Kenya ETA for Canadian Citizens: Entry Requirements & Fees

Kenya is known as one of the most important regions in the world for early human history. The region is considered the cradle of humankind, as some of the oldest hominid fossils, dating back millions of years, have been discovered there.

As a result, it is not surprising that Kenya is such a fascinating destination. This East African country is named after Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa.

Kenya attracts visitors from around the world, not only Canadians. Tourism plays a significant role in the country’s economy, and it is a tourist destination with lots to offer.

Kenya is home to nature reserves containing elephants, giraffes, lions, and many other species.

Massive woods, paradisiacal beaches with a wonderful and tranquil atmosphere, and even towns where development is becoming more visible. Traveling to Kenya has always been a joy.

The Kenyan Government introduced the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system in January 2024, replacing visas for Canada. Currently, an ETA is REQUIRED for CANADIAN citizens who plan to visit Kenya. Citizens of Canada can use this electronic travel document to enter Kenya for several purposes for up to 90 days.

In this article, Canadian travelers can find all the necessary information about the Kenya Evisa /ETA requirements for Canadian Citizens, eTA fees, and how to apply.

What is the Kenya Evisa (currently the ETA) for Canadians citizens?

Since January 2024, Kenya has implemented a visa waiver for all travelers, regardless of their nationality. 

If you are a Canadian citizen who wants to travel to Kenya for tourism, medical reasons, or business, you can apply for a Kenya ETA online

The Kenya eTA application is completed entirely online. The form is simple to complete and submit, and it only takes a few minutes. The electronic eTA allows for a quick and simple application process that eliminates the need for travelers to visit a Kenya embassy in Canada.

Kenya evisa for Canadian citizens, known as the Kenya Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization is a semi-automated system that verifies visitors' eligibility for travel to Kenya. An eTA grants permission to travel and is issued by the Government of the Republic of Kenya. An eTA does not determine whether a traveller is allowed to enter Kenya. When travellers arrive, immigration officers will determine their admissibility.

When the Kenya visa waiver for Canadian citizens is approved,  the authorization is electronically linked to your Canadian passport. 

How long could Canadians stay in Kenya?

Kenya ETA holders with the purpose of travel, business, or visiting family and friends are allowed to stay in Kenya for up to 90 days.

Kenya eTA for Canadian citizens - How to get a Kenya eTA from Canada?

If Kenya is your connecting country to your final destination, a single transit visa will allow you to pass through without having stayed in Kenya for 72 hours.

The stay may be extended, subject to approval by Kenyan immigration authorities.

The Kenya e-visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Canadian citizens have three months to enter Kenya one time from the day they receive the approved visa.

Let’s Check Kenya Visa Requirements For Canadian Citizens

What's great about traveling to Kenya is that an eTA doesn't take much time or effort to apply online. To enter Kenya, a Canadian citizen must meet the minimum Kenya visa requirements set by the Kenyan government.

The basic Kenya visa requirements for Canadian citizens are:

• A valid Canadian passport with at least six months of validity from the date of arrival.
• Digital photograph taken within the last six months.
• Return air ticket.
• The remaining requirements depend on the type of ETA applied for.

For those who apply for a Kenya transit visa: Onward ticket. Because you will be in Kenya for less than 72 hours, you will need proof that you are traveling to another country.

For those who apply for a Kenya tourist or business visa, the itinerary, proof of the invitation to come to Kenya, and information about the place where you stay in Kenya.

Please note that you must have a valid email address to receive a Kenya ETA

Check Kenya eTA requirements for Canadian citizens

Need To Know All Types Of Kenya Visa For Canadian Citizens Currently Available

In order to enter Kenya, Canadians will need to get the appropriate Kenya visa online. Depending on their trip objective, Canadian individuals can get a variety of Kenya visa

The most common is the Kenya evisa for Canadian nationals, which may be applied for and received online before your travel. This Kenya visa waiver is valid for a maximum of 90 days and is appropriate for visitors visiting Kenya for vacation, business, medical treatment, or transit.

Currently, there are several types of Kenya ETA depending on the purpose of travel

• Kenya Tourist visa

  The Tourist visa is an excellent alternative if you wish to spend more time in Kenya. With a Tourist visa, you'll have 90 days to relax, visit friends, and enjoy Kenya's food, culture, and natural beauty.

  The Tourist visa permits you to enter Kenya once within 90 days of arrival.

• Kenya Business visa

  This is crucial for your work trip to Kenya. Canadian workers will have 90 consecutive days in this country with a Kenya business visa.

Apply Kenya Visa For Canadian Citizens Right From Your Home

Apply a Kenya eTA for Canadian citizens online

Applying for a Kenya e-visa online from Canada is a simple process. You do not need to visit the embassy, complete difficult processes, or organize a visa interview. All you need to do is visit our website, choose your destination and citizenship, and then follow these steps:

Step 1: Fill out the online form on our website, and then choose the best processing option for your Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization

Step 2: Double-check your information and proceed to payment.

Step 3: Check your provided email regularly to follow our guidelines to complete your application.

After you complete this step, you will be able to receive your Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization via email.

Learn More About Kenya Visa /ETA Fees For Canadian Citizens

You will pay two types of Kenya e-visa fees when applying for a Kenya visa online from Canada: the Service Fee and the Government Fee. The method of payment can be: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, and wire transfer.

The cost of your Kenya visa also varies depending on the processing timeframe you choose for your application. If you are in urgent need of entering Kenya, we have a special team to support you in getting the Kenya ETA on time. In Particular, you can receive your e-visa within 24 hours or even 5 business hours. In exchange, you will pay an amount of the corresponding fee.

In addition, Kenya Immigration Services currently also provides other package services to assist Canadian citizens while traveling to Kenya, such as Kenya travel insurance, Car pick-up service in Kenya, and Kenya eSim.

Learn about Kenya eTA fees for Canadian citizens

Canadian citizens may contact the Kenyan embassy in Canada for additional information if needed.

Normally, the Kenyan consulate/embassy office in Canada is open Monday to Friday.

Kenya consulate and embassy office hours in Canada

• From Monday to Friday
• Morning: 09.00 - 12.30
• Afternoon: 13:30 - 16:00.

Consulate of the Republic of Kenya in Ottawa, Canada

• Address: 415 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa, Ontario, KIN 6R4p

• On public holidays in Kenya and Canada, the Kenya consulate's offices in Canada may be closed.

Note about the Kenya Visa Waiver for Canadian citizens

• To enter Kenya, Canadian passports must be valid for at least six months.
  Please keep in mind that Canadian nationals must download and print their Kenya eTA before presenting it to Kenya Immigration agents upon arrival.

Kenya Visa Requirements for Canada Citizens FAQs

How much is a Kenya visa from Canada?

To enter Kenya, Canadian citizens must obtain a visa before departing. Canadian travelers can apply for a visa online to Kenya which is more convenient and cost-effective than a traditional one. Canadian applicants must pay the Kenya visa fee before sending their application in for evaluation.

There are two different sorts of Kenya eVisa fees that Canadian nationals must pay to complete the process of applying for a visa from Canada: the Government Fee and the Service charge.

The Government fee is mandatory for all Canadian applicants who want to obtain a visa for their trip to this beautiful country. Canadian travelers should notice that the Government charge varies for the four distinct forms of Kenya eVisa. For instance, Canadian nationals requiring a Kenyan tourist or business visa must pay US$ 95.00 for the Government fee, while those applying for a Kenyan transit visa must pay US$ 65.00 for this fee and $150.00 for the East Africa visa.

The service fee, on the other hand, is charged depending on the processing timeframe that Canadian citizens choose for their visa application. In most cases, Canadian nationals can get their Kenya eVisa within 03 business days and they have to pay $59.00 for the service fee. For travelers who want to receive their visa sooner, within 24 hours, they need to pay an additional $79.00. Kenya Immigration Service also provides rush visa services that are suitable for Canadian residents who need their visa in just 05 hours with a fee of additional $99.00.

Does a Canadian Need a Visa to Visit Kenya?

NO. Canadian citizens who want to visit Kenya must obtain an ETA before traveling because they are on the exemption list of Kenya visas. To expedite and simplify the visa application process, the Kenyan Government has launched an electronic travel authorization system for many countries in the world, including Canada. Travelers from Canada now can apply for a Kenya ETA from anywhere using a smart device that is connected to the Internet. .

If you are a citizen of Canada, you can take advantage of an electronic travel authorization to travel to Kenya for tourism, medical, or business reasons. The visa application process is completed entirely online and takes you a maximum of 15 minutes. 

Kenya ETA for Canadian citizens is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance and divided into 3 categories:

• Tourist ETA: This is a single entry visa issued to Canadian travelers whose purpose of the visit is to enjoy the landscapes and culture in Kenya. It permits a 90-day stay from the arrival date and can be extended. 
• Business ETA: granted for Canadian nationals who want to visit Kenya for business purposes. Holders of this visa can enter the country once and stay there for up to 90 days from the date of entry.
• Transit ETA: Transiting through Kenya en route to other destinations is possible with transit ETA. Canadian citizens can have a 03-day layover in Kenya and explore what this country has to offer. 

 

What to do after receiving the Kenya eVisa for Canadians?

 Once the visa is granted, it will be sent to the applicant’s email address provided in the application form. Canadian citizens should download and print out their Kenya eVisa after receiving it because the Immigration Officer at a border checkpoint may ask them to present their valid visa along with their passport upon arrival. 

They can enter Kenya legally using their eVisa for various reasons including tourism, conducting short-term business, or transit through Kenya. The validity of a Kenya eVisa is within 90 days from the issued date, with only a single entry into the country. Holders of a valid eVisa can remain in Kenya for up to 90 days from the arrival date. 

 

Canadian nationals are also recommended to purchase travel insurance after they get their visa to Kenya. This travel insurance is essential while they are traveling abroad, offering up to US$ 50,000.00 (Fifty thousand US Dollars) for Covered Expenses. Kenya Travel Health Insurance will offer affordable emergency protection for medical, transportation, or trip interruption should unexpected occurrences happen during their Kenya trip. Covid-19 medical treatment expenses are also covered in this insurance so that Canadian citizens can alleviate the fear of being infected with Covid in Kenya. 

How long does it take to get a Kenyan visa from Canada?

 Online Kenyan visa applications are simple and speedy. Canadian nationals just need to spend about 15 minutes completing the application form, providing some visa details and personal information. Before proceeding to the payment section, applicants should revise all the data provided in the form. This step is essential as any mistakes or unmatched information may be the causes of the delays or even cancellation of the visa application process. 

To make sure that Canadian tourists get their eVisa to enter Kenya on time, they should submit the visa application at least 07 days before their departure. If Canadian travelers apply for a Kenya visa on the Kenya Immigration Service website, they can select one of three processing options for their visa application. 

• Normal processing time: Most Canadian applicants go for this option because it is the cheapest visa service available. With this option, they will get their visa within 03 business days. 
• Urgent: Canadians who do not have much time waiting for a Kenya eVisa should choose this option. The processing time for their visa is in 24 hours. 
• Super Urgent: If Canadian nationals use this service, they can obtain their e-Visa result in just 05 hours.

The Kenya eVisa for Canadians will be sent to the email address of the applicant when it is issued. 

in what situation do i need a kenya transit visa from canada

A Kenya transit visa is granted to Canadian citizens who connect through Kenya to other countries for a period of no longer than 72 hours. This is a single entry visa and cannot be extended. There is no requirement to obtain a transit visa for those staying in the airport and waiting for the connecting flights. 

Canadian travelers can have a 03-day trip in Kenya to explore some attractive destinations and learn more about Kenya's culture using this type of visa. To apply for a Kenya transit visa, Canadian citizens must follow the 03-step visa application process: 

• Step 1: Fill in the application form with some essential information: visa details and personal information. 
• Step 2: Double check all the information provided to ensure that Canadian travelers entered the accurate details. After that, make an online payment for the transit visa fee using electronic payment methods (PayPal, American Express, Debit/ Credit Card) or Wire Transfer (transaction via the Bank of Cyprus). 
• Step 3: Submit the visa application. Canadian travelers will get their transit eVisa in a maximum of 03 business days if they provide the correct information and enough required documents (passport, photo, and an onward flight ticket after 3 days). They should have a visa printout before departing to present to the Immigration Officer upon arrival. 

Our Commitment to Reliable Visa Information

At www.kenyaimmigration.org, we are committed to delivering information that is accurate, transparent, and dependable. Each piece of visa-related content published on our website undergoes careful review to maintain consistency and integrity.

We do not rely on unofficial or third-party materials. To ensure accuracy, all references are drawn from publicly available resources issued by official Kenyan government authorities.

Sources:

• Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya): https://immigration.go.ke
• eCitizen Kenya Portal: https://www.ecitizen.go.ke
• Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs: https://www.mfa.go.ke

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