Kenya Visa for UAE Residents: The eTA, Who Is Exempt, Fees, Documents and Safari Tips

The short answer: Kenya no longer issues tourist visas. Instead, almost every UAE resident needs an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before flying, including Emiratis and Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals. Egyptians are the exception: since May 2025 they can visit for up to 60 days without one. You apply online at etakenya.go.ke for around USD 30 to 35. Approval usually takes three working days, and Immigration advises applying at least two weeks before you travel. The eTA is single-entry and allows a stay of up to 90 days.

Nairobi and Mombasa are about five hours' non-stop flight from Dubai, which puts the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and the Indian Ocean coast within a long weekend's reach. Here is what each group of UAE residents needs.

Kenya visa for UAE residents at a glance

Question	Answer (October 2026)
Emirati passport	eTA before travel
India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka	eTA before travel
Egypt	No eTA, up to 60 days
Where to apply	Online only, at etakenya.go.ke
Fee	Around USD 30 to 35, plus USD 100 for the urgent service
Processing	Usually 3 working days; apply 2 weeks ahead
Stay	Single entry, up to 90 days; enter within 90 days of approval

Who needs a Kenya eTA

The eTA replaced Kenya's visas in January 2024, and everyone needs one unless they are on the exempt list. That list is decided by passport, not by where you live, so your UAE residence makes no difference.

• Emiratis: eTA required. No Gulf country is on Kenya's exempt list.
• Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals: eTA required, on the same terms as everyone else.
• Egyptians: exempt. In May 2025, Kenya widened its exemptions to many African countries, Egypt included, for stays of up to 60 days.

Kenya's exempt list also includes the East African Community countries and around 50 others, such as South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia. If you hold a second passport, check whether it is on the list on etakenya.go.ke.

How to apply

1. Book your flights and accommodation first. The form asks for both.
2. Apply at etakenya.go.ke, the official portal run by Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services.
3. Upload your documents and pay by card.
4. Wait for approval by email, usually within three working days, and carry a copy when you fly.

Apply only on the official site. Many paid websites offer to apply for you, and Kenya's eTA portal warns that applications made through third parties are denied.

Documents

• Passport valid at least six months, with at least one blank page
• A photo or selfie
• Your email address and phone number
• Your itinerary, with arrival and departure flights
• Accommodation booking, or an invitation letter and address if you are staying with friends or family
• A debit or credit card for the fee

Every traveller needs their own eTA, including children, even when you travel as a family. Business, medical and work trips need extra documents, such as an invitation letter or a hospital referral.

Fees, processing time and validity

• Fee: the eTA site says standard processing "starts at $30". Gulf News and other guides put the total at about USD 34 once the bank charge is added. Check the total at checkout.
• Urgent service: an extra USD 100, processed straight away
• Processing: usually three working days, sometimes longer
• When to apply: at least two weeks before travel, as soon as your flights and hotel are booked
• Validity: single entry. You must enter Kenya within 90 days of approval, and you can stay up to 90 days.

An eTA lets you travel; it doesn't guarantee entry. Immigration decides at the airport, so carry your return ticket and hotel or safari booking.

Yellow fever, malaria and health

• Yellow fever into Kenya: the certificate is generally required only if you arrive from, or transit through, a country with yellow fever risk. The UAE isn't one, so a direct flight from Dubai or Abu Dhabi shouldn't trigger it. Check with your airline or a travel clinic, especially if you connect through Ethiopia or another African country.
• Going on to South Africa: Kenya is on South Africa's yellow fever risk list, so South Africa will ask for a certificate if you arrive from Kenya. Get vaccinated at least ten days before you reach South Africa. See our South Africa visa guide.
• Malaria: there is a risk on the coast and in most safari areas, though less in Nairobi and the highlands. Ask a travel clinic about tablets before you go.

Safari park fees

Park fees are paid on top of the eTA and are usually included in a safari package. They changed in 2025. The Maasai Mara is run by Narok County, which sets its own fees and charges more from July to December. Fee increases for the national parks run by the Kenya Wildlife Service, such as Amboseli and Tsavo, were suspended by a court in October 2025. Ask your safari operator for the current fees before you pay.

Flights from the UAE

• Dubai to Nairobi: Emirates, flydubai and Kenya Airways, in about five hours
• Dubai to Mombasa: flydubai, daily, in about five and a half hours
• Abu Dhabi to Nairobi: Etihad, in about five hours

Schedules change by season, so check with the airline before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE residents need a visa for Kenya?

Not a visa, but most need an eTA. Emiratis and Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals apply online at etakenya.go.ke before they fly. Egyptians can visit for up to 60 days without one.

How much is the Kenya eTA from Dubai?

Around USD 30 to 35. The official site says standard processing starts at USD 30, and guides put the total at about USD 34 including the bank charge. The urgent service costs an extra USD 100.

How long does a Kenya eTA take?

Usually three working days. Immigration advises applying at least two weeks before you travel, and the urgent service processes it straight away for an extra fee.

Do Emiratis need an eTA for Kenya?

Yes. No Gulf country is on Kenya's exempt list, so Emiratis apply online like other visitors, and can stay up to 90 days.

Do Indians in Dubai need a Kenya eTA?

Yes. Ordinary Indian passports aren't exempt, so Indian nationals apply online at etakenya.go.ke with their passport, photo, itinerary and hotel booking.

Do I need a yellow fever vaccine for Kenya from Dubai?

Generally not on a direct flight, because the UAE isn't a yellow fever country. You need one if you arrive from or transit through a risk country, and South Africa will ask for one if you go on there from Kenya.

Planning a trip to Kenya

Three nights in the Maasai Mara is the classic short safari from the UAE; add Amboseli for views of Kilimanjaro, or a few days on the coast at Diani. The Mara's wildebeest migration is usually at its peak between July and October. See Kenya visa services for help with your eTA, browse holiday packages, or talk to us about flights, lodges and safaris.

Related guides

• South Africa visa from Dubai
• Egypt visa for UAE residents
• Morocco visa for UAE residents
• Visa-free countries for UAE residents

Last checked 9 October 2026 against Kenya's official eTA portal, the Kenya High Commission in London, Kenya's 2025 eTA exemption list, South Africa's yellow fever guidance, reporting on Kenya's 2025 park fee changes and airline schedules. This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current requirements on etakenya.go.ke before you apply or travel.