As of 01 January 2021, all foreign citizens wishing to travel to Kenya will need an eVisa, except citizens from countries who are exempt. A full list of the exempt countries can be found here: evisa.go.ke/eligibility.html.  From this date, you can no longer obtain a visa on arrival.

You can apply for your eVisa online via the eVisa portal www.ecitizen.go.ke/evisa.html. Please ensure that you apply at least 3-4 weeks prior to your travel dates as approval for the eVisa takes up to 7 working days to process. Once the eVisa is issued, it is valid for 3 months. You must print a copy of your visa to present to the Immigration Officer at your point of entry.

The following eVisa types are available (please note there are no visa fees for children under the age of 16) - all costs subject to change:

Single Entry - Allows you to enter into Kenya once - current cost USD 51.

Transit - Allows a short stop over (up to 3 days/72 hours) in Kenya - current cost USD 21. This is ideal if you want to leave the secure area of the airport, for example for an overnight stay inbetween flights, or for a period not exceeding 72 hours. No visa is required for a direct transit (not leaving the secure area of the airport, aka staying ‘airside’, within the airport terminal) between 2 flights.

It is also possible to get an East Africa Tourist Visa which is valid for 90 days and allows holders to travel to and within Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda - current cost USD 100 per person (subject to change) - you can apply for this via your local Embassy.

Your passport should also be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Kenya. Make sure you have 2 blank pages in your passport on arrival.

You are advised to contact your doctor or clinic around 4-8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations and to get their professional medical advice regarding travel to Kenya.

To help prevent diarrhoea, avoid tap water – drink only bottled water and use bottled water for tooth brushing, and avoid ice made with tap water – and only eat fruit or vegetables that are cooked or can be peeled.

To help avoid heatstroke, drink plenty of bottled water/fluids, and keep out of the midday sun.

There is a risk of malaria in all areas of Kenya, except Nairobi and the highlands - check with your doctor about suitable antimalarial tablets. Dengue fever can also be transmitted via mosquito bites. Try to avoid mosquito bites wherever possible - wear loose long-sleeved clothing and trousers, and use a repellent on clothing and exposed skin.

Kenya falls into the yellow fever region in Africa. There is only a low potential for exposure to yellow fever in Nairobi, Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and Shimba Hills National Park, but in the rest of the country there is a higher risk. It is therefore advisable for all travellers aged 9 months and older to obtain a yellow fever vaccination no less than 10 days prior to travel, but depending on the rest of your travel plans and country of origin, it is not compulsory:

Travellers from the UK who are only travelling directly to and from Kenya are currently not required to produce a vaccination certificate upon their return to the UK but this can change with no notice so do please check with your doctor and take their advice

If you are arriving into Kenya from a country which has a risk of yellow fever transmission, you will be required to provide a certificate of your vaccination upon entry into Kenya. These countries include Angola, Argentina, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Peru, Rwanda, Uganda and Venezula but it is up to the traveller to check the full list here https://www.who.int/health-topics/yellow-fever

Certain countries including South Africa and Tanzania will deny entry if you are arriving from Kenya without the vaccination. Please ensure you check the full list here https://www.who.int/health-topics/yellow-fever to see which countries impose this rule.

If your doctor advises that it is not safe for you to have the vaccination then you should obtain a medical waiver and travel with this instead.

English is the common commercial language, therefore it is spoken in the major towns and at all lodges and hotels. There are 52 tribes in Kenya, each with their own tribal language. The national language in Kenya is Swahili.

We would ask that all travellers are respectful of the local culture as follows:

Showing anger is not acceptable – Kenyan people pride themselves on their emotional control and expect the same in others. Try to remain patient, polite and friendly, even if the situation is very frustrating. Pointing with your finger at someone is considered very rude and is deemed to be an obscene gesture.

The coastal areas are predominantly Muslim so it is important to dress conservatively out of respect for the Muslim culture. On the beaches and within the confines of hotels, normal swimwear is acceptable but nudity/topless sunbathing is not. Away from beach resorts (especially in Mombasa, during the holy month of Ramadan or if you visit religious areas), women should avoid walking around in public areas displaying their legs and upper arms/shoulders - ‘short’ shorts, mini skirts, vests and tank tops may be frowned upon and viewed as a sign of disrespect. Long, loose hair is also seen as very provocative, so to avoid unwanted attention ladies may wish to tie their hair back or wear a headscarf.

Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya. Whilst everyone is of course entitled to their own sexual preferences and gender identity, we would advise all clients of the LGBT+ community to refrain from public displays of affection (including kissing and holding hands) and to be as discrete as possible about their relationship.

You should always ask permission before taking anyone’s photograph, or before photographing official buildings including Embassies.

Smoking in all public places (except in designated areas) is prohibited.

You must carry a form of ID with you at all times. A copy of your passport is normally acceptable, but recently some police officers have been insisting on the original document.