Entry rules in response to coronavirus

Entry to Kenya

Full details of the Government of Kenya’s entry requirements in relation to coronavirus can be found on the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority website.

From 16 January 2022, the following conditions will apply to travellers entering Kenya:

• All passengers, irrespective of nationality and residency status, must be in possession of a valid COVID-19 negative PCR test certificate conducted within 72 hours before their travel to Kenya. Children under the age of five are exempt from this requirement, as are crew on layover
• Passengers who are aged 18 or over must have a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19. Travellers who are exempt from vaccination or who have recovered from COVID-19 in the preceding 90 days are exempt from this requirement; however, such persons must provide a letter from a medical practitioner confirming their exemption or recovery from COVID-19. Some airlines may also request that British travellers show proof of vaccination on the NHS App at check-in
• Travellers must upload their certificate of vaccination and negative PCR test certificate to https://globalhaven.org/ before boarding their flight
• COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) are considered valid by public health officials in Kenya. You must have received a full dose of a WHO-approved vaccination. Under 18s are exempt from this requirement
• All passengers/crew irrespective of nationality and residency status shall be expected to fill in the travellers’ locator form and submit before travel to http://bit.ly/covid19moh and thereafter submit daily health information on the Jitenge Platform / App for 14 consecutive days. For more information, please see the ‘Data Collection’ section below
• A random antigen test may be taken by port health officers on entry, depending on risk evaluation of the country of origin. Any person who tests positive will be directed to isolate at home (for Kenyan residents) or in a Ministry of Health designated facility (for non-Kenyan residents) for 10 days, at their own cost
• All passengers displaying flu-like symptoms on arrival, or who develop symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of arrival, may be placed into quarantine at home or at a government facility, at their own cost
• Any passengers testing positive will be required to take a PCR test and isolated awaiting results. If the PCR is positive, passengers will need to isolate for 10 days at Government of Kenya approved isolation facilities at their own cost, with a repeat PCR test on day 7
• From 2 December, travellers arriving from or transiting through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana and Nigeria within the previous 14 days will undergo a free rapid antigen test on arrival for surveillance purposes

All negative COVID-19 test results must prove that they have been taken no more than 72 hours before travel to Kenya and be verified digitally through the Global Haven website.

Departing Kenya

From 21 December, all passengers departing Kenya will be required to show a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19, unless they have a certificate of exemption from a medical practitioner. COVID-19 vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) are considered valid by public health officials in Kenya. You must have received a full dose of a WHO-approved vaccination. Under 18s are exempt from this requirement.

In addition to the above, travellers should be prepared to show compliance with the entry requirements for their transit and destination countries when departing Kenya.

If you will require a negative PCR COVID-19 test to enter your destination or transit country, you should use an authorised laboratory. Results should be uploaded to the Global Haven website.

Travellers who require an antigen test in the hours before their travel, in order to comply with the entry requirements of another country, must undertake this test at the Ministry of Health’s Port Health facility at the airport. Results must be uploaded to the Global Haven website.

Data collection

All travellers arriving in Kenya must complete a COVID-19 Travellers Health Surveillance Form before their arrival, even if only transiting. The online registration form can be found on the “Jitenge” platform, accessible via the following link or the “Jitenge” App (available on the Google Play Store).

iPhone users should make sure to use Chrome or Firefox when accessing the form via the URL. Upon submission of the digital locator form, a QR code will be sent to your email address.

For Android users, if you are unable to access the QR code via email, log-in to your Jitenge account and input the phone number used to register, as well as your passport or ID number. Your name will appear, then click on your name and select “Show QR code”. Screenshot the QR code and present this at the Health Desk upon arrival.

For iPhone users unable to access their QR code via email, check your downloads folder or present your phone number and passport number at the Health Desk at arrivals to allow officials to retrieve your QR code.

After submitting the form, travellers will receive a QR code which must be presented to port health officials for them to be allowed to proceed to arrival immigration.