Kenya’s travel health insurance requirement for international visitors took effect on 6 October 2026, when the ETA portal began blocking applications without proof of cover. All travelers must now purchase a policy through the official Kenyan scheme before arrival. This guide explains who must comply, the costs, coverage details and how to purchase the policy. Information is based on the Ministry of Health gazette notice, government portals, the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) and tests conducted by VisasNews and Action-Visas on 6 and 7 October.
Key Takeaways
- Non-Kenyan visitors staying under 12 months must hold a policy issued under the Kenyan scheme, bought through the government portals before entry.
- The premium is USD 44. Tests by VisasNews and Action-Visas on 6 and 7 October showed access and gateway fees increased the total to about USD 52 per traveler.
- The policy must carry a minimum cumulative limit of USD 50,000 for health costs. It does not cover cancellation, delays or baggage, so it does not replace a wider travel insurance policy.
- Officials stated foreign policies are not accepted and the portal does not allow uploads of external insurance. Purchase the Kenyan policy even if you already have coverage from your home country.
- No downloadable certificate was provided in tests on 6 and 7 October. Save your insurance reference number and a screenshot of the "Valid" status from eCitizen to show at the border.
What Is Kenya's New Travel Insurance Requirement?
The requirement comes from Section 26(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023. The Cabinet Secretary for Health set the minimum benefits in Gazette Notice No. 11492, dated 29 July and published on 30 July 2026. It applies to non-Kenyans who enter and stay in Kenya for less than 12 months, which covers almost all tourists and safari guests.
The rollout has been paused. A High Court judge in Marsabit suspended enforcement on 24 August after a petition. The ETA portal began blocking applications without cover on 6 October and the same court dismissed the petition on 7 October.
Before this change, you could travel on private or employer health insurance and did not have to show proof at the border. The policy must now be issued under the approved Kenyan scheme by an insurer licensed under Kenya's Insurance Act and regulated by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).
Who Has to Buy the Insurance?
The requirement applies to non-Kenyans entering Kenya for less than 12 months, which includes tourists and other short-stay visitors. The government indicated certain categories, including children, may have different rates. As exemption details, transit rules and child rates are not published, check the portal for your situation before payment.
How Much Does Kenya Travel Insurance Cost?
The premium is USD 44 per traveler, a figure officials gave the travel industry on 20 August. The portal adds a USD 1 access fee and a payment gateway fee. Tests on 6 and 7 October showed the final charge was about USD 52 per traveler.
Budget around USD 52 per person and verify the final amount at checkout. If applying through the ETA portal, pay for insurance before completing your ETA application.
What Does the Policy Cover?
Every policy must provide a minimum cumulative benefit of USD 50,000 for each traveler. The policy must be able to pay out at least USD 50,000 in total across all your claims. The table shows the minimum amount the policy must offer for each type of cost.
| Cover Category |
Minimum Benefit |
| Medical expenses |
USD 20,000 |
| Emergency medical transportation |
USD 25,000 |
| Prescribed medicines |
USD 300 |
| Mental illness |
USD 1,000 |
| Repatriation of mortal remains |
USD 5,000 |
The five amounts add up to USD 51,300. The USD 50,000 is the overall minimum the policy must provide, and each category in the table must also meet its own minimum.
The policy covers medical emergencies during your stay. It does not include trip cancellation or baggage protection and does not replace comprehensive travel insurance. For cancellations, delays or personal belongings, purchase a separate policy from your home country.
How Long Does the Cover Last?
The government describes the policy as valid for 12 months, including repeat trips to Kenya during that period. A quote VisasNews generated on eCitizen on 7 October showed a three-month coverage period. Officials have not confirmed in writing whether a single policy covers multiple entries.
If you plan multiple trips to Kenya within a year, retain your insurance reference number and verify your policy status before each entry. Until the government issues final guidance, do not assume one policy covers all trips. Confirm coverage on the portal before each visit.
Where Do You Buy the Kenya Travel Insurance?
You buy it through one of two official platforms, depending on whether you need an ETA. travelers requiring an ETA, including those from the US, UK, Canada and Australia, purchase insurance as part of the ETA application on the portal. Alternatively, buy it separately through the eCitizen portal under "Inbound Travel Health Insurance." The eCitizen application requests your nationality, passport details, a photo or selfie, contact information and the dates and purpose of your trip.
If you purchase insurance on eCitizen before applying, the ETA system will automatically detect your policy. In the 7 October test, the ETA portal displayed the message "You already have a valid travel insurance" and allowed the applicant to proceed without entering the reference number.
travelers from ETA-exempt countries obtain coverage directly through eCitizen instead of the ETA process.
Can You Use Your Own Travel Insurance from Home Instead?
Currently, a standard policy from a foreign insurer does not meet the requirement, even if it exceeds the USD 50,000 minimum.
On 7 August, the Ministry of Health said travelers with a home-country policy meeting the Gazette limits could upload proof through the ETA system instead of buying a new one. On 20 August, officials told industry representatives that an IRA-regulated insurer must issue the cover under the Kenyan scheme, as KATA reported. On 6 and 7 October, VisasNews and Action-Visas found no option on the portal to upload a foreign policy. As of 7 October, the government had not published an updated statement on foreign policies.
Purchase the Kenyan policy even if you already have travel insurance from your home country. Consider your existing policy as additional protection.
What Proof Do You Need When You Arrive?
Immigration officers can verify that you hold valid insurance when you enter and the High Court's 7 October ruling confirmed that they may do so. The Gazette notice does not set out how checks at entry points will work.
The approved ETA does not reference the insurance or include its reference number. In tests on 6 and 7 October, no downloadable certificate or policy document was provided via the portal or email after payment. Portal processes may change, so check for a certificate after completing your purchase.
Retain your insurance reference number and, if possible, a screenshot showing the "Valid" status on eCitizen. Verify your status using the "Search Status" function with your passport number. Save this proof to your phone and keep a paper copy in case you cannot access the internet at the border.
Is the Requirement in Force?
Yes. The ETA portal has blocked applications without cover since 6 October and eCitizen sells the policy directly. A High Court petition in Marsabit led to suspension on 24 August. On 7 October, the court dismissed that petition, ruling that Gazette Notice No. 11492 was lawfully issued under the Social Health Insurance Act and that immigration officers may check for valid insurance at entry.
A separate petition by Vantage Point Ventures, supported by the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK), challenges the insurer selection process. The case was listed at the Milimani High Court on 29 September and no outcome has been reported. Check for updates before you travel.
How Does This Compare to the Rest of East Africa?
Kenya's model follows Zanzibar's in several respects. Both use a fixed USD 44 premium and a designated, destination-linked policy instead of accepting any existing cover. Mainland Tanzania joined on 1 October 2026.
| Destination |
Premium |
Stated Validity |
Where You Buy It |
| Kenya |
USD 44 (about USD 52 with fees) |
12 months per government, though one eCitizen quote showed 3 months |
ETA portal or eCitizen |
| Zanzibar |
USD 44 |
Up to 92 days |
Zanzibar Insurance Corporation |
| Tanzania (mainland) |
USD 44 |
Up to 92 days, multiple entries |
National Insurance Corporation (NIC) |
If your trip combines Kenya and Tanzania or Zanzibar, you must obtain a separate Kenyan policy. The Kenyan policy does not cover entry to Tanzania or Zanzibar and the Tanzanian policy does not cover Kenya. In Tanzania, you purchase coverage once. NIC states that visitors buy insurance based on their first point of entry, either mainland or Zanzibar and the policy covers onward travel between the two.
What Should You Do Before You Travel to Kenya?
Purchase the Kenyan policy before you depart, either through the ETA portal or on eCitizen and budget about USD 52 per traveler. Save your reference number and a screenshot of the "Valid" status. If you plan multiple visits within a year or are also traveling to Tanzania or Zanzibar, verify coverage for each trip and country.
FAQs
Do Children Pay the Full USD 44?
The government has indicated adjusted rates for certain categories, including children, but has not published final figures. Check the portal when applying..
Does the Insurance Cover Safari Activities Like Game Drives or Balloon Flights?
The Gazette notice specifies only minimum benefit limits and no detailed policy wording on inclusions or exclusions has been published. Review the policy terms before relying on it for specific activities and consult your operator to determine if separate coverage is required for activities such as balloon flights.
What Happens If I Arrive Without the Insurance?
Kenyan regulations permit travelers without coverage to purchase a compliant policy at the point of entry, but this may cause delays at the border. If you apply for an ETA, you cannot complete the application without insurance and final admission is at the discretion of immigration officers. Purchase the policy before you travel.
We guide each guest through the entry requirements. If you book with us, we will assist you step by step with the insurance and ETA process, using your own passport details and photo. If you have questions about your itinerary, please contact us for personalized assistance.
