Kenya has introduced a new electronic verification process for travel health insurance as part of measures to ensure foreign visitors entering the country have the required medical cover.
Under the arrangement, international travellers will be expected to provide evidence of valid travel health insurance either before travelling through Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) platform or at the point of entry.
The Ministry of Health said the digital system will provide the main mechanism for checking whether visitors have complied with the insurance requirement before they arrive in Kenya.
Foreign nationals who already have an eligible travel insurance policy can submit proof of their cover through the eTA application process. The policy must satisfy the minimum requirements set by the Kenyan government before it can be accepted.
However, travellers who arrive without an appropriate policy will still have an opportunity to obtain insurance after reaching the country.
According to the Ministry of Health, such visitors can purchase the required cover at an authorised entry point from an insurance company that is licensed under Kenya’s Insurance Act and approved to offer travel health insurance.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the new procedure was designed to make compliance easier while giving immigration officials a clear mechanism for checking insurance documents.
The government’s clarification follows the introduction of minimum benefit levels for mandatory travel health insurance covering non-Kenyans who intend to remain in the country for less than 12 months.
The requirement is based on provisions contained in Kenya’s Social Health Insurance Act of 2023 and the accompanying regulations issued in 2024.
Under the rules, eligible foreign travellers must have insurance that provides a minimum cumulative benefit of about Sh6.5 million, equivalent to approximately $50,000.
The prescribed cover includes several categories of medical and emergency assistance. These include at least Sh258,000, or $20,000, for medical treatment and Sh3.2 million, equivalent to $25,000, for emergency medical transportation.
The policy must also provide a minimum of Sh38,000, or $300, for prescribed medication. Mental health treatment is required to have a minimum cover of Sh129,000, or $1,000.
In addition, the insurance must provide at least Sh645,000, approximately $5,000, for the repatriation of mortal remains.
Only insurance providers that have the necessary approval and licensing under Kenyan law will be permitted to issue the mandatory cover.
The electronic checks will be incorporated into Kenya’s existing eTA system. The eTA replaced the country’s traditional visa arrangement in January 2024 following the government’s introduction of a visa-free entry policy for foreign visitors.
Although most international travellers still need an approved eTA before boarding a flight to Kenya, obtaining the authorisation does not automatically guarantee admission. Immigration officials retain the authority to make the final entry decision at the border.
The new insurance requirement is intended to ensure that foreign visitors have financial protection against medical emergencies during their stay while also reducing the potential burden of unpaid medical expenses.
The Ministry of Health has also indicated that immigration officers will be able to verify policies obtained at airports and other designated entry points.
This means travellers who do not arrange suitable insurance before departure are not necessarily barred from travelling to Kenya. Instead, they can obtain an approved policy upon arrival before completing the entry process.
The government’s clarification provides travellers, airlines and immigration officials with a clearer understanding of how the new requirement will operate.
Foreign visitors planning trips to Kenya are therefore expected to check the insurance conditions before travelling and ensure their policies meet the stipulated benefit limits.
The move forms part of broader efforts by Kenyan authorities to formalise health insurance requirements for international visitors and use digital systems to monitor compliance at the country’s borders.
