Inbound Travel Health Insurance
A service of the Insurance Regulatory Authority
Heading to Kenya? Get your health cover before you arrive.
Non-Kenyan visitors need Inbound Travel Health Insurance to enter Kenya. It covers you for 90 days at accredited hospitals across all 47 counties, and takes just a few minutes to complete.
Officially Mandated Inbound Travel Health Insurance Providers
In accordance with Gazette Notice No. 11492, Vol. CXXVIII, No. 129 (30 July 2026), all travellers to Kenya are REQUIRED to have valid Inbound Travel Health Insurance issued under IRA. Get Inbound Travel Health Insurance from the official site to enjoy a cumulative policy benefit limit of up to US$50,000.
WHAT IS COVERED
Inbound Travel Health Insurance Policy Benefits
Emergency Medical Transportation
Serious medical emergency that requires evacuation to a different medical facility or back to your home country, travel health insurance covers the costs associated with medical evacuation.
Limit: USD 25,000
Medical Expenses
If you require hospitalization during your trip due to an illness or injury, travel health insurance covers the costs of hospital stays, surgeries, and other necessary medical treatments.
Limit: USD 20,000.00
Prescribed Medicines
Travel health insurance reimburses the cost of prescription medications prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner during your trip.
Limit: USD 300.00
Repatriation of Remains
In the unfortunate event of death while traveling, travel health insurance covers the costs associated with repatriating your remains to your home country.
Limit: USD 5,000.00
Mental Illness
Travel health insurance typically includes access to 24/7 emergency assistance including mental illness.
Limit: USD 1,000.00
Peace of Mind
Ultimately, travel health insurance offers peace of mind, knowing that you are financially protected and have access to necessary medical care in case of unexpected health issues while traveling abroad.
Priceless
who needs it
Do you need Inbound Travel Health Insurance?
Statutory requirement under Section 26(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 and Gazette Notice No. 11492. Every traveller must hold an individual policy certificate, including minors and dependents.
MANDATORY
The following categories must purchase the inbound policy:
A non-Kenyan visiting for less than 12 months (tourism, business, conference, or family short-stay).
Traveling as a family or organized group (each child above 3 years needs their own individual policy).
A national of an African country outside the East African Community (EAC), even if you enter Kenya without an eTA.
Exempt categories
The following categories are exempt from purchasing the inbound policy:
Kenyan citizens and holders of Valid Kenyan Residence Status
Citizens of East African Community (EAC) Partner States
Persons seeking asylum
Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports
Members of any ship, aircraft, train, vehicle or carrier, where they either hold valid health insurance cover provided by their employer or remain within the port of entry for the duration of their stay. Crew members relying on employer-provided cover should present proof of that cover on request;
Transit passengers who do not seek entry into Kenya.
how to apply
How to apply for Inbound Travel Health Insurance
Travellers that require eTA
Nationalities that require electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before visiting Kenya shall be prompted to purchase cover as part of the eTA application.
Travellers that are exempt from eTA
Not needing an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) does not exempt you from insurance. If you do not belong to any of the exempt categories, you must purchase this inbound travel health policy before boarding your flight to Kenya.Buy standalone coverage directly on the official eCitizen government portal following the steps below:
Access the Inbound Travel Health Insurance Portal directly
Navigate to insurance.ecitizen.go.ke from any mobile or desktop browser.
Select nationality & applicant type
Indicate whether applying individually or adding multiple family members.
Scan passport bio-data & live selfie
Upload high-resolution photo of bio page for instant OCR verification.
Provide contact & travel schedule
Enter arrival date, planned county destinations, and emergency contact.
Review quote & download PDF policy
Pay amount and get your digital policy in your email instantaneously.
Exempted EAC Nationalities
Please Note
Exemption from the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) requirement does not, by itself, confer exemption from travel health insurance. Nationals of African countries outside the EAC who are exempt from eTA must comply unless they fall within another exempt category.
Travellers or tourists entering Kenya with refugee status are not exempt on that basis. Stateless persons are not exempt on that basis.
UGANDA
RWANDA
SOUTH
SUDAN
KENYA
DR CONGO
BURUNDI
TANZANIA
ENTRY CLEARANCE
Before you arrive in Kenya
Valid passport
Valid for at least 6 months with blank page
eTA authorization
Apply official authorization at etakenya.go.ke
Travel health insurance
Required from 5 October 2026. Instant border verification pass.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Travel with absolute peace of mind