Renting a Car in Kenya as a Diaspora Visitor: Documents You Need

The checklist

Pack these in your hand luggage, not your checked bag:

• Your driving licence (and an International Driving Permit if your licence is not in English).
• Your passport, or your Kenyan national ID card if you are a Kenyan citizen.
• An Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for anyone travelling on a foreign passport, unless their nationality is exempt.
• Your booking confirmation.
• The card or payment app you plan to use during your stay.

1. Your driving licence

You can drive in Kenya on a valid foreign driving licence for up to 90 days from arrival. If your licence is not in English, you also need an International Driving Permit. Staying longer than 90 days means converting to a Kenyan licence through NTSA (the National Transport and Safety Authority), so confirm with NTSA if you are staying longer. Most licences issued in the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia are in English.

If your licence is not in English, carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside the original. The permit is a translation, not a licence in its own right, so always carry both.

If you still hold a valid Kenyan driving licence, you can use that. If it has expired, renew it through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) before you rely on it.

2. Your passport or Kenyan ID

We need to confirm who you are, and the police may ask for identification at a check. Bring your passport; it should be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive. If you are a Kenyan citizen, your national ID card works well day to day. Keep a clear photo of your passport's photo page on your phone as a backup.

3. The eTA for foreign-passport holders

Kenya replaced its visa with the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) in January 2024. Anyone entering on a foreign passport needs one unless their nationality is exempt. That includes US, UK, Canadian and most European passport holders.

• Cost: USD 30.
• When: apply at least three days before you travel, and earlier if you can.
• Where: only on the official government website, etakenya.go.ke. Other sites that offer to apply for you charge extra.

If you are a Kenyan citizen travelling on a Kenyan passport, you don't need an eTA. This matters for diaspora families: your children or spouse may hold only a US or UK passport, and each of them needs their own eTA. Business travellers should also note that the eTA and visa-free entry do not give you the right to work in Kenya. For the rest of your arrival essentials, from money and M-Pesa to health, see Urban Escape Kenya's first-timer's guide to Kenya.

4. What we ask for when you book

To confirm your booking, we ask for a copy of your driving licence and a copy of your passport or ID. You can send them on WhatsApp or by email once you have sent your booking request, so everything is settled before you fly and the handover takes minutes. If someone else will drive too, tell us when you book: extra drivers are added to the rental agreement and need the same documents.

Every driver needs to be 25 or over and to have held a licence for at least 2 years (we can sometimes waive this; ask us).

5. Payment

We accept cash, card, M-Pesa and bank transfer, and no credit card is required for checkout, which makes it easy to pay from abroad. Our guide to paying for car hire from abroad explains each option.

6. Check your cover before you fly

Your credit card or car insurance at home may not cover a hire car in Kenya: card cover is often secondary and excludes luxury vehicles, and UK car insurance doesn't cover hire cars here. Check with your card issuer before you travel.

Moving to Kenya or staying a long time?

A foreign licence can be used for up to 90 days from arrival. If you are relocating or staying longer, you will need to convert to a Kenyan driving licence through the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA); confirm with NTSA if you are staying longer. Start early, because it can take time.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Packing your licence in your checked bag. If the bag is delayed, so is your car.
• Travelling on an expired licence. Check the expiry date on the card itself, not just your memory of it.
• Leaving the eTA to the last minute, especially for children on foreign passports.
• Booking under one name and driving under another. The main driver's name should match the licence.

What to keep in the car

Traffic police checks are routine in Kenya. Stay calm and polite and you will usually be on your way quickly. Always have these in the car:

• Your original driving licence, and your International Driving Permit if you need one.
• Your passport or Kenyan ID, or at least a clear copy of the photo page.
• The rental agreement, which we hand over with the car.

Make the handover quick

The easiest trips are the ones where the paperwork is done before you board. Choose your car from the fleet, whether that is a Mazda CX-5 for the city or a Toyota Prado for the drive upcountry, send your booking request, and share your documents with us on WhatsApp. When you land, we meet you at arrivals with the keys. See how booking works.