Kenya’s new health insurance rule and what it signals for employers moving talent across Africa
In late July 2026, Kenya's Ministry of Health published the minimum benefits for mandatory inbound travel health insurance.
Foreign nationals entering Kenya will need cover of at least US$50,000, issued by an insurer licensed under Kenya's Insurance Act. This requirement falls under the Social Health Insurance Act 2023, which applies to non-Kenyans entering the country for fewer than 12 months.
It is worth noting that this is an entry rule, not a work permit rule.
Employees on long-term assignments under a Class D permit are not the main target. The people most likely to be affected are:
- Business travellers
- Project teams
- Anyone moving across Kenya's border on a short stay
Some details are still settling.
Proof of cover is expected to form part of the Electronic Travel Authorisation process. However, reports differ on whether policies bought in a traveller's home country will be accepted.
Employers should treat the position as a moving target and confirm it with their insurer or adviser before sending anyone to Kenya.
Kenya is not the only African country moving in this direction
Tanzania has introduced a comparable rule.
From 1 October 2026, eligible foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must hold inbound travel insurance, priced at US$44 and valid for up to 92 days. Visitors without it may be refused entry. The policy is sold through the National Insurance Corporation, a state insurer. Residents of East African Community and SADC partner states are exempt.
Taken together, the two rules suggest that some East African governments are shaping entry requirements around their own priorities. This includes support for domestic insurers, the cost of treating visitors, and closer regional ties.
What’s more is that this is far from being unique to Africa.
Georgia, for example, has required visitors to show health insurance since January 2026. What matters for employers is the speed and variety of change, because each country is writing its own terms.
It may be too early to say that this will spread across the continent. However, it is reasonable to say that employers moving people across borders should expect more of it, and plan for it.
Why it matters for employers
For most employers, the risk is not the cost of a policy.
It is that a new entry requirement now sits outside the usual assignment checklist. Immigration teams usually plan around visas and work permits.
But insurance?
Insurance has typically been left to the traveller to arrange...or to a group policy that has not necessarily been checked against a destination's latest rules.
Short stays are where the risk lies: site visits, training sessions, and cross-border project teams may all fall under these rules, even when the traveller never needs a work permit. Frequent travellers raise a further question. Tanzania's policy lasts up to 92 days, so a longer stay needs a new one, and a rotation pattern can exceed the limit without anyone noticing.
Nationality is not a safe guide either. Reports suggest Kenya's rule applies to all non-Kenyans, including those exempt from the Electronic Travel Authorisation. This potentially means that African nationals moving within the continent may be caught as well.
Accountability also needs to be assigned properly. Someone must take responsibility for managing and paying the right insurance cover, whether that is the traveller, the line manager, or an Employer of Record (EOR) in Kenya or Tanzania.
If no one takes ownership of it, the first sign of a problem may be a refused boarding or a denied entry.
Practical steps
- List who travels where, for how long, and how often.
- Check whether existing group or corporate cover meets each destination's minimum benefits and insurer requirements.
- Add an insurance check to the pre-travel process, with enough lead time to buy local cover where required.
- Assign an owner for monitoring changes, as both countries are still settling the detail.
Kenya's approach is one example of how destination countries are shaping entry requirements around their own priorities.
Tanzania has taken a similar step, and both are still working through the detail.
For employers, this is a useful moment to review how:
- Short-stay travel is planned
- Who is responsible for checking cover
- How changes are monitored
Africa HR Solutions supports employers across 46+ African countries and has 15+ years of experience in cross-border employment, payroll, and compliance.
If it would help to talk through your own arrangements, you are welcome to get in touch with one of our consultants.
About the Author
Grant Geraghty is a trusted HR and payroll compliance specialist with extensive experience across Africa. With a background in economics and payroll administration, he helps organisations navigate local regulations and streamline their expansion strategies on the continent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kenya's rule apply to employees on work permits?
The rule is aimed at non-Kenyans entering for less than twelve months. Employees on long-term assignments with a work permit are generally not the focus, but business travellers, short-term secondees, and project teams may be. Employers should confirm how it applies to each type of assignment.
How much cover does Kenya require?
A cumulative minimum of US$50,000, with specific minimum limits for different benefit categories, issued by an insurer licensed under Kenya's Insurance Act.
Can travellers use insurance bought in their home country?
Reports differ.
One account says the Ministry of Health has confirmed that home-country policies are acceptable if they meet the minimum cover, while another describes a designated approach in which the government chooses the provider. Check the Ministry's current guidance before travel.
Is the rule already being enforced?
Proof of cover is expected to form part of the Electronic Travel Authorisation process, but implementation details are still being finalised.
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, employers should assume it will be enforced and plan accordingly.
Does Tanzania have a similar rule?
Yes.
From 1 October 2026, eligible foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must hold inbound travel insurance priced at US$44 and valid for up to 92 days. Visitors without it may be refused entry, and residents of East African Community and SADC partner states are exempt.
Will other African countries follow?
It is too early to say.
Two East African countries have moved in the same direction within a few months, which is a reason to watch for further changes, but not necessarily proof of a continental trend.
Is our existing group travel policy enough?
Not necessarily.
Check it against each destination's minimum benefits and insurer requirements and ask your insurer to confirm in writing.
Who should be responsible for checking travel insurance?
There is no single right answer, but someone must own it. This might be the line manager, or an Employer of Record (EOR). What matters is that it is agreed before travel, not after a problem at the border.
