Home Arrow FAQs Arrow What are the ports of entry in Kenya?

What are the ports of entry in Kenya?

There are various official ports of entry into Kenya through which travellers can enter or leave the country. These are international airports, seaports, and land border crossings. In order to enter the country, all foreign travellers should enter the country at one of these specified points and undergo immigration and customs control, regardless of whether they carry an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visa.

1. International Airports (Airports of Entry)

The most common entry points for tourists visiting Kenya include airports. The major foreign airports are:

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) – Nairobi

This is the largest and busiest airport in Kenya, and the long-haul international flights are made in this place, situated in the capital city, Nairobi.

Moi International Airport (MBA) – Mombasa

It is located on the Kenyan coast, which is one of the important entry points for tourists to beach resorts, and it also does cargo flights.

Kisumu International Airport (KIS) – Kisumu

It is one of the officially gazetted international airports in Kenya, and it caters to the regional and some cross-border flights, located in the west of Kenya, and it is close to Lake Victoria.

Eldoret International Airport (EDL)

It is also an international airport that is recognised and operates passenger and cargo movements in the Rift Valley area.

2. Seaports (Maritime Ports of Entry)

Kenya has an extensive coastline on the Indian Ocean that sees it as a significant maritime centre in East Africa. There are a number of official seaports (maritime ports of entry) to the country through which international trade as well as movement of passengers is encouraged.

Port of Mombasa (Kilindini/Old Port), Mombasa County

Port of Mombasa is the largest and busiest seaport in East Africa, situated in Mombasa County. It manages the majority of imports and exports in Kenya, such as petroleum products, machines, vehicles, and agricultural products. Run by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Mombasa Port is also an important point of entry to the landlocked neighboring states like Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lamu Port, Lamu County

The other maritime gateway is the Lamu Port, which is a contemporary deep-sea port that has been developed as part of the LAPSSET Corridor Project. It aims to enhance trade routes between Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, which encourage regional integration and economic development.

Kenya also has several smaller maritime and lake ports—such as Kisumu Pier on Lake Victoria and Shimoni jetty—that mainly support local trade, fishing activities, and regional transport rather than serving as major international entry points. These smaller ports are involved in local trade, fishing activities, and transportation of people in the region. Collectively, the seaports constitute an important section of the Kenyan transport network, aiding tourism, commerce, and international logistics in East Africa.

3. Land Border Crossings

Kenya has five neighbors whose shared land borders with Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Somalia, and therefore, it is a major trading, tourism, and movement centre of East Africa. There are also a number of official entry ports into the country by land that are guarded by immigration, customs, and border control officers to make legal and smooth traveling possible.

The main border crossings include:

  • Namanga (Kenya-Tanzania border): One of the busiest One Stop Border Posts (OSBP) through which travel can be made between Nairobi, Arusha, and the Amboseli National Park.
  • Busia/Malaba (boundary between Kenya and Uganda): The key trade and travel pathways between Kenya and Kampala, as well as other regions of Uganda
  • Moyale (Kenya, Ethiopia border): This is a major point of transit of goods and passengers between Nairobi and Addis Ababa
  • Nadapal (Kenya, South Sudan border): It accommodates humanitarian and business traffic between the two nations.
  • Liboi (Kenya - Somalia border): This one generally does not operate as a regular civilian border crossing due to ongoing security concerns, and access—when permitted—is typically restricted to official or controlled movements.

Isebania, Taveta–Holili, and Lungalunga–Horohoro are also major official border posts that handle significant regional trade and passenger movement. The economy of Kenya depends greatly on these land borders as they aid in cross-border trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, and at the same time, Kenya has great border security and control.

Conclusion

Kenya’s ports of entry—by air, sea, and land—form an extensive network that supports international trade, tourism, and mobility. Before coming, ensure you enter through a port that is officially assigned and meets all the immigration standards. As a rule, it is necessary to always update a list of active ports and always use a valid entry point in your travel route. 

Related Articles

View more Arrow
Expand your online sales through an all-in-one live chat app.
COOKIE SETTINGS