Kenya eTA for Pakistanis 2026: New $50,000 Travel Insurance Rule Explained

Kenya is one of the few long-haul destinations where a Pakistani passport gets you in with a simple online authorisation — no embassy visit, no interview, no sticker visa. That has made Nairobi, the Masai Mara and Mombasa increasingly popular with Pakistani families and business travellers. But in August 2026 Kenya added a new condition that many people are still unaware of: mandatory travel health insurance with at least US$50,000 of cover, with proof to be uploaded inside your eTA application. Here is what changed and how to prepare.

The Kenya eTA: what still applies

Kenya abolished traditional visas and visa-on-arrival in January 2024 and replaced them with the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). Pakistani citizens are not on Kenya’s exemption list, so every traveller — including infants and children — needs an approved eTA before boarding. Airlines check it at the counter in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi.

You apply only through the official portal, etakenya.go.ke, with your passport bio page, a photo, return ticket and accommodation booking. Apply at least a week before travel; the fee is not refunded if you are refused. Third-party websites charge extra and offer nothing the official site does not.

What changed in August 2026

On 30 July 2026 Kenya published Gazette Notice No. 11492, and on 7 August the Ministry of Health issued a clarification signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. Together they activate a requirement that already existed in Kenya’s Social Health Insurance Act 2023: every non-Kenyan entering for less than 12 months must hold a valid travel health insurance policy.

The minimum is a cumulative cover of US$50,000, broken down into five prescribed benefits: US$20,000 for medical expenses, US$25,000 for emergency medical transportation, US$5,000 for repatriation of remains, US$1,000 for mental health treatment and US$300 for prescribed medicines. Cover must extend to inpatient and outpatient care, surgery and emergency evacuation.

How it works for Pakistani applicants

The Ministry has said proof of insurance will be a mandatory upload inside the eTA form, and that the Department of Immigration Services will verify it both at the application stage and at the airport. If you arrive without a compliant policy, Regulation 70(3) allows you to buy one at the point of entry from an insurer licensed under Kenya’s Insurance Act — but expect this to be slower and costlier than arranging cover at home, and immigration must verify the policy before you are admitted.

• Buy a policy that clearly states US$50,000+ total medical cover
• Check it includes emergency evacuation (US$25,000+)
• Check it includes repatriation of remains (US$5,000+)
• Policy dates must cover your full stay in Kenya
• Get the certificate in English with your passport name
• Keep a PDF ready to upload and a printed copy for the airport

Most standard Schengen-style travel policies sold in Pakistan are priced around €30,000 of medical cover, which is below Kenya’s threshold. Ask your insurer specifically for a US$50,000 (or higher) plan and check the evacuation and repatriation sub-limits, since some cheap policies bundle these into the main sum insured or cap them low.

Why this matters for Pakistani travellers

Kenya is popular with Pakistani travellers precisely because it is straightforward. The new rule does not change eligibility, fees or processing — but it adds a document that can get you refused boarding or held at Jomo Kenyatta airport if it is missing or non-compliant. For a family of four the extra cost of upgrading to a US$50,000 policy is modest compared with the trip itself, and a proper policy is sensible for a safari destination in any case.

One more point: because the eTA is fully online, your application is judged on documents alone. A clean passport scan, a confirmed hotel or safari-lodge booking and a return ticket matter as much as the insurance certificate.

Quick answers

Do Pakistanis get visa on arrival in Kenya? No. Visa on arrival ended in January 2024. You need an approved eTA before departure.

How much cover do I need? A cumulative minimum of US$50,000, including at least US$20,000 medical, US$25,000 evacuation and US$5,000 repatriation.

Can I use my existing travel insurance? Yes, if it meets the minimum limits. Upload it in the eTA system.

Do children need insurance and an eTA? Yes — every traveller needs their own eTA (US$30 each) and must be covered by a compliant policy.

What if I forget? You may be able to buy a licensed Kenyan policy at the airport, but immigration must verify it before you are admitted.

Visa rules, fees and insurance requirements change frequently. Always confirm the latest position on the official Kenya eTA portal (etakenya.go.ke) and the Kenya Ministry of Health before you travel.