sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
A reminder regarding Kenya's requirement to purchase travel health insurance for short trips to Kenya.
2026-10-16 13:39According to Kenyan social health insurance laws and regulations, starting October 5, 2026, all foreign travelers entering Kenya for short periods or staying less than 12 months must purchase Kenyan officially designated inbound travel medical insurance; regular domestic travel insurance is not a substitute. Chinese travelers holding ordinary passports or official ordinary passports are not exempt from insurance coverage. Adults and infants must be insured separately; policies cannot be shared.
This mandatory insurance is valid for 3 months and can generally be used multiple times for entry applications within the validity period (specific usage requirements should be followed according to the eTA application and insurance terms). The insurance can be purchased through the following channels:
1. Applicants can purchase insurance directly during the Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) application process. After completing the information and uploading materials on the eTA website ( www.etakenya.go.ke ) , you will be redirected to the insurance verification page before payment. Select " GetNow" to purchase insurance; the information will be automatically filled in. Payment can be completed using a Visa or Mastercard credit card.
2. Applicants must purchase insurance in advance through the Kenya eCitizen insurance portal ( https://insurance.ecitizen.go.ke ) . After obtaining the policy number, it will be automatically verified in the eTA system.
Airline check-in and Kenyan border control require verification of the insurance policy. Failure to obtain a valid policy will result in being denied boarding and entry. After successful insurance purchase, be sure to keep the electronic version of the policy and print a paper copy to carry with you.
Chinese travelers planning to visit Kenya are advised to pay attention to this new regulation and purchase appropriate insurance in advance to avoid travel disruptions.