Kenya entry requirements for Canadian passport holders (2026): visa and passport validity
Visa (Government of Canada): Read the official visa text below
Passport validity (Government of Canada): Valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Kenya. Official text
Official source: Government of Canada – Kenya travel advice and advisories (travel.gc.ca), section “Entry and exit requirements” · page last updated 15 October 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026 · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Whether Canadians need a visa for Kenya and how long a Canadian passport must be valid, as published by the Government of Canada, quoted word for word with the date of the official page.
Other passports: British passport · Australian passport
Do Canadians need a visa for Kenya?
We quote the official text word for word and do not summarise it. The official visa text does not match a wording we summarise.
Official text, “Visas”:
Tourist visa: not required, however you must apply for an eTA
Transit visa: not required
Business visa: required
Student visa: required
Work permit: required
Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)
You must obtain your visa or eTA online prior to your departure. Make sure you are using the official Kenya eTA website for your application to avoid potential fraud and that the dates match the duration of your planned stay in Kenya. You do not need an eTA if you are transiting through an airport in Kenya without passing border control.
Mandatory health insurance
As of October 5, 2026, the eTA application includes a mandatory travel health insurance provided by a national insurer for stays of less than 12 months.
Extension of stay
To stay in Kenya beyond your authorized period, apply for an extension at a Kenyan immigration office in person. The extension must be requested before your eTA or visa expires. Overstaying can result in fines, arrest, imprisonment or deportation.
Useful links
Apply for an eTA – Government of Kenya
Also in the official “Entry and exit requirements” section:
Work Permits
It is illegal to perform any type of work, including volunteering, on a tourist visa. To work or volunteer in Kenya, you must have a valid work permit, which you are required to carry at all times, along with valid identification. Convicted offenders could face heavy fines, jail sentences of up to five years and deportation.
Apply for a work permit – Kenyan Department of Immigration Services
Official source: Government of Canada – Kenya travel advice and advisories (travel.gc.ca), section “Visas” · page last updated 15 October 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026 · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
How long must my Canadian passport be valid for Kenya?
In short: Valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Kenya.
Our one-line summary of the official sentence below, which matches a wording we recognise. Your airline may apply stricter rules.
Official text, “Regular Canadian passport”:
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Kenya.
Official source: Government of Canada – Kenya travel advice and advisories (travel.gc.ca), section “Regular Canadian passport” · page last updated 15 October 2026 · checked on 17 October 2026 · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
For Canadian passport holders. These rules are published by the Government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada) for Canadian citizens travelling on a regular Canadian passport. Before You Fly is an independent site: it is not a Government of Canada site and is not endorsed by the Government of Canada. The airline and the border officials of the destination decide whether you can travel or enter: this site is information, not legal advice. British passport? See the UK (FCDO) rules.
Read the full official travel advice for Kenya (safety, health, local laws) before you travel.
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