Nairobi is about five hours from Dubai, and a Maasai Mara safari is one of the most popular long-haul trips for UAE families. Kenya no longer issues ordinary tourist visas. Instead, most visitors apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before they fly. Since 30 May 2025, citizens of most African countries — including Nigeria — are exempt from the ETA for short visits. For everyone else, your passport decides; your UAE residence does not.
Checked on 20 October 2026 against Kenya’s Directorate of Immigration Services and the official ETA portal. Sources at the end.
On this page
- The short answer by passport
- How to apply for the ETA
- At the airport
- Mistakes to avoid
- Questions people ask
The short answer by passport
| Passport | What you need |
|---|---|
| UAE | ETA |
| India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka | ETA |
| Egypt | Check: most African nationals are exempt since 30 May 2025 |
| Nigeria | Exempt from the ETA for short tourism or business visits |
| East African Community (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and others) | Exempt, up to 180 days |
| UK, US, EU and others | ETA |
| Official portal | etakenya.go.ke |
| Fee | About US$34 including processing; non-refundable |
| Processing | Up to 3 working days |
| Stay | Often up to 90 days; set by the officer at entry |
| Apply | At least 7 days before travel |
How to apply for the ETA
- Go to etakenya.go.ke, run by Kenya’s Directorate of Immigration Services.
- Upload your passport photo page and a recent photo.
- Enter your flight details and where you will stay — a safari lodge or camp booking counts.
- Pay by card.
- Wait for the approval email — up to 3 working days, longer in peak season — and print it.
Your passport must be valid at least 6 months beyond arrival, with a blank page. Each traveller, including children, needs their own ETA.
At the airport
- Show your passport and approved ETA. Exempt travellers still go through normal border checks.
- Carry your return ticket and accommodation or safari bookings.
- Yellow fever: flying direct from the UAE, a certificate is not normally required for Kenya, but check if your route passes through a country with yellow fever risk, or if you continue to a country that asks for one.
Combining Kenya with Tanzania or Zanzibar
Many safari itineraries continue to Tanzania or Zanzibar. That is a separate country with its own visa rules, and returning to Kenya means a new entry. Check that your ETA covers your plans, or apply again for the return leg.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying on a look-alike site. Only etakenya.go.ke is official.
- Applying two days before the flight in safari season.
- Assuming an ETA covers a return from Tanzania.
- Nigerian passport holders paying for an ETA they no longer need for a short visit.
Questions people ask
Do UAE citizens need an ETA for Kenya?
Yes. Emirati passport holders apply for the ETA like most non-African visitors.
How much is the Kenya ETA?
About US$34 including processing, on etakenya.go.ke. It is not refunded if your trip is cancelled or the ETA is refused.
Do Nigerians in Dubai need a Kenya ETA?
Not for short tourism or business visits since 30 May 2025, when Kenya exempted most African nationals.
Related guides
- South Africa visa for UAE residents
- Seychelles visa for UAE residents
- Mauritius visa for UAE residents
- Egypt visa for UAE residents
Sources
- Republic of Kenya — official ETA portal: etakenya.go.ke
- Directorate of Immigration Services, Kenya: immigration.go.ke
- VisaVerge — Kenya ETA update (exemptions from 30 May 2025), updated 17 December 2025
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 20 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com — it gets fixed and logged.