Foreign travellers entering Kenya will now be required to provide proof of valid travel health insurance before their Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) applications are approved, the Ministry of Health has announced.
However, the government has clarified that visitors who already have qualifying health insurance from their home countries will not need to purchase a new policy before travelling.
In a statement issued on Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said travellers with existing insurance cover that meets Kenya’s minimum requirements will only need to upload proof of the policy through the Kenya eTA system before departure.
"Any traveller who possesses travel health insurance from their country of origin, provided it meets the insurable value as per Gazette Notice No. 11492 dated 30th July 2026, should upload it in the Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system," the ministry said.
The clarification follows the publication of Gazette Notice No. 11492, which introduced minimum benefits and coverage limits for mandatory travel health insurance for non-Kenyans staying in the country for less than 12 months under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.
The Ministry of Health said the requirement is not a new policy but is based on existing legal provisions under Section 26(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act and Regulation 70 of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024.
These laws require foreign visitors entering Kenya to have valid travel health insurance coverage during their stay.
The government further stated that travellers who do not have qualifying insurance before departure will still be allowed to obtain a compliant policy upon arrival at designated entry points from insurers licensed under Kenya’s Insurance Act.
The Department of Immigration Services will verify insurance details through the eTA platform before travel and may also conduct additional checks at ports of entry before allowing visitors into the country.
Under the new minimum requirements, travel insurance policies must provide medical coverage of up to US$20,000 (approximately Ksh2.59 million), emergency medical transportation worth US$25,000 (about Ksh3.23 million), prescribed medicines worth US$300 (around Ksh38,787), mental health treatment coverage of up to US$1,000 (about Ksh129,290), and repatriation of mortal remains worth US$5,000 (approximately Ksh646,450).
The total value of the insurance cover must not be below US$50,000, equivalent to about Ksh6.46 million, and the policy must be issued by insurers approved and licensed under Kenya’s Insurance Act.
The announcement comes amid debate over the mandatory insurance programme, with the Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) moving to court seeking to suspend its implementation.
COFEK has argued that the rollout process was unconstitutional and lacked sufficient public participation and transparency, while also raising concerns that the programme could favour a limited number of insurance providers.
The new clarification is expected to ease concerns among travellers and the tourism sector, as visitors with existing compliant insurance policies can continue using their current cover by simply uploading proof during the eTA application process.