Kenya Transit Visa: eTA Required for Your Nairobi Layover

When traveling internationally with a stopover in Nairobi, Kenya, it is essential to understand the visa and Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) rules. As East Africa's major air hub, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport welcomes thousands of connecting passengers every day. Since January 2024, the transit visa has been replaced by the ETA, an electronic required document for most passengers wishing to leave the transit area, even for a few hours. This page explains when the ETA is required, how to easily obtain it online, and what advantages it offers so you can enjoy your layover in Nairobi with peace of mind. With this information, you will avoid any inconvenience at the airport and travel with confidence.

Transit visa in Kenya: in brief

• ✈️ Since 2024, the transit visa has been replaced by the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization).
• 🕓 No ETA if you remain in international transit without leaving the airport.
• 🌍 ETA required if you wish to leave the airport, even for a few hours.
• 💻 100% online application, processed within 72 hours maximum.
• 💰 Official fee: $35, variable depending on nationality and website used.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Each traveler, including children, must have their own ETA.

🛂 What are the visa requirements for a transit or stopover in Kenya?

Since January 2024, the Kenya transit visa has been replaced by the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). The requirements for a transit in Kenya or a stopover in Nairobi depend on the length of your stopover and whether or not you leave the international area of the airport.

✈️ If your stopover does not exceed 72 hours

• ✅ No ETA is required if you remain in the international transit area.
• You do not go through immigration and do not collect your luggage (flights connected on the same ticket).
• You can wait for your flight in the terminal, access lounges or dining areas.

💡 Tip: if you wish to leave the international zone, even for a few hours, an ETA is required.

🏙️ If you leave the airport during your layover (≤ 72 hours)

You must obtain a Kenya ETA before departure.

This document replaces the former Kenya Nairobi airport transit visa and allows you to:

• leave to visit Nairobi or stay at a hotel;
• travel to another terminal or a different flight;
• transit freely for up to 72 hours.

📧 Quick and easy online application: fill out the form, attach your documents, and receive your ETA by email within 72 hours.

🕓 If your stay exceeds 72 hours

• The Kenya ETA system is unique and covers both transit and tourist or business stays.
• There is no longer a separate transit visa: the same electronic travel authorization allows you to enter Kenya, whether for a short stopover or an extended stay.
• The ETA allows a stay of up to 90 days in Kenya, with the possibility of multiple entries depending on its validity.
• Applications are made online, directly on the official ETA Kenya website or via a private provider.

💡 In summary: the Kenya visa no longer exists in paper form. Everything goes through the ETA, which is valid for both short transit and extended stays for tourism or business.

🌍 Leaving the airport with the ETA

Unlike the former Kenya transit visa, the ETA now offers complete flexibility.

It allows you to temporarily leave the airport, visit Nairobi, or spend a night in a hotel during your layover, without any additional requirements.

The single ETA is valid for both short transit and longer stays of up to 90 days in Kenya.

💡 Tip: it is best to apply for your ETA before departure to avoid being rejected for boarding or missing your connection.

🧳 What is a Kenya transit visa?

Before 2024, travelers stopping over in Nairobi had to apply for a Kenya transit visa if they wanted to leave the airport.

This document has now been replaced by the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), a single electronic authorization valid for all types of stays, whether it's a transit of a few hours or a longer stay.

The Kenya ETA completely simplifies the requirements: a single online application is all that is required to enter the country, leave the airport, or enjoy a stopover in Nairobi or Mombasa.

This authorization remains valid for up to 90 days, with the possibility of multiple entries depending on the approved duration.

💡 In summary: the Kenya transit visa no longer exists. It has now been replaced by a single ETA, which is simple, quick to obtain, and valid for both short transits and full stays.

🕓 Transit duration and conditions of the Kenya ETA

With the introduction of the ETA system, the rules for entering Kenya are now clear and unified:

• The single ETA authorizes a stay of up to 90 days, regardless of the reason for your trip (transit, tourism, business).
• You can stay in the international zone during your connection or briefly leave the airport without an additional visa.
• Travelers making a simple transit without leaving the airport do not need an ETA.

It is therefore advisable to plan your stopover according to the validity period of your ETA in order to avoid any delays at immigration.

🧭 Practical cases: Concrete examples of travelers stopping over in Nairobi

📍 Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) is a major hub in Africa. Here are several concrete cases:

✈️ 8-hour layover without leaving the airport

• ✅ No ETA required.
• You remain in the international transit area between two connecting flights.
• You do not need to go through immigration.

🏙️ 18-hour layover with a visit to Nairobi

• 🛂 ETA required.
• Allows you to leave the airport, explore the city, and return for your connecting flight.
• A single authorization is sufficient, regardless of the length of your layover, as long as your ETA is valid at the time of entry into Kenya.

🏨 30-hour layover with overnight stay at a hotel

• ETA required because you are leaving the transit area.
• The single ETA remains valid for up to 90 days, whether you stay for a few hours or several days.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family on an extended stopover

• Each family member, including children and babies, must have an individual ETA.
• The same documents are required for everyone: passport, ticket, passport photo, etc.

🧳 Split stopover with separate flights

• If your flights are not on the same ticket, you will need to collect your luggage and go through immigration again.
• In this case, the Kenya ETA is required, even if the stopover lasts less than 24 hours.

💡 Good to know: The ETA can be obtained online in just a few days. Apply in advance to avoid being rejected boarding or missing your connection.

💻 How to obtain an online transit visa for Kenya?

If you are making a stopover in Nairobi or transiting through Kenya, the procedure is now entirely electronic. Since January 2024, the Kenya transit visa has been replaced by the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), an official document that is required as soon as you leave the international area of the airport.

Here's how to easily apply for your Kenya ETA online:

⚙️ Steps for applying for a Kenya ETA

1️⃣ Go to the official Kenya ETA website or a private provider with assistance.

2️⃣ Fill out the online form with your personal details, flight information, and reason for transit.

3️⃣ Upload your documents:

• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity after arrival);
• Recent passport photo;
• Return or onward flight ticket.

4️⃣ Pay online for the ETA fees with an international credit card.

5️⃣ Submit your application and receive your Kenya ETA authorization by email within 1 to 3 business days.

✈️ Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), simply present the printed or mobile confirmation email to immigration control.

📋 Documents required for the Kenya ETA

Even though the Kenya transit visa no longer exists, the documents to be provided remain similar:

• 🛂 Passport valid for at least 6 months;
• 🖼️ Digital passport photo;
• ✈️ Airline ticket proving onward travel;
• 💳 Online payment of ETA fees;
• 🏨 Hotel reservation (if you are leaving the airport).

💡 Tip: even if you are staying for less than 24 hours, it is best to apply for your ETA in advance to avoid being rejected for boarding or experiencing processing time at customs.

💰 What is the price of the ETA for your transit through Kenya?

Since the ETA system was introduced, the Kenya visa price has been standardized for all types of stays, including transit.

• 💵 Official ETA Kenya fee: $35, set by the Kenyan government.
• 💼 Service and data verification fees: may be added depending on the application site or service provider used.

This amount applies to all travelers, whether your layover lasts a few hours or you are staying in Kenya for up to 90 days.

Transit passengers who do not leave the international zone of the airport do not have to pay anything, as no ETA is required in this case.