Add your travel details: arrival date, flight, where you'll stay and your purpose of visit.
- Pay the fee online.
- Wait for approval by email. Download the eTA and print a copy.
For families, each person needs a separate application, but a parent can fill them in for children.
Fees and Processing Time
- Fee: Roughly US$30–35 per person for a standard single-entry tourist eTA, including processing charges.
- Processing: Usually around three working days. Faster options may be available for an extra fee.
- When to apply: You can apply up to 90 days before travel. Apply at least two weeks ahead to be safe, especially in peak season.
- Validity: The eTA is generally valid for travel within 90 days of approval. The immigration officer decides how long you can stay on arrival, up to 90 days.
Fees and timelines can change, so check the official portal before you apply.
Yellow Fever: Why India Checks It on Return
This is the requirement that catches most Indian travellers off guard.
Kenya is on India's list of countries with a risk of yellow fever. When you fly back to India from Kenya, health officials check for a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. If you don't have one, and you arrive within six days of leaving Kenya, you can be held in quarantine until the certificate becomes valid or six days pass.
Kenya may also ask for the certificate when you arrive, so carry it with your passport throughout the trip.
The key rules:
- Get the vaccine at least 10 days before departure. The certificate only becomes valid after 10 days.
- One dose now gives lifelong protection, and the certificate stays valid for life.
- Carry the original yellow card (International Certificate of Vaccination) with your passport.
Where to Get Vaccinated in India
The yellow fever vaccine is only given at government-authorised centres. Certificates from unauthorised clinics may be rejected at the airport.
You'll usually find authorised centres at:
- Airport and port health organisations (APHO and PHO) in major cities
- Selected government hospitals and medical colleges
- Some public health institutes
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare publishes the official list. Check it, and call ahead, since many centres give the vaccine only on certain days and some need an appointment.
Carry your passport, as the certificate is issued in your name with your passport number.
Rules for Children and Infants
- Every child needs their own eTA, including babies.
- Children need their own passport, valid for six months.
- Yellow fever: The vaccine is generally given from nine months of age. Infants younger than that are usually exempt but should carry a doctor's note. Speak to a paediatrician before travel.
- Travelling with one parent: Carry a consent letter from the other parent and a copy of the child's birth certificate. It isn't always asked for, but it avoids awkward questions at immigration.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a fake or third-party website and paying more than the official fee
- Mismatched details, like a name spelled differently from the passport
- Applying too late and waiting anxiously for approval days before the flight
- Getting vaccinated less than 10 days before travel, which makes the certificate invalid on arrival
- Leaving the yellow card at home, or packing it in checked luggage
- Assuming one eTA covers the whole family
- Forgetting about Tanzania or Uganda. If you're combining countries, check each one's entry rules separately.
Let Gantu Handle the Paperwork
An itinerary letter, confirmed bookings and a clear checklist make your eTA application quick and stress-free. A Gantu trip manager can share everything you need for the application and remind you about the yellow fever vaccine well in time. Talk to a Gantu trip manager and start planning your Kenya trip.
