PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Kenya

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans don't need a visa for Kenya.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 90 days per visit.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    The eTA exemption is drafted by nationality and period, not limited to tourism in the published text; business visits are generally treated as visitor travel. Any work requires a work permit. Confirm business-visit scope with the High Commission if in doubt.

  • Passport validity

    At least 6 months beyond arrival date, with at least 1 blank page (eTA portal FAQ); UK FCDO says at least 2 blank pages. Carry 2 blank pages to be safe.

  • How to apply

    No application needed for South Africans for stays up to 90 days. The only official eTA portal is etakenya.go.ke (fees for those who need it: USD 30 standard, USD 20 transit). Ignore third-party 'Kenya eTA' sites that charge South Africans for an authorisation they no longer need.

  • Where South Africans apply

    Not applicable for visits up to 90 days. For longer stays or permits: Kenya High Commission, Pretoria, or the Directorate of Immigration Services in Kenya (immigration.go.ke).

  • Travel insurance

    In flux. A Health Ministry Gazette Notice (signed July 2026) required non-Kenyans visiting for under 12 months to hold travel health insurance with at least USD 50,000 cover; the High Court (Justice F. R. Olel) suspended its implementation by interim orders around 25 August 2026, with a hearing set for 16 September 2026. Outcome of that hearing not confirmed in sources checked. Not currently enforced as far as found; buy cover anyway.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    Kenya: yellow fever certificate required if arriving from a yellow-fever transmission-risk country (FCDO); not required for a direct trip from South Africa. South Africa: Kenya IS on South Africa's yellow fever risk list, so South Africans (and everyone over 1 year) returning from Kenya, or transiting Kenya for more than 12 hours, must present a valid yellow fever certificate on arrival back in South Africa (vaccinate at least 10 days before travel). Ebola-related enhanced health screening was in place at Kenyan entry points per FCDO (Sept 2026).

  • Arrival forms

    The eTA portal states that all travellers must submit information prior to departure, but its exemption pages and the 2025 rules exempt South Africans from the eTA itself; no separate pre-arrival form for exempt nationals was found. Re-check the portal before travel.

  • Transit

    Passengers in transit who do not leave the airport precincts are exempt from the eTA. Transit eTA fee (for those who need one) is USD 20.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Republic of Kenya, Electronic Travel Authorisation portal (Official, etakenya.go.ke) https://etakenya.go.ke/general-information
  2. 2. Embassy of the Republic of Kenya, Washington DC (Official, kenyaembassydc.org) https://kenyaembassydc.org/eta/
  3. 3. Republic of Kenya, Electronic Travel Authorisation portal (Official, etakenya.go.ke) https://etakenya.go.ke/faqs
  4. 4. Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya (Official, immigration.go.ke) https://immigration.go.ke/
  5. 5. UK FCDO (updated 2026-09-04) (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya/entry-requirements
  6. 6. DIRCO, South African High Commission Canberra (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
  7. 7. Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (law firm) (Commercial, cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com) https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/en/news/publications/2025/Sectors/Immigration-Law/immigration-law-alert-24-july-kenya-Kenya-amends-immigration-rules-broadens-eTA-exemptions-for-African-and-other-nationals
  8. 8. The EastAfrican (News and guides, theeastafrican.co.ke) https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business-tech/kenya-imposes-travel-insurance-on-visitors-5549798
  9. 9. The EastAfrican (2026-08-25) (News and guides, theeastafrican.co.ke) https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/kenya-court-suspends-mandatory-visitor-health-insurance-5570010
  10. 10. VisasUpdate (News and guides, visasupdate.com) https://www.visasupdate.com/post/kenya-drops-eta-african-nationals-insurance-suspended-2026

From doineedavisa.co.za/kenya. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.