Nairobi entry cost 2026: US$30 for Kenya's eTA, US$100 more to skip the wait

The fee

Kenya's Electronic Travel Authorisation costs US$30 in 2026. The official government eTA portal, run by the Directorate of Immigration Services, states in its FAQ that "Fees vary depending on the type of travel application selected with normal (processing may take up to 72 hours) starting at $30 and expedited (immediate processing) at an addition $100." A traveller who needs it the same day therefore pays US$130. There is no consular visa to buy separately; the eTA replaced the old visitor visa for most nationalities.

How long it takes

The same portal says that "Applications are generally processed within three (3) business days/72 hours but may take longer depending on the verification processes." The Directorate of Immigration Services repeats the three working day figure on its own site. That gap between three days and immediate is what the US$100 buys.

What a trip costs

Two adults flying into Jomo Kenyatta International for a Nairobi stay pay US$30 each, which is US$60 before a single night of accommodation. A family of four pays US$120. The portal lists a long set of exemptions, including citizens of East African Community partner states, who are admitted for up to 180 days without an eTA.

What is unclear is whether Nairobi County adds any local accommodation levy on top. The national eTA pages deal with entry only and say nothing about city level charges.

Sources: Republic of Kenya eTA, FAQs and Directorate of Immigration Services, eTA.

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