If you’re traveling to Kenya with an eTA, it’s important to understand the validity period of your travel permit. You must use your eTA to enter Kenya within this validity, and not before or after.
The following page explains how long a Kenya online travel authorization is valid for, and other important information.
What Is the Validity Period of a Kenya eTA?
The validity of a Kenya eTA is 90 days. This means that you must enter Kenya within 90 days of receiving the approved permit. If you do not enter the country within this time period, the eTA becomes invalid and a new online application must be made.
For this reason, it's advisable to apply for a Kenya eTA once the approximate arrival date is known.
When completing the eTA form, you must provide the expected date of arrival in Kenya. If the date is several months in the future, the application will be put on hold and processed closer to the expected arrival date.
You can go ahead and apply for an eTA as soon as you know your travel plans. It's not essential to know the exact date of arrival. However, it must fall within the 90-day validity period of the eTA.
How to Check the Validity of a Kenya eTA
Travelers can check the validity of a Kenya visa waiver by looking at the issue date printed on the approved document. The Kenya eTA validity period is from the date shown until exactly 90 days later.
Maximum Length of Stay in Kenya with the eTA
Note: Maximum length of stay and validity are not the same. The validity period is how long you can use your eTA to enter the country, while length of stay is how long you can stay in Kenya once you’ve entered.
Visitors can stay in Kenya with an eTA for up to 90 consecutive days. The Kenya eTA is a single-entry permit.
Once the traveler leaves Kenya, the eTA expires and cannot be used to reenter, even if they did not use the entire 90-day allowance. A new Kenya eTA must be obtained before returning.
How to Extend the Maximum Length of Stay in Kenya
For most tourists, the 90-day allowance is sufficient to enjoy many of the country’s highlights.
However, foreigners who do wish to stay for longer have the opportunity to request an eTA extension.
The Kenya eTA can be extended once for up to 90 days, bringing the total stay in Kenya to 180 days.
Kenya eTA extension requests must be made at the main immigration offices in Kenya. The offices are located in Nairobi and Mumbai. It is not possible to apply for an extension online or before traveling to the African nation.
A Kenya eTA extension is not guaranteed. Whenever possible, eTA applicants should make sure all their planned activities fit within the original 90-days.
Visitors who depart the country may apply for another Kenya eTA online and return with the new permit for another 90 days.