Exempt from eTA vs fee-free eTA
No eTA application
Your nationality, permit, transit situation or official document falls inside a published exemption.
Application may still be required
Kenya's current FAQ says diplomats do not pay for their standard eTA, even though some diplomatic travellers may still have to complete the eTA process.
Diplomatic and official travel
Kenya's official pages are currently not perfectly consistent. The official FAQ says members of Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations accredited to Kenya are required to complete an eTA, and also says diplomats do not pay the standard eTA fee. Other Kenya guidance lists multiple diplomatic, official, service-passport and laissez-passer categories among exemptions.
Nationality-based exemptions
East African Partner States: up to 180 days
- Burundi
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
Other 90-day and 60-day exemption groups
Kenya's 2025 rules also list a 90-day exemption group including Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius, Namibia, Singapore, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others, plus a separate 60-day African nationality list including Algeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Tunisia and others.
Residence, permit and re-entry exemptions
- Kenya Permanent Residence holders.
- Holders of valid Kenya Work Permits and Passes.
- Passports endorsed with valid Kenya re-entry passes.
- Other accepted written authority in lieu of a re-entry pass.
Transit exemptions
Remain within airport precincts
Passengers arriving and leaving by the same aircraft, or transferring without leaving airport precincts, are listed as exempt.
Remain on the ship
Passengers arriving and leaving by the same ship without disembarking are listed as exempt.
Official laissez-passer exemptions
Kenya currently lists UN, AU, African Development Bank, IMF/World Bank, COMESA, IGAD, EU, Afreximbank and several other official laissez-passer categories as exempt when travelling on official business.
Country-specific diplomatic passport exemptions
| Category | Current official listing |
|---|---|
| Iran Diplomatic/Service | Up to 30 days. |
| Turkey Diplomatic/Official/Special/Service | Transit or stay up to 90 days, including qualifying family members. |
| Brazil Diplomatic/Official/Service | Up to 90 days. |
| India Diplomatic/Official/Service | Up to 90 days. |
| China Diplomatic/Official/Service | Up to 30 days. |
| Serving British Military members | Listed among current exempt categories. |
How to verify your exact category
- Check the official Kenya exemption list for your exact nationality and passport type.
- Confirm whether the journey is private, diplomatic, official, transit or permit-based.
- For diplomatic travel, prepare the required official letter.
- If Kenya's official pages conflict for your category, contact official eTA support before departure.
Free Kenya eTA FAQ
Is Kenya eTA free for diplomats?
Kenya's current FAQ says diplomats are not required to pay for the standard eTA, although expedited service may still be chargeable.
Do accredited diplomats need to apply?
The FAQ says yes, while other Kenya pages list some official categories as exempt. Verify the exact accreditation category before travel.
Are EAC citizens exempt?
Kenya currently lists Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda as exempt for stays not exceeding 180 days.
Are all African citizens exempt?
No. Kenya currently uses separate 90-day and 60-day nationality exemption lists.
Independent-service disclosure
KE-Visa is a private, independent travel-document assistance service and is not affiliated with the Government of Kenya. Exemption and diplomatic-entry decisions are controlled by Kenyan authorities.