Kenya eTA Guide 2027: Step-by-Step for US/UK/EU Citizens

As of 2024, Kenya is a visa-free country. However, this doesn't mean you can just walk in.

Every foreign traveler (including babies!) must now apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before boarding their flight. Airlines strictly check this.

1. Go to the Official Site: Only use [etakenya.go.ke](https://www.etakenya.go.ke). Avoid third-party "agency" sites that charge $100+.
2. Upload Passport: You need a clear photo of the bio-data page.
3. Upload Selfie: A simple phone selfie against a white wall works.
4. Hotel Booking: You MUST upload proof of accommodation. If you are staying at Kitumo Mara, use your booking confirmation email.

Kenya entry requirements can change, so travelers should check the official eTA process before booking flights and again before departure. Names, passport numbers, travel dates, and accommodation details need to match your documents.

The mistake is leaving entry paperwork until the final days before travel. If a spelling error, passport issue, or payment problem appears, it can create stress just when you should be preparing for the trip.

For Kitumo guests, it helps to keep your accommodation confirmation, transfer plan, and contact details together before applying. Families should check every passport expiry date early, including children who may travel less often.

Use this topic as part of the full trip decision, not as a standalone detail. A strong Maasai Mara plan connects the season, number of nights, transfer method, park-fee budget, group size, meal needs, and game-drive style. When those pieces are checked together, the quote becomes much easier to understand and there are fewer surprises after arrival.

For most guests, the best next step is to ask for a total-trip view: accommodation, meals, transfers, private vehicle or shared vehicle, park fees, optional activities, and any local payments. That is the only fair way to compare a private villa, a camp, an OTA listing, and a tour-operator package. A lower headline price is useful only if the final experience still matches the safari you actually want.

Before paying a deposit, ask whether the quoted price is per person or for the whole group, whether children are charged differently, how many game drives are included, whether the vehicle is private, and what happens if arrival time makes a day-one drive unrealistic. Also ask whether transfers are priced per person or per vehicle, because that difference matters a lot for couples and small families.

It is also worth asking how close the property is to the reserve gate, whether meals are full board or all inclusive, which drinks are included, how park fees are handled, and whether the same team will help after booking. Clear answers at this stage are a good sign. Vague answers usually mean you will need to keep checking details later.