You have booked your dream safari, or you are close to it, with the Masai Mara and the Amboseli plains on your list. This guide answers one question: what do you need to enter Kenya?
It covers the Kenya eTA, the real costs, and the health rules that differ between Spain and Latin America.
Kenya Safari Visa Guide Spanish Speakers Need: eTA Basics
Kenya no longer calls it a visa for most travelers. Since January 1, 2024, the country uses the Electronic Travel Authorization, or eTA. It replaced the earlier eVisa system, which had launched in September 2015, more than eight years before the eTA took over. The eTA is a digital permit linked to your passport.
You need it if you are a citizen of Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, or any other country without a visa-exemption agreement with Kenya. It is mandatory for tourism, even short stays.
The main exceptions are citizens of certain East African Community countries. If you hold a passport from Spain or Latin America, there is no way around this rule.
Key requirements for your application
Gather these documents before you start.
- Passport: valid for at least six months from arrival, with two blank pages.
- Recent photo: passport-style, white background, a clear JPEG file.
- Travel itinerary: flight details, including the return. A reservation is enough.
- Accommodation proof: the name and address of your first hotel, camp, or lodge. For SafariPure trips, we provide this after you book.
- Payment method: a credit or debit card. Visa and Mastercard work best.
Children need their own eTA, applied separately, at the same fee.
Official eTA cost and processing time
The official Kenya eTA fee is USD 30 per person, per the price listed on etakenya.go.ke. A transit eTA costs USD 20 if you are only changing planes and will not leave the airport.
Processing usually takes three to seven working days. Apply at least two weeks before your flight, since applications can take longer during the July to October peak season.
| Processing Option | Official Fee (USD) | Typical Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard eTA | 30 | 3 to 7 working days | Best for most travelers |
| Priority eTA | Around 100 extra (indicative) | Often within 48 hours | Official expedited option on etakenya.go.ke |
| Transit eTA | 20 | 3 to 7 working days | Does not allow leaving the airport |
| Agency fee | 50 to 150 extra | Same as government processing | Avoid these services |
The official portal offers priority processing for a faster answer, at roughly USD 100 on top of the standard fee. Third-party agencies charge more and add no real benefit, so applying two to three weeks early is still the simplest, cheapest plan.
Step-by-step eTA application on the official portal
Apply only at www.etakenya.go.ke. No other site is official.
- Open the portal and click “Apply Now”.
- Create an account and check spam for the verification email.
- Fill in the form, matching your passport details exactly. A typo can cause a delay.
- Upload your photo and a scan of your passport bio page.
- Answer the health and security questions honestly.
- Pay the fee by card and save the confirmation receipt.
- Wait for the approval email within the processing window.
Print the approval email and keep it with your passport. Airline staff may ask to see it before you board.
When to apply for your safari
Apply no earlier than three months before your trip. The eTA is valid for 90 days from approval, unlike older visas that counted from arrival.
It allows a single entry, valid for up to 30 days, so a safari shorter than 30 days poses no issue.
For the July to October migration season, apply at least three to four weeks ahead, since the system handles more applications then. For quieter months like January or June, two weeks is usually enough.
Avoid applying on a Friday, since approval often slows over the weekend; a Monday or Tuesday application gets the full working week.
Single entry and crossing borders for a multi-country safari
The standard eTA covers a single entry, so you cannot leave Kenya and return without a new application. This matters if you plan to combine Kenya with Tanzania or Uganda.
If you fly from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro Airport and back to depart, you need a second eTA. The same applies crossing into Tanzania overland and back. There is no trick around this; some travelers book a direct flight out of Kenya instead, others stay in Tanzania after the Kenya leg.
Most safari operators move guests between the Masai Mara and the Serengeti through private transfers near the parks, not a public crossing. Further west, the Isebania border post links Kenya and Tanzania toward Mwanza and Musoma, a busy crossing, but for that road route rather than the Mara-Serengeti path. Either way, you need a passport stamp out of Kenya and a new eTA to return.
If you need two entries, apply for the eTA twice; the system allows multiple applications.
Yellow fever and health requirements by country
Spanish speakers from Spain and Latin America face different rules here. Kenya requires a yellow fever certificate for travelers arriving from a risk country, defined as over 12 hours spent there before arrival.
Spain: Not needed on direct flights, since Spain is not a risk country. No other vaccination is required, though hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended; see your doctor six to eight weeks before travel.
Mexico: Not a risk zone. Most travelers connect through Amsterdam, Frankfurt, or Paris, none of which are risk countries. If your itinerary adds a South American country, check the current risk list.
Colombia and Argentina: Both have yellow fever risk zones, so travelers must show a certificate. Authorities enforce this rule strictly at airports. Get the vaccine at least 10 days before your flight; it is a single dose with long-term protection.
All travelers should also consider malaria medication, such as Malarone or Doxycycline, not legally required but strongly advised.
| Departure Country | Yellow Fever Certificate Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | No | Not a risk country; no certificate for direct flights |
| Mexico | No | Unless transiting a risk country for 12+ hours |
| Colombia | Yes | Certificate mandatory for entry |
| Argentina | Yes | Certificate mandatory for entry |
| Brazil or Peru (transit) | Yes | Transit over 12 hours triggers the rule |
Common mistakes when applying
The most common error is using a third-party agency that charges double or triple the official price; many Spanish-language sites in search results are agencies, not the portal.
Other frequent mistakes include a mistyped passport number and an old photo. Glasses in the photo often cause automatic rejection.
Some travelers forget the six-month passport validity rule, or book non-refundable flights before their eTA is approved.
Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta and immigration checks
Nairobi’s main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), has an eTA help desk near immigration.
Immigration officers check your passport against your eTA record and stamp your entry, about one minute per person.
Then you collect your bags and meet your SafariPure driver. For a connecting flight to an airstrip like Keekorok or Amboseli, allow at least three hours in Nairobi. Most bush flights leave from Wilson Airport, a separate airport across town from JKIA, so you need time to transfer between the two.
Frequently asked questions about the Kenya eTA
Do I need a visa to go to Kenya if I am Spanish? No. You need an eTA, an electronic permit that costs USD 30, applied for online.
How much does the Kenya eTA cost in 2026? USD 30 per person for the standard tourist eTA. Transit is USD 20, and priority processing costs roughly USD 100 more.
How long does the eTA take to approve? Three to seven working days. Apply at least two weeks before your safari, since peak season can take longer.
Does the Kenya eTA work for multiple entries when combining with Tanzania? No, the standard eTA is single entry. Leaving Kenya and returning requires a new eTA, common when travelers add the Serengeti.
Do I need the yellow fever certificate if I come from Spain or Latin America? Only from a yellow fever risk country. Colombia and Argentina require it; Spain and Mexico do not, unless you transit a risk country over 12 hours.
Can I apply for the eTA myself or do I need an agency? Apply yourself on the official portal in about 20 minutes. Agencies add no real value.
What happens if my eTA is delayed or rejected? Check your portal account for updates. Rejections usually stem from photo or passport errors; reapply with corrected documents.
How much passport validity do I need for Kenya? Six months beyond your arrival date, plus two blank pages.
Do children need their own eTA? Yes, every traveler, including infants, needs a separate application and fee.
Can I pay the eTA fee with a card from a Latin American country? Yes, the portal accepts Visa and Mastercard, though your bank may add a small international fee.
The SafariPure Difference
We plan safaris that respect your time and your budget. Our guides live near the parks they lead and know the distances and fees by heart.
The Masai Mara has several entry points. The Sekenani Gate is the busiest, while the Oloolaimutia Gate is quieter and often faster. We match the gate to your camp to cut time in the queue.
We also handle your travel documents. When you book a SafariPure trip, we send the exact accommodation proof you need for the eTA, and our team can review your application before you submit it.
We confirm current park fees before your flight, too. The Masai Mara Reserve charges USD 200 per adult per day from July to December, and USD 100 from January to June, separate from your lodge rate.
Private conservancies like Naboisho or Mara North work differently: the fee is usually built into the nightly rate, around USD 80 to 150 per person, with no gate queue and high wildlife density.
You will find no hidden fees in a SafariPure quote. Our budget guide for a Kenya safari in Spanish covers the full picture.
Ready to book: what to do this week
Start your eTA application as soon as your flights are close to confirmed, ideally three to four weeks before a peak-season trip. Check your passport’s expiry date today, since a six-month buffer is non-negotiable. If traveling from Colombia or Argentina, book your yellow fever vaccine now, well before the 10-day minimum.
A Kenya safari is about the wildlife, not the paperwork. Once your eTA and health documents are sorted, the rest of the planning is ours to handle.
Use the step-by-step eTA guide for Mandarin speakers if you travel with Chinese-speaking family, or see the least visited national parks in Kenya for a quieter pace.
When you are ready, reach out to SafariPure. We will show you the safari tours we recommend and help you confirm every detail before you fly.
More safari planning resources
- Kenya wildlife tours from Trunktrails Safaris
- Kenya tour packages from Valley Safaris
- Kenya eTA and eVisa guide on Touring Insights
- Compare Kenya safari packages on FindMySafari
Related guides: Aardvark Spotting Kenya Night Safari Guide, Kenya Safari Budget Guide for Spanish Speakers (2026 Prices), Kenya Safari Visa Guide for Mandarin Speakers (eTA 2026).
