If you are a Romanian citizen, traveling to Kenya is now easier than it has ever been. Kenya began offering a modern alternative to the traditional eTA in 2024. It's known as an eTA, and it's available to travelers from Romania and a variety of other countries.
A Kenya eTA for Romanian citizens is just as good as any other eTA for visiting Kenya, but it’s only half the work. Romanian travelers no longer have to visit the embassy or consulate anymore. They can get their Kenya eTA with a simple online application.
1. Kenya eTA for Romanian citizens:
The Kenya eTA is an electronic document that must be processed through an online system that the Kenyan Government has created so that all applicants can obtain it.
If you are a Romanian passport holder, you will require a eTA to travel to Kenya.
The Kenya eTA for Romanian citizens allows Romanian tourists to visit Kenya for tourism, business, medical purposes, or to visit friends and relatives.
The Kenya eTA application form is available online. This makes it simple to complete and submit for processing, saving you the time and effort of visiting your local Kenya embassy.
Romanian travelers who wish to visit Kenya for reasons other than tourism, medical care, or business, or who wish to stay for more than 90 days, must first visit a Kenyan embassy or consulate, such as the Kenyan Embassy in Romania . Officials will assist you in locating the best eTA for you.
Type of Kenya eTA:
Romanian travelers can choose the 4 following eTA types to visit Kenya:
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Kenya tourist eTA: If you intend to stay in Kenya for more than a few days, the Tourist eTA is a better option than the Transit eTA. With the Tourist eTA, you can incorporate much more of Kenya's culture into your trip. Once you've entered, you'll have 90 days to do all of the sightseeing you want. The Tourist eTA is valid for up to 90 days and is good for a single entry into Kenya
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Kenya transit eTA: The Transit eTA allows you to stay in Kenya for up to 03 days, so if you don't have much time, this is a great option. Travelers from Romania can use the Transit eTA to explore the beauty of Kenya between destinations rather than spending time in an airport.
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Kenya business eTA: allows a single entry stay of up 90 days in Kenya for business activities such as attending meetings and conferences, recruiting staff, and more.
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Do you want to visit more than one country in East Africa? The East African eTA is available to Romanian travelers. This option gives you complete access to Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda with the option to spend up to 90 days exploring them. With the East African eTA, you can enter these 03 countries as many times as you want within 03 months from the issued date and limited stay for 90 days each time.
2. Kenya eTA requirements for Romanian citizens:
What you should know right away is that the online application process is less rigorous than the one at the embassy. But that doesn't mean you can't put forth some effort. However, all you need to do is compile a few documents and information. Here are the Kenya eTA requirements for Romanian citizens:
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Valid passport – You cannot apply for a Kenya eTA online unless you have a valid passport that will be valid for at least another 6 months from the date of arrival in Kenya and 02 blank pages.
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A scan of the information page of your passport – we will ask you to upload it when you fill out the application form.
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Digital passport photo – please ensure that the photo was taken recently and that it complies with all other requirements for a valid passport photo.
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E-mail address- If you apply online, you will receive your eTA in PDF format via email. Before you leave, make sure to print at least one physical copy.
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Flight ticket – this simply indicates that you intend to return to your country of origin before your eTA expires.
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Travel plans shared. This may include submitting information about lodging, cities to be visited, and/or activities planned in the country.
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Business documents (for Business eTA): to get qualified, you need to provide an invitation letter from your company's partner in Kenya, a company COI, and your information card (staff ID/business card).
If the passports of Romanian applicants are about to expire, they must be renewed before applying for a Kenya eTA online.
Furthermore, dual nationals with multiple passports must ensure that they travel to Kenya using the same travel document that they used to request an eTA.
It is critical to remember that the Kenya eTA for Romanian citizens only serves as authorization to travel and not as permission to enter the country. This permission can only be granted after immigration officials at the border crossing have verified the visitors' travel documents.
3. How to apply for a Kenya eTA online from Romania:
Applying for a Kenya eTA for Romanian citizens is fast and simple. Travelers from Romania can get a Kenya eTA in 3 steps:
- Step 1: Fill out the online form
- Step 2: Pay the Kenya eTA fees for Romanians
- Step 3: Print out Kenya eTA for Bangladeshi citizens
Read more: How to get Kenya Online eTA
Most Romanian travelers are granted the approved permit in 05 business hours to 03 business days however travelers should allow more time in case of delays.
Applicants receive the eTA by email. They should print a copy ready to present to border officials when traveling from Romania to Kenya
4. Kenya eTA fee for Romanian citizens:
The Kenya eTA fees are determined by two factors: the processing time and eTA type. To apply for a Kenya eTA online from Romania, you have to pay two (02) kinds of eTA Fee, which are called Service Fee and Government Fee. In addition, we recommend that you should buy Kenya travel Insurance.
Regarding the Kenya service fees, you are given three options:
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Normal – the slowest option you have at hand is also the cheapest. You receive your Kenya eTA within 3 business days
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Urgent – things move a bit faster if you choose this option. Your application is processed within 24 hours
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Super Urgent – this is the most expensive option you have at hand, but the fastest as well. Your travel document is ready within just 5 hours
Payment method — You can pay for your eTA by using a debit or credit card, PayPal, eTA, Mastercard, American Express, or Wire Transfer to our HSBC bank account. To save time, have your preferred method of payment ready before you check out.
In addition, Kenya Immigration Services currently also provide other package services to assist Romanian citizens while traveling to Kenya, such as Car pick-up service in Kenya, and Kenya eSim.
Kenya Visa Requirements for Romania Citizens FAQs
Do Romanian citizens need a visa to Kenya?
Yes, Romanian citizens need a visa for entering Kenya. Notably, the eTA system deviates from the popular perception of a visa-free trip by requiring travelers (even babies and minors) to get the paperwork prior to departure. Romanian citizens can use the e-visa system to get travel documents in a few days.
Kenya eTA for Romanian citizens is a travel document that is approved by the government before a person enters Kenya. An approved Kenya ETA is valid for three months from the issue date. Once you arrive in Kenya, your stay is limited to 90 days from the entry date.
If you want to remain longer than your ETA allows, you must ask for an extension at the nearest immigration office in Kenya. Moreover, you can apply for a paper visa at Kenya Embassy for staying more than 90 days.
How many days to spend in Nairobi?
At least 4 days in Nairobi is enough for a first-time visitor. This is enough time to recover from jetlag, experience the city center and the outskirts, visit the attractions in Nairobi, go on a safari, and experience nature.
The majority of Nairobi's attractions are located outside the city center. Without sufficient information, a first-time tourist may believe there isn't much to do and see no need to remain in Nairobi.
Fortunately, everything is only a short drive from the city center, and many sites are accessible via public transport or taxi.
If you enjoy sightseeing alone, the only issue you'll have is locating the correct bus to your location. But don't worry, everyone in Nairobi knows and speaks English, so it's easy to travel around.
If you have time, you may spend up to a week in Nairobi touring different districts and doing day trips and experiencing the wildlife safaris. If you don't have much time, four days will suffice to get to know Nairobi.
What to see in Nairobi in one day?
Kenya is famous for wilderness and wildlife, Nairobi is the cosmopolitan heart. With one day in Nairobi, you may visit significant attractions such as museums and colonial-era buildings before venturing out into the surrounding wilderness. Whether you’re all about animals or interested in local history, use these tips to plan one day in Nairobi.
Moring
Follow the morning flow of local workers into the city center, as skyscrapers compete for space with historical relics. Anyone who does not live here may find it daunting, so follow a tour who can show you to essential places like Uhuru Park, the National Parliament, and the Kenya National Archives.
Afternoon
Some rescued elephants and other wildlife make their way to Nairobi orphanages, where conservationists care for them until they recover. Visiting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Giraffe Centre allows you to observe what Kenyans are doing to preserve wildlife alive; lucky visitors may also see workers bottle-feed infant animals.
Night
Nairobi National Park, just beyond the metropolitan sprawl, is home to free-roaming giraffes, lions, and black rhinos on grassy plains against the backdrop of the city skyline. It's a year-round game-drive location that you can visit between lunch and cocktail hour, and early evening is the best time to see the park at its most picturesque. After the excursion, end your day in Nairobi with the colorful performance at Carnivore Restaurant; reserve a table in advance for the fixed-price supper, which is served by sword-wielding servers dressed in character.
How to get to Amboseli National Park?
Amboseli National Park, located about a four-hour drive (240 km or 150 miles) southeast of Nairobi, is well-known for its herds of large tusked elephants.
Amboseli is a picturesque park in its own right, but it is best known for two things: majestic elephant herds and breathtaking vistas of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Amboseli, Kenya's second most popular national park after the Masai Mara National Reserve, was designated as a UNESCO-Mab Biosphere Reserve in 1991.
During severe rains, the basin in the center of the park floods, drawing a slew of species. The reserve is a good location for viewing the Big Five, as well as lesser-known and rarer animal species.
By flight
Amboseli has its own airport, Amboseli Airport, which handles domestic flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport. The flight lasts around 45 minutes to an hour.
International travelers can fly into Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and then transfer to Nairobi Wilson International Airport.
By road
Amboseli National Park is accessible by road from Nairobi. The distance between Nairobi and the park's main entry gate is approximately 230 kilometers (143 miles). The trip usually takes 4 to 5 hours, depending on road conditions and traffic. Visitors have the option of hiring a private car, driving themselves, or booking safari packages that include transportation.
There are two ways from Nairobi. The first is via Namanga, approximately 240 kilometers from Nairobi, along the Nairobi-Arusha Road, arriving at the Meshanani Gate. This takes around 4-5 hours. The second route, via Emali, takes around 3-4 hours and covers roughly 228 kilometers from Nairobi via the Nairobi-Mombasa Road. The Kimana (Olkelunyiet) Gate connects Mombasa to Tsavo West National Park.
Another alternative is to book a private shuttle or cab from Nairobi to Amboseli. You may arrange private transfers through reliable tour operators, travel agencies, or taxi services to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free ride.
By bus
Amboseli may also be accessed from Nairobi by shared taxis, known as "shuttles," which provide a cost-effective option with fares ranging from $20 to $30 per person but need a longer trip time as the cab waits to reach full capacity.
Is there direct flight from Romania to Kenya?
Currently, there are no direct flights from Romania to Kenya, and travelers need to choose connecting flights with 1 or 2 stopovers. The journey usually starts at Henri Coand International Airport in Bucharest, Otopeni, Romania and ends at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.
The distance between Romania and Kenya is approximately 5,531 kilometers and the flight time is usually about 13 hours and 20 minutes, including connections.
While there are no direct flights to Kenya, connecting flights offer convenient routes to this coastal destination. Romanian flights to Kenya usually require a stopover, so travelers have the opportunity to explore other parts of Kenya along the way.
Many airlines offer flight services from Romania to Kenya, providing travelers with a variety of options. These include Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Kenya Airways and Qatar Airways.
What to see in Nairobi City?
There will be no time to be bored while you are in Nairobi City. With safaris in the national park and visits to Maasai settlements, travelers can have the best experience when in Kenya:
- Nairobi from above: Get the greatest 360-degree views of the city from the KICC building in the city center. The rooftop offers breathtaking views for kilometers in all directions, as well as a refreshing wind.
- Wildlife: Yes, did you know you don't need to leave Nairobi to witness wildlife? Explore Nairobi National Park, the world's only national park located within a metropolis. Going on a Kenyan safari does not need a long journey from the city.
- Rothschild’s giraffe: The near-threatened giraffe species are a must-see while visiting Nairobi. Almost tough to spot in the wild, the best way to observe them is to visit a conservation facility like the Giraffe facility.
- Traditional mud houses: Curious to see what houses looked like in Kenyan communities long before modernization? A visit to the Bomas of Kenya will satisfy your needs. Some communities still live in mud houses but don’t build them like they were done in ancient times.
- Rescue Elephants and Rhinos: Elephants and rhinos are known to be very dangerous animals in the wild. While in Nairobi, you may pet and adopt one of these rescued animals from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
- Giraffe Manor: The most popular hotel in Kenya. Known for its distinctive touch, the hotel allows you to feed Rothschild giraffes via the glass. This is a fancy hotel that does not allow day passes; you must stay there to enjoy it. If you have the budget, you may include it on your list of things to do in Nairobi.
- Vintage Trains: Train enthusiasts will like the railway museum in Nairobi. Visitors may visit the train yard, see the old trains, and learn about Kenyan railway history. Train 301, which appeared in the film "Out of Africa," is on display at the museum.