Masai Mara Visa for Indians

Indian ordinary-passport holders need an approved Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling to Kenya, including the Masai Mara. The official Kenyan eTA system states that all foreign visitors, including children and infants, must have an approved eTA before starting their journey, unless they are exempt. Travel should only begin after the eTA is approved, and approval does not by itself secure entry at the border.

The eTA is applied for online, so most of the work is done before you travel. Apply at least two weeks before departure. Requirements can change, so check the official Kenya eTA portal before you book. This page explains what our research shows, and where the facts are thin, it says so.

Do Indians need a visa for Kenya?

Yes. Indian ordinary-passport holders need an approved Kenya eTA before they travel. The Masai Mara is in Kenya, so the eTA is the entry requirement for the safari. The eTA is a travel authorisation rather than a visa stamped in your passport, and you should keep the approval with your travel documents.

What is the Kenya eTA?

The eTA is an electronic travel authorisation applied for online through the official Kenya eTA portal. Our research describes the visa type as an e-visa, and the approval is valid for travel within 90 days from the date of issuance. Plan your dates so that your arrival falls within that window. The research does not give a maximum stay or an extension rule for this type of authorisation, so confirm both on the official portal before you travel.

Who needs to apply?

All foreign visitors who need an eTA must obtain approval before they start the journey. Children and infants are included in this rule. The exemption for holders of diplomatic, official or service passports from India covers stays of up to 90 days, but the official requirements do not list ordinary Indian passports in that exemption. Unless you hold a separately applicable exemption, apply for an eTA as an ordinary-passport holder.

Kenya updated its rules in 2025, and the eTA pages were updated in October 2026.

What documents do you need?

• Passport (critical): valid for at least six months after the planned arrival date, with at least one blank page.
• Recent photograph (critical): a selfie or a passport-type photograph, as the portal asks.
• Approved Kenya eTA (critical): you must hold the approval before you travel.
• Return or onward ticket (may be requested): an immigration officer may ask for it on arrival.
• Accommodation or host details (may be requested): a hotel booking, or a physical address and telephone contacts for your host.
• Travel itinerary (may be requested): an immigration officer may ask to see it.
• Evidence of sufficient funds (may be requested): to show funds for your stay.

Carry copies of your documents, and keep the eTA approval with your passport. Bring the originals of anything the portal asks you to show.

How do you apply?

The application runs in four steps. First, apply online for a Kenya eTA on the official portal before you start the journey. Second, submit your biographical information, eligibility answers, passport details and any supporting documents. The processing time for this step is not specified, so allow time for it. Third, wait for the eTA decision and travel only after approval, which is usually about three days. Fourth, present your passport and, if asked, the approved eTA and your travel evidence to immigration at the Kenyan port of entry on arrival.

Apply as early as you can after your flights and safari dates are fixed. A rejected or delayed application can change your travel plans, so do not apply too close to departure.

What are the common mistakes?

• Travelling without an approved eTA. This can lead to denied boarding or deportation on arrival. Apply and wait for approval before you start the journey.
• Using a passport with too little validity. The passport must be valid for six months after arrival and have a blank page. Renew it first if needed.
• Assuming the diplomatic or official exemption applies. It does not cover ordinary passports, so apply for an eTA unless you hold another exemption.
• Applying too close to departure. Normal processing takes time, so apply at least two weeks before travel.
• Treating approval as a right of entry. Entry can still be refused after admissibility checks, so carry the supporting evidence, including your onward travel, accommodation, itinerary and evidence of funds.

What about fees and processing times?

Our research does not give a current eTA fee, so we do not quote one. Check the fee on the official Kenya eTA portal before you apply. Processing is usually around three days, and normal processing may take up to 72 hours. These times are guidance, not a promise, so apply early.

Where to go next

• Masai Mara travel guide: the full overview, with links to every topic.
• How to reach Masai Mara: flights from India and the onward journey to the Mara.
• Masai Mara trip cost: what is included and what is separate.
• Masai Mara tour packages: our packages, with visa assistance included.