Kenya visa for Nepali

Do Nepali citizens need a visa for Kenya?

Nepali citizens do not need a traditional visa for Kenya. Kenya abolished visas for all nationalities on 1 January 2024. Instead, every traveller, including Nepali passport holders flying out of Kathmandu, must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation, known as an eTA, online before departure. You cannot board your flight or enter Kenya without an approved eTA linked to your passport.

The eTA is a digital travel permission that replaces the old visa sticker. It is applied for on the official Kenyan government portal, it is tied to one passport, and it is approved before you fly. An approved eTA is permission to travel only. The final decision on whether you may enter Kenya is made by the immigration officer at the airport when you land.

For a family or group booking from Nepal, every member needs a separate eTA, including infants and children. You can apply together by choosing 'Apply as a Group' on the portal, but each person still needs their own eTA. Always confirm current requirements before you travel, as government rules can change.

What is the Kenya eTA and which types exist?

The Kenya eTA is an online authorisation issued by the Directorate of Immigration Services. It confirms that a traveller has been screened and cleared to travel to Kenya for a specific purpose and period. For most Nepali tourists and honeymooners heading on safari, the standard single-entry tourist eTA is the one you will use. There are, however, a few categories worth knowing so you request the right one.

Because Kenya now runs an eTA system rather than several visa stickers, the honest comparison below is between the eTA categories themselves. Choose the type that matches your trip, whether that is a single safari, repeat business travel, a short airport connection, or a regional East Africa loop. Confirm the exact terms on the official portal at the time you apply, as validity and stay conditions are set by Kenyan authorities.

Note that an East African Tourist Visa is a regional permit administered jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, and it is applied for and administered differently from the standard Kenya eTA. If your plan is a pure Kenya safari, the single-entry tourist eTA is normally all you need. Confirm the current category rules before booking.

How to apply for the Kenya eTA online

The Kenya eTA is applied for entirely online at the official portal, etakenya.go.ke. There is no paper form and no need to visit an embassy. From Kathmandu you can complete the whole process from a laptop or phone. The steps are straightforward, but accuracy matters because the eTA is matched to your passport details and your travel dates.

1. Open the official portal at etakenya.go.ke and start a new application. Use only the government site, not lookalike websites.
2. Select the correct eTA category for your trip, such as the single-entry tourist eTA for a safari holiday.
3. Enter your personal and passport details exactly as they appear on your Nepali passport bio page.
4. Upload the required documents, including a clear passport bio page scan and a compliant photo.
5. Provide your travel details, including your confirmed return or onward flight and your accommodation in Kenya.
6. Review every field carefully, submit the application, and complete the required online steps.
7. Wait for the approval, which arrives by email, then print or save a copy to carry with you.

If you would rather not handle the portal yourself, our team at Gomayu Holidays in Kathmandu can prepare and submit the full family application for you, check every document, and track the approval so nothing is missed before you fly.

Documents and proof to carry for the Kenya eTA

Prepare your documents before you start the application so the process is quick. The core requirement is a valid Nepali passport with at least six months validity beyond your planned arrival date and at least one blank page. Missing or unclear documents are the most common reason an application is delayed, so gather everything first.

• Passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival, with at least one blank page.
• Clear colour scan of your passport bio page.
• A selfie or passport-type photo.
• Confirmed return or onward flight ticket.
• Travel itinerary showing your entry and exit dates.
• Accommodation proof, such as a hotel booking or an invitation letter from a host in Kenya.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate: not uploaded with the eTA, but carry the original. Kenya checks it if you arrive from a yellow fever risk country, and Nepal checks it when you fly home from Kenya.
• Proof of sufficient funds for your stay, which is advisable to carry even when it is not always requested.

The yellow fever certificate deserves special attention. Kenya asks for proof only from travellers aged one and over who arrive from a yellow fever risk country. Nepal and the Gulf hubs are not risk countries; a connection through Addis Ababa in Ethiopia is. The rule that catches Nepali travellers is the return: Kenya is itself a risk country, so Nepal requires the certificate from travellers aged nine months and over arriving from Kenya, and India can isolate passengers without one for up to six days. The certificate becomes valid 10 days after the dose and one dose is valid for life, so get vaccinated at least 10 days before you fly. Keep the original certificate with your passport for the airport check.

How long can you stay in Kenya and can you extend?

The Standard eTA allows one entry. Your length of stay is decided by immigration on arrival. For most Nepali holidaymakers, a safari and beach trip fits comfortably inside this window.

Remember the difference between validity and stay. The eTA validity means your travel to Kenya must take place within 90 days of the date the eTA is issued. The stay is the separate period of up to 90 days that you are permitted to remain once you have entered. A single-entry eTA covers one visit, so a fresh eTA is required each time you return.

If you need to remain in Kenya beyond the period granted on arrival, extensions are handled inside Kenya through the immigration authorities, subject to their approval. Do not overstay, as this can create problems at departure and on future applications. If you expect repeat travel, the One Year Multi-Entry eTA (USD 300) may suit you better. Confirm current extension rules with the Kenyan authorities before you rely on them.

The entry process at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Most flights from Kathmandu reach Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, usually with one connection through a Gulf or regional hub. Your journey routes out of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and onward to Nairobi, so keep your documents together for the arrival checks. Having everything ready makes the immigration line faster.

1. Have your approved eTA printout or digital copy ready, along with your Nepali passport.
2. Keep your return or onward ticket, accommodation proof, and yellow fever certificate accessible.
3. Proceed to the immigration desk, where the officer verifies your eTA and travel purpose.
4. Answer questions about your stay honestly, including where you are staying and for how long.
5. Receive your entry endorsement, which sets the number of days you may remain.
6. Collect your baggage and clear customs before meeting your safari transfer or guide.

Because admissibility is decided on arrival, treat the eTA as your permission to board and travel, not as a guaranteed entry. Carrying complete, matching documents is the surest way to a smooth arrival in Nairobi.

Common mistakes Nepali travellers should avoid

• Applying on an unofficial lookalike website instead of the government portal at etakenya.go.ke.
• Entering passport details that do not exactly match the Nepali passport bio page.
• Leaving the application to the last minute and missing the minimum lead time before travel.
• Forgetting that infants and children each need their own separate eTA.
• Travelling without a valid yellow fever certificate when it is required for your route.
• Uploading a blurred passport scan or a photo that does not meet the format rules.
• Assuming the eTA guarantees entry, when admissibility is decided by the officer on arrival.
• Booking non-refundable flights before the eTA is approved.

Each of these is easy to avoid with a little planning. A quick review of your details before you submit saves the stress of a delayed approval close to your Dashain or Tihar departure.

Tips for diaspora and NRN travellers

Non-resident Nepalis and diaspora travellers holding a Nepali passport follow the same eTA process as travellers departing from Kathmandu. What changes is your point of departure and any connecting rules along your route. Apply using your Nepali passport details, and make sure that passport still has at least six months validity beyond your arrival in Kenya.

If you hold a different passport or a residence permit from another country, check the entry rules that apply to that document, since conditions can differ. Diaspora families travelling together should still submit an individual eTA for every member, and should confirm the yellow fever requirement both for the country they are flying from and for the country they fly home to after Kenya. When in doubt, our Kathmandu team can advise on the right documents for a mixed-passport family.

When to apply for your Kenya eTA

Apply at least 2 weeks before travel. Processing is generally 3 business days, possibly longer. Expedited (immediate) processing is available for an extra USD 100.

For peak Nepali travel windows around Dashain and Tihar, demand for flights and safari lodges is high, so book your trip early and apply for the eTA as soon as your dates and flights are confirmed. A good rhythm is to book the holiday around three months ahead, secure your yellow fever vaccination, then submit the eTA once your tickets are ticketed. This order keeps every requirement comfortably inside its deadline.

Prepare before booking your Kenya trip

• Check that your Nepali passport has at least six months validity and a blank page.
• Arrange your yellow fever vaccination early so the certificate is valid in time.
• Confirm your return or onward flight and your Kenya accommodation before you apply.
• Keep digital copies of your passport, photo, tickets, and certificate ready to upload.
• Apply for one eTA per traveller, including every child and infant in the group.
• Carry proof of sufficient funds for your stay, even if it is not always requested.
• Save your approved eTA and print a copy for the airport.

Sorting these out before you commit to non-refundable bookings protects your plans. Our team can run this checklist with you and plan the trip end to end.

Safari and travel tips for Kenya

Kenya is one of the great safari destinations, and for many Nepali couples and families it is a bucket-list trip. The Maasai Mara is famous for big cats and, between roughly July and October, the wildebeest migration. Amboseli offers elephants against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, while Lake Nakuru is known for flamingos and rhinos. Coastal Mombasa and Diani add warm Indian Ocean beaches for honeymooners.

The best game-viewing months are generally the drier seasons, and these also overlap well with the autumn travel window from Nepal. Pack light neutral clothing, sun protection, insect repellent, and any personal medicines, and follow your lodge and guide on wildlife safety. English and Swahili are the main languages, so Nepali travellers who speak English will communicate easily. For a smooth first safari, an organised package with airport transfers, park entries, and a trusted guide takes the pressure off, and Gomayu can plan the itinerary, arrange the eTA, and support you before and during the trip.