If your trip involves a transit or stopover in Kenya, find out if you will need a transit visa in the country.
Some travellers bound for several countries around the world find that their flight transits Kenya. As Kenya requires a visa for entry, these travellers may wonder whether they will also need a transit visa to transit Kenya. This article provides the answer to this question, as well as the procedure for obtaining such a visa.
Kenya transit visa: key points
- The ETA is required, even for simple transit through Kenya airport, if you plan to leave the international zone.
- It is valid for a limited time (up to 72 hours) and allows travellers to leave the airport during their stopover.
- If your journey involves transit to and from Kenya, you will need to make two separate applications for an ETA.
- For a stay of more than 72 hours, you will need to apply for a tourist visa.
If your trip involves transit through Kenya and you plan to leave the airport, whether for a short time or for several hours, an ETA is compulsory. It allows travellers to move freely outside the international zone of the airport for a maximum period of three days. For example, if you have a long stopover in Nairobi and wish to visit the city, you must obtain an ETA before leaving.
However, it is important to note that if you stay in the international zone of the airport for the duration of your stopover, you will not need an ETA. You can stay in this area without having to take any further steps, as long as your connection is scheduled within a reasonable time.
The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is an electronic document that has replaced the traditional transit visa for Kenya. It is compulsory for all stopover travellers wishing to leave the airport, even for a few hours. Whether you want to visit Nairobi, explore the area around the airport, or travel to another country, such as Tanzania via a shuttle bus from Nairobi airport, the ETA is required.
This travel authorisation is designed for short stays and is valid for a maximum of 72 hours. This means that you can use the ETA for a short transit, but if you plan to stay longer, a tourist visa will be required. This will allow you to stay in the country for up to 90 days, depending on entry conditions.
In short, the ETA for Kenya offers flexibility for travellers just passing through the country. However, it is limited in time and is not designed for long-term stays. The ETA is essential if you plan to leave the airport, and it is advisable to apply for it before you leave to avoid any problems on arrival.
Let's look at the case of a simple stopover in Kenya. It is possible that you are travelling to another country and that your flight has a stopover in Kenya without you having to leave the airport.
In this case, if you do not leave the international zone at the airport, you will not need to present a visa during your stopover in Kenya. A visa is only necessary if you actually want to enter Kenya, i.e. if you are leaving the international zone and therefore the airport.
As we have just seen, you will be required to carry a transit visa if your trip involves transit through Kenya and you will need to leave the airport. More simply, you will also need to apply for a transit visa if you wish to take advantage of this transit to visit the area around the airport where your flight will land.
Like the Kenya tourist visa, the transit visa can be applied for directly online via the official website or the website of an approved provider. Once on the website, choose the type of visa you are interested in and simply fill in an online form with your personal details and some information about your trip.
You must, of course, quote your passport number and pay the fee for processing your visa application. These fees can be paid directly online, by credit card and on a secure server.
Your Kenya transit visa will then be sent to you within approximately one week directly to your home address by post. Simply take it with you and present it when you board your flight to Kenya or if you wish to leave Kenya airport.
British nationals transiting through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, do not usually need a visa if they do not leave the international area of the airport and remain in the transit area. However, it is always advisable to check visa requirements for transits with the relevant Kenyan authorities before planning your trip, especially if you plan to leave the international area of the airport.
It is also important to note that visa requirements may vary depending on the length of your transit and the final destination of your trip. It is therefore always advisable to consult the relevant Kenyan authorities or a travel advisor for more information on visa requirements for transits in Nairobi.
If you wish to leave the airport, you can of course apply for a transit visa through Nairobi airport directly online, either through an official website or through a website that offers an English form suitable for this specific type of application.
The transit visa for Kenya, which allowed you to stay in the country for a maximum of 72 hours, has been replaced by the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). The aim of this change is to simplify the application process and make entry into Kenya smoother for transit travellers. Prior to this change, the transit visa generally cost around USD 20 to 30, depending on the site or service provider through which it was requested. This visa allowed travellers to leave the airport during their stopover to visit the country, or to transit to another destination.
The ETA, which has replaced the transit visa, is an electronic authorisation that must be applied for online before entering Kenya. It also allows you to stay in the country for up to 72 hours, and is ideal for travellers who wish to leave the airport transit zone during their stopover. The cost of the ETA is generally a little higher than that of the old transit visa, at around USD 50. However, this price may vary slightly depending on the service provider through which the application is made.
It is important to note that the ETA is only required if you are leaving the international area of the airport during your stopover. If you are staying in the transit area, you do not need an ETA or a visa. In all cases, it is advisable to apply in advance to avoid any inconvenience on arrival in Kenya. The ETA makes it easier to enter the country for transit purposes, while offering a modern and practical alternative to the old transit visa.
Adeline HARMANT
As a web writer and globetrotter with a passion for travel and tourism, I have acquired in-depth knowledge of the procedures that are essential for travellers. I help travellers to complete all the formalities required for a successful trip, particularly when it comes to obtaining a visa online. With several years' experience in this field, I'd like to offer you some valuable advice to help you discover the world with complete peace of mind.
As the transit visa will only allow you to stay in Kenya for 72 hours, or 3 consecutive days, the price of the visa will of course be lower than a regular tourist visa. However, the price of the transit visa may vary from one site to another and we recommend that you choose carefully the service provider through which you will apply for this visa in order to pay a reasonable fee.
There is a difference between a stopover and a transit in terms of visa requirements. A stopover may be a simple stop of your aircraft in a Kenyan airport or a change of flight in the airport, without leaving the international zone, whereas a transit may require an exit from the airport and therefore an entry into Kenya. A visa will therefore only be required for a transit and not for a stopover.
In the same way as for the tourist visa, the transit visa for Kenya will only be compulsory for minors from the age of 16. Minors under the age of 16 are indeed exempt from visas for this country but must have their own individual passport.
