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Entering by boat: Kenya

What to do to enter Kenya by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.

Check with the authorities before you leave (last checked on 28 October 2026).

Before you arrive

  • Online procedure: eTA Kenya (autorisation de voyage électronique, remplace le visa) — etakenya.go.ke/en

The steps

  1. Obtain the eTA for each crew member.
  2. Call Port Control on VHF 16, Q flag up.
  3. Port Health first (free pratique), then Customs (KRA) and Immigration.
  4. Hand in the previous port clearance (a Transhire if coming from Tanzania).

Papers to have on board

  • Passports for the whole crew
  • Visas, if your nationality requires them
  • Crew list
  • Boat papers (registration certificate)
  • Outward clearance from the previous country
  • Maritime declaration of health

Good to know

  • eTA required before arrival; no more visas on arrival.
  • Clear in at Shimoni or Kilifi; Mombasa is reported as very difficult and expensive.
  • A Customs 'Transhire' is required to move between ports (outside the same county).
  • French foreign ministry: Lamu archipelago and county and the Somali border strictly advised against; coast (Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale) advised against except for essential travel; pleasure sailing strongly discouraged due to piracy.
  • Somali piracy: threat raised in April 2026; report to UKMTO and MSCHOA.

Ports of entry

The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.

Prepare your arrival with Hullteam

In the app, free: the map of every port of entry and its offices with their contacts, the crew list and the entry forms filled in for you, ready to print or send to an agent.

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Sources

This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.