Kenya recently decided to abolish all visas, including the transit visa. Instead of a visa, most travellers have to apply for a Kenya eTA, however. The eTA may be used for transiting or transferring through Kenya, but it is not always required.
Kenya transit visa has been abolished
At the end of 2023, Kenya announced to abolish the visa requirement for all travellers. President William Ruto festively declared that everyone will be able to visit the East African country easily, without having to apply for a visa beforehand. This decision received a lot of attention and was in the news around the world. The decision was implemented at the beginning of January 2024, leading to an abolishment of all Kenya visas. Since then, travellers need to apply for a Kenya eTA.
The transit visa for Kenya was also discontinued. This visa was intended for travellers arriving in Kenya by aeroplane who transferred to another flight. The transit visa allowed transit passengers to leave the airport during their stopover, so they could visit Kenya for a few days. The transit visa was only available for travellers whose connecting flight departed within 72 hours of their arrival in Kenya. Travellers were not allowed to leave the airport during their stopover, if they did not hold a transit visa.
You may need a visa or eTA for your layover in Kenya
Do I need a visa for my layover in Kenya?
If you want to travel to Kenya, you are most likely required to hold a visa or an eTA. However, an exception applies to transit travellers. Whether a traveller is eligible for the exception depends on whether they leave the so-called transit zone at the airport during their layover.
Do you stay in the transit zone at the airport? If so, your layover is not regarded as an entry to Kenya, meaning that you do not need to pass immigration at the airport. In that case, you do not need to apply for a visa or an eTA. You can easily transfer to your connecting flight with your passport and boarding pass only.
Do you leave the transit zone at the airport? If so, you have to pass immigration, which means that you need to hold a valid travel authorisation for Kenya. In that case, you have to apply for an eTA or a visa for Kenyabefore departure.
Are you unsure whether you will leave the transit zone? It may be unclear whether you have to leave the transit area of the airport during your transit or transfer. This may be necessary if you change planes at a Kenyan airport or if you have to claim and re-check your baggage. If in doubt, you are advised to contact your airline or travel organisation. If they cannot provide you with a conclusive answer, you may apply for a Kenya eTA to be sure to be allowed entry. If you arrive without the proper travel documents in Kenya, you may face problems upon arrival.
Which visa do I need for my layover in Kenya?
Kenya does not have a specific transit visa any more. Therefore, you should use a regular Kenya eTA, which you can apply for online within minutes. Please keep in mind that the average delivery time of the eTA is 3 days (for urgent applications). Therefore, you should submit your application on time. You may choose different travel purposes in the application form. Please choose the option ‘tourism’, as that will allow you to leave the airport in Kenya. Please also note that you have to submit the booking confirmation for your accommodation in Kenya.
Apply for an eTA for your layover in Kenya here
Do you travel from Kenya to another East African country? In that case, you may consider using an East Africa Visa for your layover, which allows you to visit Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. This may be cheaper than applying for separate visas for each destination.