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Kenya

Kenya visa

Africa · Eastern Africa

In Kenya, the entry of travelers falls under the Directorate of Immigration Services, within the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. The portal consulted on 17 September 2026 is that of the electronic travel authorization (eTA), filed online.

Updated on 15 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority
Directorate of Immigration Services, State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Ministry of Interior and National Administration
Where to apply
Online, on Kenya's official electronic travel authorization (eTA) portal
Electronic visa
The portal consulted issues an electronic travel authorization (eTA), applied for online; it describes no other channel
Portal language
English (version consulted)

Do you need a visa?

Sierra Leone passport: no visa needed for up to 90 days for a short tourist stay.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

eTA exemption: stay of 90 days at most, according to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Rules, 2025 published on the official eTA portal.

Official source: Kenya eTA, official portal (etakenya.go.ke) — How to Apply: eTA requirement and exemptions under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Rules, 2025Kenya eTA, portail officiel (etakenya.go.ke) — How to Apply : obligation d'eTA et exemptions des Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Rules, 2025 (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

Kenya visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 77

List of nationalities

Electronic travel authorization 120

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)
The only category named on the pages consulted. The period of validity and the authorized length of stay are not stated on the portal consulted. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

The pages consulted state that the application for an electronic travel authorization is filed online, from anywhere and at any time, on Kenya's official portal.

The portal specifies that certain categories of travelers are exempt from this authorization, in particular holders of a permanent residence permit, of a work permit or of a re-entry pass, crew members and people in transit without leaving the airport premises or the vessel. Exemptions based on nationality also appear on the portal; VisaGuideline does not reproduce them here and refers to the nationality selector on this page.

Steps of the procedure

  1. Check on the portal whether the electronic travel authorization is required in your situation: the “How to Apply” page lists the categories of exempt travelers.
  2. File the application online on the official portal, before departure.
  3. Gather and upload the documents requested, including those that depend on the purpose of the trip.
  4. Pay for the application with an accepted means of payment, in particular a credit or debit card.
  5. Wait for the decision: the portal announces usual processing of three business days and mentions an urgent processing service.
  6. Present yourself at the point of entry, where admissibility is determined according to the portal.

Documents listed by the authority

The exact list depends on the purpose of the trip and on the situation; only the official page prevails.

Stated fees and processing times

Fees: not stated on the portal consulted.

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, processing usually takes three business days and may take longer in certain cases. The portal also mentions an urgent processing service, without stating its fee or its processing time.

After the decision

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, holding an electronic travel authorization does not constitute the final authorization to enter Kenya: admissibility is determined at the point of entry. The admission decision therefore rests with the immigration services on arrival.

The portal offers a service for verifying an authorization that has been issued.

Prepare your application

Frequently asked questions

Where is the application filed?

Online, on Kenya's official electronic travel authorization portal. The pages consulted describe no other application channel.

Is there an electronic visa?

The portal consulted issues an electronic travel authorization (eTA), applied for and processed online.

What processing time does the authority announce?

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026, processing usually takes three business days and may take longer in certain cases; an urgent processing service is mentioned.

What is the fee?

Not stated on the portal consulted.

Does the authorization guarantee entry into Kenya?

No. The portal states that holding an electronic travel authorization does not constitute the final authorization to enter and that admissibility is determined at the point of entry.

Points to check with the authority

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