Kenya eTA Photo — Selfie or Passport-Type
Applying for a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)? The official eTA checklist asks for a selfie or passport-type photo. This page sets out exactly what the Kenyan eTA publishes about the photo — and, just as importantly, what it does not. Based on the official eTA portal (etakenya.go.ke), retrieved 2026-10-12.
What the official eTA checklist asks for
Before starting a Kenya eTA application, the official portal lists the following under Required Documents:
- a valid passport (minimum 6 months validity with at least one blank page);
- a selfie or passport-type photo;
- contact details (email and phone number);
- a travel itinerary (arrival and departure);
- accommodation booking confirmation;
- a payment method (credit or debit card, etc.).
The photo requirement in full is that single line: “Selfie or passport-type photo”. The portal does not set out a separate photo-specification page, so there is no published millimetre or pixel size to quote.
The photo requirement, as far as it is published
| What is asked for | A selfie or passport-type photo |
| Size (mm or px) | Not published on the eTA portal |
| Background | Not published |
| How many | Not published — the line gives no number |
| Recency | Not published |
| Head height | Not published |
The requirement is deliberately open: either a selfie or a passport-type photo is accepted, with no further geometry stated on the page. Because no figure is published, this page does not invent one — do not assume another country’s size applies to a Kenya eTA.
What is not published
The Kenyan eTA portal does not publish a photo size in millimetres or pixels, a background colour requirement, a minimum or maximum number of photos, a recency window, or a head-height ratio. If the exact framing matters for your application, confirm it with the Directorate of Immigration Services before you rely on it. What the checklist does state is the photo type itself — selfie or passport-type — alongside the passport, contact and itinerary items listed above.
The eTA itself
All visitors including infants and children who intend to travel to the Republic of Kenya must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before the start of their journey. Processing time is typically three (3) working days, but it may take longer in some cases. Some travellers are exempt from the eTA under the KENYA CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2025 — for example holders of Kenya Permanent Residence or valid work permits, citizens of the East African Partner States, and nationals of listed countries.
Related
For a photo that fits Kenya’s separate passport rules, see the Kenya passport photo guide. To assemble the rest of the application, use the Kenya passport documents checklist, and see the arrival card and health declaration guide for eTA and entry-form context. Check a finished file with the passport photo checker and compare formats on the photo size chart.
Frequently asked questions
What photo does a Kenya eTA ask for?
The official eTA checklist asks for a selfie or passport-type photo.
Does Kenya publish a photo size for the eTA?
No. The eTA portal asks for a selfie or passport-type photo but does not publish a size in millimetres or pixels.
What background should the photo have?
Not published. The Kenyan eTA portal does not state a background colour requirement.
How many photos do I need for a Kenya eTA?
Not published. The checklist lists a selfie or passport-type photo without giving a number.
What else do I need for a Kenya eTA?
A valid passport (minimum 6 months validity with at least one blank page), contact details, a travel itinerary, accommodation booking confirmation and a payment method.
How long does a Kenya eTA take?
Processing time is typically three working days, but it may take longer in some cases.
Source: Kenya Electronic Travel Authorisation portal (etakenya.go.ke/how-to-apply), retrieved 2026-10-12. Requirements change, so confirm the current rule on the portal before you apply.