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Kenya Entry Requirements for South African Passport Holders

✓ Visa Free — No visa required for your passport
1/5 Difficulty
0–0d Processing

Quick Facts

Requirement Visa Free
Visa Fee
Processing Time 0–0 working days
Appointment Wait ~ weeks
Stay Duration Up to 90 days

Kenya is one of Africa's most rewarding destinations for South Africans, and as of 30 May 2025 it is also one of the simplest: no visa, and no ETA either. South Africans had already had the ETA fee waived under the 2023 reciprocal agreement; Legal Notice No. 93 removed the requirement itself for all African nationals. Present your passport at the border for a 90-day stay.

Key Warnings

  • There is nothing to apply for before you fly. The old advice to obtain an ETA in advance — and warnings that airlines would deny boarding without one — no longer apply to South African passports.
  • Carry a confirmed return ticket and your first night's accommodation. Immigration can still ask for both at the counter even though no advance authorisation is needed.
  • Nairobi has high-altitude weather variation. Maasai Mara wildlife areas require malaria prophylaxis — consult your doctor before travel.

Insider Tips

  • Kenya Airways operates direct Johannesburg–Nairobi flights daily — convenient and typically 4 hours. SAA and FlySafair also serve the route.
  • The Maasai Mara is best visited July–October for the Great Migration — arguably the world's greatest wildlife spectacle.
  • Kenya's 90-day stay is generous. South Africans can explore Nairobi, the coast (Mombasa, Watamu), and safari circuits in a single extended trip.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Check your passport has 6 months validity

    Six months beyond your intended return date, with a blank page for the entry stamp. This is the only document Kenya requires in advance of travel.

  2. Book your flight and first night's accommodation

    Kenya Airways operates daily direct Johannesburg–Nairobi flights, about four hours. Keep the return booking and hotel confirmation accessible — immigration may ask.

  3. Fly to Nairobi — no advance authorisation needed

    Legal Notice No. 93 of 30 May 2025 exempted South Africans, along with all other African nationals except Libyans and Somalis, from the Electronic Travel Authorisation. There is no form and no fee.

  4. Get stamped in at JKIA for up to 90 days

    Present your passport at immigration. Then explore Nairobi, the coast (Mombasa, Watamu, Diani) and the safari circuits — 90 days is generous enough for all three.

Required Documents

  • Valid South African passport Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended return date.
  • Digital passport photo Clear face photo, white background, in JPEG format.
  • Return or onward flight ticket Confirmed booking showing exit from Kenya.
  • Accommodation confirmation Hotel booking or host address for duration of stay.

Recommended (Optional)

  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate Not required for direct travel from South Africa. Required if transiting via yellow fever endemic countries.

Health Requirements

⚠️ Yellow Fever Certificate needed for your return to South Africa. Not required for direct travel from South Africa. If transiting via a yellow fever endemic country (e.g., Uganda, Tanzania), carry your yellow card. Separately from entry to the destination: South Africa requires a valid yellow fever certificate from anyone arriving — including returning South Africans — who has been in, or transited through, a yellow fever risk country. Kenya is on that list. Without a certificate you can be refused entry or quarantined for up to six days at a South African port of entry. Get vaccinated at least 10 days before you fly home; the certificate is valid for 10 years. Source: South African Tourism, checked 2026-07-31.

Latest Updates

2025-05

Kenya scrapped the eTA for African passport holders

Legal Notice No. 93, gazetted 30 May 2025, amended the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations to exempt nationals of every African country except Libya and Somalia from the Electronic Travel Authorisation. Eligible travellers now present a valid passport at the border and receive an entry stamp — no online application, no USD 30 fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do South Africans still need a Kenya ETA?
No. The fee had already been waived for South Africans in February 2024 under the reciprocal bilateral agreement, and Legal Notice No. 93 of 30 May 2025 then removed the ETA requirement itself for all African nationals except Libyans and Somalis. There is no application to submit and no payment to make — present your passport at the border.
How far in advance do South Africans need to arrange Kenya entry?
You do not. Since the ETA exemption there is no processing time to plan around and no approval to wait for. Make sure your passport has six months of validity left and that you can show a return ticket and accommodation booking if asked at immigration.
How long can South Africans stay in Kenya?
Up to 90 days per entry, granted at the border. Extensions are possible through the Directorate of Immigration Services in Nairobi.
Do South Africans need a yellow fever certificate for Kenya?
No yellow fever certificate is required for direct travel from South Africa to Kenya. If you transit through an endemic country such as Uganda or Tanzania, carry your International Certificate of Vaccination. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for the safari and coastal regions.

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