From October 6, 2026, all travellers entering Kenya must obtain travel health insurance from a government-sanctioned provider before arrival and show proof of coverage when they enter the country.

Mandatory cover added to Kenya entry process

Kenya has introduced a new inbound travel health insurance requirement for all travellers. The rule applies from October 6, 2026, and requires visitors to secure coverage through the government-approved provider before travelling to the country.

Travellers must be ready to present proof of the insurance on arrival. Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation portal, used by ETA-eligible nationals, and the eCitizen portal, used by non-ETA-eligible nationals, have both been updated to reflect the requirement.

Late afternoon view of Mombasa’s waterfront with dhows on calm water and coral-stone buildings in the background
Kenya-bound travellers must now arrange the required health insurance before departure.

Cost, validity and practical impact

  • The insurance costs approximately USD 44.
  • The policy is valid for one year.
  • Repeat trips to Kenya are covered during the policy’s validity period.
  • Processing times for affected applicants are not expected to change.

Before this change, travellers could rely on private or employer-provided health insurance and did not have to show proof of coverage before entering Kenya.

Travellers should arrange the required cover before departure to reduce the risk of delays at entry or being refused permission to enter. Tanzania has recently adopted a similar mandatory inbound travel insurance rule, suggesting the approach may be gaining ground in East Africa.