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Kenya does not give a visa at the airport any more. Every visitor, including children, needs an approved eTA before travelling, and a UAE residence permit does not change that. We prepare and file your eTA, check your passport and booking details first, and tell you what it costs before you pay. The Kenya eTA site charges USD 30 for the standard single-entry authorisation.
What the eTA is
The Electronic Travel Authorisation is run by the Directorate of Immigration Services. The eTA site says all visitors "including infants and children" must have an approved one before the trip begins. It is valid for travel within 90 days from the date it is issued. How long you may stay is decided by the officer when you land, so the eTA is permission to travel, not a promise of a stay length.
Your UAE residence matters for one thing only: it is where you fly from. Kenya's rules look at your passport. A Filipino nurse in Abu Dhabi, an Indian engineer in Dubai and a Briton in Sharjah are all in the same position unless their passport is on an exempt list.
Fees
| eTA type | What it allows | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Transit eTA | Passing through Kenya on a connecting flight | USD 20 |
| Standard eTA | Entry into Kenya once | USD 30 |
| One Year Multi-Entry eTA | Several entries in one year | USD 300 |
| Five Year Multi-Entry eTA | American nationals only | USD 185 |
Source: Kenya eTA eligibility page (etakenya.go.ke), checked . The fee is set in US dollars. Your card issuer may convert it to dirhams at its own rate, so we do not give an AED figure.
Who does not need an eTA
The how-to-apply page lists exemptions. We read it on and the main groups are:
- Holders of Kenya permanent residence, valid work permits and passes.
- Citizens of East African Partner States (Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) for up to 180 days.
- Nationals of a list of countries for up to 90 days, including Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, Singapore, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Nationals of a list of African countries for up to 60 days, including Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal.
- Airline crew and passengers who stay inside the airport on a connection.
India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the UK and the USA are not on those lists, which are the passports we see most in the UAE. The page itself should be your final check, because lists change. Kenyans living in the UAE travel on their own passport and are covered by a separate page, Dubai visa for Kenyans, if their family need a UAE visa.
Documents
The eTA form asks for:
- Passport valid for at least six months after your arrival date, with at least one blank page.
- A selfie or passport-type photo.
- Email address and phone number.
- Arrival and departure itinerary.
- Accommodation booking confirmation.
- A card or other way to pay.
Some trips need more. Business visitors add an invitation letter and the company's registration copy. Family visitors add the host's invitation letter and a copy of the host's ID, passport or entry permit. Medical, conference and employment trips have their own letters. We tell you which apply once we know your reason for travel.
How long it takes
Kenya says three working days, with some cases taking longer. Add time for a weekend and for a mistake that needs a second try. We suggest filing at least a week before your flight. If you are booked on a cheap fare that cannot be changed, file earlier still.
Why eTAs get stuck
- A photo that does not meet the passport-type standard.
- A passport name that differs from the ticket.
- Accommodation details that are missing or unclear.
- Passport validity under six months.
- Several travellers in one family filed with mixed-up details.
Fixing these before filing is most of what a check does.
How it works with us
You send a passport copy, your dates and the reason for the trip on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. An adviser reads the passport against Kenya's exempt lists and tells you if you need an eTA at all, and which type. If you do, you get one total price before you pay. The team fills the form, uploads the documents, pays the Kenyan fee and follows the application until it is approved, then sends you the document. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services decides every eTA.
If an eTA is refused, Kenya does not return its fee. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing which part of our total, if any, comes back in that case.
Official sources
- Kenya eTA, eligibility and fees: the four eTA types and their fees.
- Kenya eTA, how to apply: documents, processing time, 90-day validity and exemptions.
Compare other trips in visas from Dubai, see which places need nothing in visa-free countries for UAE residents, or look at visa on arrival for UAE residents. Going on to Ethiopia? Read the Ethiopia visa for UAE residents page. Mauritius is a different rule again, on the Mauritius visa for UAE residents page.
