The Ministry of Health has issued an official statement providing clarity on the legal foundation and implementation strategy for inbound travel health insurance. The notice, signed by Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, details the operational requirements under Gazette Notice No. 11492, enacted pursuant to the Social Health Insurance Act (2023) and the Social Health Insurance Regulations (2024).

The regulations mandate that all non-Kenyan visitors planning to stay in the country for less than 12 months must possess a compliant travel health insurance policy before entering the country.
To streamline immigration compliance, verification checks have been incorporated into both online systems and physical border checkpoints:
  • Digital Upload via eTA System: To facilitate compliance, applicants applying for a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) must upload proof of a valid travel health insurance policy directly into the eTA system for verification before travel.
  • Option to Purchase Coverage on Arrival: Where a traveller has not obtained the required travel health insurance before travelling to Kenya, Regulation 70(3) permits them to obtain a compliant policy at the point of entry from an insurer licensed under the Insurance Act and approved to provide the requisite cover.
  • Validation of Foreign Policies: Travellers using existing insurance policies from their home countries may do so, provided the policy meets or exceeds the insurable value outlined in Gazette Notice No. 11492 and is successfully uploaded to the eTA portal prior to departure.
As set out under Gazette Notice No. 11492, foreign visitors must hold an approved policy with a cumulative minimum benefit limit of US$50,000 (Ksh. 6.4 million). The policy must meet minimum threshold limits across five specific coverage categories:
Policy Benefit Category Minimum Required Limit (USD) Equivalent Value (KES)
Emergency Medical Transportation & Evacuation $25,000 ~KSh 3,200,000
Emergency Medical Expenses $20,000 ~KSh 2,500,000
Repatriation of Mortal Remains $5,000 ~KSh 644,823
Mental Illness Treatment $1,000 ~KSh 128,964
Prescribed Medicines $300 ~KSh 38,689
Total Mandatory Minimum Coverage Limit $50,000 ~KSh 6,400,000
The Department of Immigration Services is tasked with enforcing compliance through both the digital eTA portal and physical border check-ins. Immigration officers will verify that insurance policies satisfy the required coverage thresholds before granting entry into the Republic of Kenya.