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Hong Kong (SAR China) to Kenya visa requirements

Q: How much does the Kenya eTA cost?

The standard processing fee is USD 30 per person. A card surcharge of roughly USD 9 may be added, and the fee is non-refundable even if your application is denied.

Q: How long can I stay in Kenya on an eTA?

The eTA allows a stay of up to 90 days for a tourist visit. The authorisation itself is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued.

Q: Is the Kenya eTA single or multiple entry?

The standard tourist eTA is single entry. If you leave Kenya you normally need a new eTA, although limited exceptions exist for short trips to certain neighbouring East African countries.

Q: How early should I apply?

Processing usually takes about 3 business days (24-72 hours). Apply at least 3-7 days before departure to allow time for approval.

Q: Do children and infants need their own eTA?

Yes. Every traveller, including infants and children, must have their own approved eTA before entering Kenya.

HK (HKSAR) ordinary passport holders need a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before traveling. Since 1 January 2024 Kenya scrapped its old visa and visa-on-arrival regime and now requires every foreign visitor to obtain an approved eTA online before departure. There is no visa-free entry for a short tourist trip. Kenya abolished its visa and visa-on-arrival system on 1 January 2024 and replaced it with a mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for all foreign nationals, regardless of nationality (the only blanket exemptions are East African Community citizens and, since 2025, most African nationals except Somalia and Libya). HKSAR ordinary passport holders are therefore not visa-free: they must apply online at the official portal etakenya.go.ke before travelling. The standard tourist eTA costs USD 30 (card payment surcharges apply), is single entry, must be approved before boarding, and authorises a stay of up to 90 days. The eTA is normally processed within about 3 business days, so applying at least 3-7 days in advance is recommended. Older sources (including a 2020 HK Immigration Department notice describing visa-on-arrival for up to three months) are out of date and superseded by the eTA system. Kenya is in East Africa and is not part of the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply.

VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30

For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.

Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →Hong Kong (PR)Living in Hong Kong (SAR China) as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→

/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30

Visa type

Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) - tourist/short visit

Maximum stay

Up to 90 days per entry

per entry

Entries

Single entry

from issue date

Visa fee

USD 30 (plus card processing surcharge, typically ~USD 9)

consular fee only

Processing time

About 3 business days (24-72 hours)

standard track

Validity

eTA valid for 90 days from date of issue; must be used within that window

from issue date

/02 — The process

How to apply

/01

Confirm passport validity

Ensure your HKSAR ordinary passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended date of entry into Kenya and has at least one blank page.

· 6 months validity· Blank page

/02

Go to the official eTA portal

Apply only at the Kenyan government site etakenya.go.ke. Avoid third-party agents that charge inflated fees. Create an application for each traveller, including infants and children.

· etakenya.go.ke· One eTA per person

/03

Complete the online application

Fill in personal, passport and trip details, upload a passport bio-data scan and a recent passport-style photo, and provide accommodation and return/onward flight details.

· Passport scan· Photo· Itinerary

/04

Pay the eTA fee

Pay the USD 30 processing fee online by card. A card surcharge of roughly USD 9 may be added. The fee is non-refundable even if the application is denied.

· USD 30· Non-refundable

/05

Wait for approval

Most applications are decided within about 3 business days (often 24-72 hours). Apply at least 3-7 days before departure to be safe.

· ~3 business days· Apply early

/06

Carry the approved eTA

Download and print (or save) the approved eTA confirmation. Present it with your passport at check-in and at the Kenyan port of entry.

· Print copy· Show at entry

/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

13 items

Personalized checklist

Hong Kong (SAR China) -> Kenya · Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) - tourist/short visit

0 / 13 complete

Visa typeTravel date

Deadline reminderAdd a date before export

RequiredHKSAR ordinary passport valid 6+ months beyond entry

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredAt least one blank passport page

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredApproved Kenya eTA (printed or digital)

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

RequiredRecent passport-style photograph (digital upload)

Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route

required

RequiredScan of passport bio-data page

Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route

required

RequiredConfirmed return or onward flight ticket

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

required

RequiredProof of accommodation / hotel booking

Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates

required

RequiredUSD 30 eTA fee paid by card

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

required

RecommendedProof of sufficient funds for the stay

Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances

recommended

RecommendedYellow fever vaccination certificate (if arriving from an endemic area)

Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel

recommended

RequiredOfficial application form or online application

Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed

Use the current form from the official or designated application channel.

RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary

Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it

Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.

RecommendedTravel medical insurance

Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates

Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.

Official sourcesKenya Directorate of Immigration Services - eTA Official Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization portal HK Immigration Department - Visa-free access / VOA for HKSAR passport

Application link included: Official Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization portal

Open link

/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate

Line itemAmountSource

Standard eTA processing feeUSD 30Single-entry tourist eTA; non-refundable

Card payment surcharge~USD 9Added by payment processor for card transactions

Expedited processing (optional)~USD 100Optional faster handling offered by the portal

Total estimateUSD 30 — USD 39incl. all

/05 — The wait

Processing time

Standard online eTA

About 3 business days (24-72 hours)

Apply at etakenya.go.ke at least 3-7 days before departure; covers most travellers.

Expedited eTA

Faster than standard (often within 24 hours)

Optional paid expedited handling for last-minute travel.

/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency

/01

No visa-free channel exists

Since 1 January 2024 every foreign visitor (outside the EAC / African exemptions) must hold an approved eTA before boarding; there is no visa-free entry for HK passport holders.

High

/02

Outdated visa-on-arrival information

Pre-2024 sources, including a 2020 HK Immigration Department notice, describe visa-on-arrival for up to three months; this no longer applies and travellers must use the eTA.

Medium

/03

Applying too late

The eTA is not instant. Applying inside the 3-day processing window risks not getting approval before the flight.

Medium

/04

Using unofficial websites

Third-party sites charge extra and may delay or mishandle applications; only etakenya.go.ke is official.

Medium

/05

Single-entry limitation

The standard eTA is single entry, so travellers leaving and re-entering Kenya generally need a new eTA (limited regional exceptions apply).

Low

/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01

Immigration

Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.

/02

Customs

Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.

/03

Connectivity

Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.

/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024

2026-05-30 · major

HK to Kenya route verified

Confirmed via official Kenyan immigration and eTA portals that HKSAR ordinary passport holders require an eTA (USD 30, single entry, up to 90 days) following Kenya's January 2024 replacement of visa-on-arrival with the eTA system.

/09 — The questions