Kenya News

Since October 5, 2026, many foreign travelers visiting Kenya have been required to obtain a specific travel health insurance policy. How much does it cost? Who needs to buy it? Can US or other foreign travel insurance be used instead? Who is exempt? What does the policy cover, and how is it checked? VisasNews breaks down the new requirement.

Kenya’s mandatory travel health insurance can now be purchased separately through eCitizen before applying for an ETA. Tests conducted by VisasNews and Action-Visas show that coverage purchased this way is then automatically detected by the electronic travel authorization portal. Meanwhile, the High Court has dismissed the challenge that led to the scheme being temporarily suspended in late August.

Since October 6, 2026, Kenya’s official ETA application portal has been preventing applicants from completing their requests when no travel insurance coverage is detected. Travelers are then prompted to purchase health insurance directly through the platform for $44. The rollout comes even though implementation of the mandatory insurance requirement was suspended by a Kenyan court in late August.

Kenya’s High Court has temporarily suspended the implementation of a mandatory travel health insurance requirement for foreign visitors.

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has clarified how the country’s new mandatory travel insurance requirement will work for foreign visitors. Travelers will be able to use insurance purchased in their home country if it meets Kenya’s required coverage levels, but proof of coverage will have to be submitted as part of the ETA application.

Kenya is continuing preparations for mandatory travel health insurance for foreign visitors. A newly published government notice sets minimum coverage at $50,000, although officials have not yet announced when the requirement will be implemented in practice.

Kenya will soon lift its “ETA” electronic travel authorization requirement for (almost all) Africans, and speed up application processing for other travelers. As part of its policy of openness and modernization, Kenya yesterday announced major upcoming changes to its Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system. Following the first cabinet meeting of