Kenya passenger charges

The Air Passenger Service Charge

Section 3 of the Act says the charge is paid by every person who buys a ticket for an external or internal journey ¹. The amounts are US$50 for an external journey and KSh 600 for an internal journey ¹. The external charge can be paid in a convertible currency or in Kenya shillings at the equivalent rate ¹. The Cabinet Secretary can change the amounts by notice in the Kenya Gazette ¹.

The airline's officer, servant or agent collects the charge when the ticket is sold ¹. If an airline fails to make sure a passenger pays, the airline must pay the charge itself ¹. Collected money goes to the Commissioner within 25 days after the end of the month ¹. A charter flight with no office or agent in Kenya pays before customs clears it to leave ¹.

The IATA Travel Centre page for Kenya says no airport tax is levied on passengers at embarkation at the airport ⁷. The charge is collected when the ticket is sold ¹.

The 2025 increase

The National Assembly transport committee reported on the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 35 of 2025, on 14 August 2025 ³. Kenya Law lists the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Act, 2025 as Act No. 23 of 2025, with the amended text in force from 4 November 2025 ¹.

Citizen Digital reported on 24 October 2025 that the domestic charge rose from KSh 500 to KSh 600 and the international charge from KSh 5,000 to KSh 6,500 ². It called it the first review in over 13 years ². The Act states the international amount in US dollars, not shillings ¹.

Who gets the money

Section 3(3) of the Act splits the proceeds among the Kenya Airports Authority, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and the Tourism Fund, in shares the Cabinet Secretary sets by Gazette notice ¹. Citizen Digital listed a fourth recipient, the Kenya Meteorological Service Authority ². This site did not find a Gazette notice with the shares.

Who does not pay

• Children under two years old ¹.
• Passengers in transit, meaning they leave one aircraft and board again at the same airport ¹.
• Passengers whose aircraft returns to the airport of departure without landing elsewhere, when they board again to resume the journey ¹.
• Crew on duty, who are not passengers under the Act ¹.
• Any class of persons the Cabinet Secretary exempts by Gazette notice ¹.

Electronic travel authorisation

UK advice updated on 16 October 2026 says travellers must apply online for an electronic travel authorisation at etakenya.go.ke before travel ⁶. It suggests applying at least two weeks ahead ⁶.

The eTA portal says the fee starts at US$30, and expedited processing costs an extra US$100 ⁴. Normal processing takes about three business days ⁴. Diplomats do not pay for a standard eTA ⁴. Business Daily reported on 21 February 2024 that Kenya exempted citizens of Ethiopia and other countries from the US$30 fee ⁵.

From 5 October 2026 most travellers staying under 12 months must have Kenyan government travel health insurance, bought with the eTA application, according to UK advice ⁶. The advice says foreign travel insurance is not accepted in its place ⁶. It does not state the cost ⁶.