Common Kenya eTA Problems: How Applicants Can Avoid Them

When filing their Kenya eTA application, applicants often complain about their Kenya eTA application getting rejected. There can be definitely different reasons for Kenya eTA application failure and you must contact the Kenyan immigration authorities or your Kenya eTA service provider to find out the cause.

The best way to comply with the Kenya eTA application requirements is to understand the procedure and document requirements for the Kenya eTA first and then proceed to fill your application. 

We advise Kenya eTA applicants to work with a trusted Kenya online visa service provider so they can help them fill out the Kenya eTA application the right way and in the right manner. Now, let us see the usual mistakes Kenya eTA applicants make in their Kenya eTA application and how they can avoid them. 

Incorrect Personal Information

This is the most frequent Kenya eTA mistake applicants make. The Kenya eTA application requires that applicants enter their personal information that matches with the details in the passport of their respective country. 

Big mistakes, like a mismatched passport number or smaller ones, like incorrect travel dates, can cause your Kenya eTA rejection.

What Kenya eTA Applicants Can Do:

• Check and match spellings and their passport numbers alphabet by alphabet and digit by digit.
• Be sure that information on the passport of your respective countries matches the details you enter into the Kenya eTA application system. Particular attention to date formats, middle names, and hyphens should be paid.
• If your passport information contains characters not recognized in the application form, consult the instructions provided to ensure you enter it correctly.

Choosing the Wrong Kenya eTA Type

Kenya offers different types of eTAs, such as the Kenya tourist eTA and Kenya Business eTA, and each eTA serves specific purposes like tourism, business, or transit.

Oftentimes, Kenya eTA applicants do not properly understand what kind of eTA they need and end up submitting the form for the wrong Kenya eTA and this causes rejection and delays. 

How Kenya eTA Applicants Avoid This Mistake:

Familiarize themselves with all Kenya eTAs and know what purpose each Kenya eTA serves. Different Kenya eTAs are:

Tourist eTA: This Kenya eTA is for 90 days and only for travel activities in Kenya.

Business eTA: Also valid for 90 days but should be obtained for business-related meetings or conferences in Kenya. Obtaining a Kenyan business eTA requires an invitation letter from the company registered in Kenya. 

Transit eTA: Only valid for 72 hours, the Kenya transit eTA is obtained when travelers passing through Kenya to another destination decide to leave the airport.

East Africa Tourist Visa: This visa lets travelers visit Uganda and Rwanda and gives them multiple entries in Kenya.

Incomplete Documentation

Another common problem with Kenya eTA applications is submitting documents that are either incorrect and not updated or not required.

This includes failure to give the right format passport-sized photo and other documents and a copy of your passport.

How to Avoid This Problem:

Carefully read the document requirements and ensure you have everything needed before starting your application. The standard documents you will need include:

• A passport that is valid for at least six months
• A passport-sized photo meeting photo requirements for the Kenya eTA
• A travel itinerary or flight details as a proof

We recommend Kenya eTA applicants provide documents that are authentic and original. Your passport photo should be in color, recent, and meet the specified size and background guidelines.

Technical Problems with the eTA Portal

There can be technical glitches at the Kenya eTA application portal. The Kenya eTA application platform may experience server errors and this can prevent you from completing your application.

Additionally, issues like browser incompatibility, slow loading times, or problems uploading documents are common frustrations.

How to Avoid This Problem:

Kenya eTA applicants should have an internet connection that is stable and a browser that supports the Kenya eTA application portal. Try browsers such as:

• Mozilla Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Google Chrome

Applicants can try clearing browser cache. If applicants’ problems are not solved by this, they should contact a Kenya eTA service provider.

If the website is slow or unresponsive, be patient and try again later. Avoid submitting your application during peak hours, as this can lead to server overload.

Tip: For an even smoother experience, try using a different device to complete your application if you continue facing technical difficulties.

Payment Processing Issues

Payment issues are another common challenge applicants face when applying for the Kenya eTA. If your payment is not processed, it could be due to problems with your credit card or bank, especially if you’re traveling from a country with stringent online payment security regulations.

How to Avoid This:

• Applicants must check the details of the payments before confirming the transaction. Look out for CVV numbers, credit/debit card numbers and expiration dates
• If your payment doesn’t go through, try using a different credit card. Some countries’ banking regulations might block international transactions, so you may need to contact your bank to unblock your card for online payments.
• Check that your card is eligible for international transactions. 

Issues with Photo and Document Upload

The Kenya eTA application requires applicants to upload specific documents and a passport-sized photo. Problems with uploading these files are common, especially when the documents don’t meet the required specifications.

How to Avoid This Problem:

• Kenya eTA applicants are requested to follow the Kenya eTA photo specifications set by the Kenyan immigration authorities. The face of the Kenya eTA applicant should be fully visible in the picture and the face should be free of any shadows or other obstacles.
• Kenya eTA portal usually accepts digital photos in the PDF or JPEG format
• Kenya eTA applicants can make use of online tools to resize and optimize their documents before uploading so they fit the Kenya online visa photo rules

Tip: Use a professional photo service that is familiar with visa photo standards to ensure your photo meets all the necessary guidelines.

Denials Due to Invalid Passports

Another of the most common reasons for Kenya eTA rejection is having an invalid passport. 

Which Passport is Invalid for Kenya eTA?

The passports that do not have 6 months validity (and note that this validity counts from the day the applicant enters Kenya) cannot be considered as valid passports. 

We request applicants to calculate their passport validity before opting for a Kenya eTA. Travelers who do not comply with this must first get their passport renewed. Moreover, your passport needs to have enough blank pages for entry/exit stamps. 

Carrying out the Kenya eTA application is not a big task if travelers are aware of what documents to provide and in what format. As a traveler, be aware of available Kenya eTA types and go with the right Kenya eTA for a successful application. 

If travelers face any issues with their Kenya eTA application, it is better to work with a reliable Kenya eTA service provider. 

Travelers can visit the Kenya eTA helpdesk for assistance with Kenya eTA applications.