Kenya has begun enforcing a new rule requiring nearly all foreign visitors to carry travel health insurance worth at least $50,000, after the Ministry of Health officially announced coverage rules that tie compliance to the country’s electronic travel authorization (eTA) system.
The requirement, published as Gazette Notice No. 11492 on July 30, 2026, and signed by Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale, sets minimum benefit limits across five categories of medical care and applies to any non-Kenyan citizen entering and remaining in the country for less than 12 months, according to the notice. Officials say the rule is designed to close a gap in the country’s Universal Health Coverage framework, ensuring foreign visitors are not left uninsured in a medical emergency.
What Did the Government of Kenya Announce?
• Effective date: Published July 30, 2026, and signed by Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.
• Who is affected: Non-Kenyan citizens entering and remaining in Kenya for less than 12 months, including tourists, business travelers, and transit visitors.
• Minimum coverage required: A cumulative policy limit of no less than USD $50,000 (roughly KES 6.4 million), per the gazette schedule.
• Foreign policies accepted: The government says international travel medical insurance plans qualify, provided they meet or exceed the $50,000 requirement.
What Should Your Travel Medical Insurance for Kenya Cover?
The gazette notice that was published on July 30, 2026, specifies minimum sub-limits for five kinds of care, which officials say every compliant travel medical insurance policy must include:
| Coverage | Mandatory Minimum Limit (USD) |
| Emergency Medical Transportation & Evacuation | $25,000 |
| Emergency Medical Expenses | $20,000 |
| Repatriation of Mortal Remains | $5,000 |
| Mental Health Care Services | $1,000 |
| Prescribed Medicines & Drugs | $300 |
| Total Cumulative Policy Requirement | $50,000 |
How Do They Check Your Travel Medical Insurance Policy?
According to the Ministry of Health and Kenya’s Directorate of Immigration Services, travelers can satisfy the travel medical insurance requirement in one of two ways:
1. Before departure, through the eTA: Applicants for Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorization, submitted via the official eTA portal, must now upload proof of a valid travel health insurance policy meeting or exceeding the $50,000 threshold.
2. On arrival, as a fallback: Under Regulation 70(3) of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024, visitors who arrive without a compliant policy already in place may purchase one from a licensed insurer at designated port-of-entry checkpoints.
How is the Travel Insurance Industry Responding?
Insurers that sell travel medical insurance plans say they are already adjusting to the new benchmark. VisitorsCoverage, a U.S.-based travel insurance marketplace, says its comprehensive plans already meet or exceed Kenya’s mandated $50,000 coverage breakdown, and points to several features it says are relevant for travelers preparing eTA applications:
• Instant visa/eTA confirmation letters: Proof of coverage is available for download immediately after purchase, for upload with an eTA application.
• Safari and emergency medical evacuation coverage: High-limit medical transport benefits aimed at travel to remote regions.
• 24/7 global assistance: Round-the-clock emergency support lines for travelers abroad.
Official Sources & References
This guide is based on the following official Government of Kenya publications and portals. Readers are encouraged to consult these primary sources directly for the most current requirements.
1. Kenya Gazette Notice No. 11492 – The Kenya Gazette, Vol. CXXVIII–No. 129, published 30 July 2026 by the Government Printer, Nairobi. Sets the mandatory travel health insurance benefit limits under Section 26(6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, and Regulation 70(2)(b) of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024, signed by Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale.
2. Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024 – Ministry of Health, Kenya. Legal Notice No. 49 of 2024; Regulation 70 sets out the mandatory inbound travel health insurance requirements, including the point-of-entry purchase option under Regulation 70(3).
3. Administrative Framework for Implementation of the Mandatory Inbound Travel Health Insurance Program – Ministry of Health, Kenya (November 2025).
4. Official Kenya eTA Information & Application Portal – Republic of Kenya. Applicants upload proof of compliant travel health insurance here as part of the eTA process.
5. Information for Incoming Travelers to Kenya – Ministry of Health, Kenya, official travel health insurance guidance page.
