Get a TRA licence as a tour operator, travel agent, safari or boat excursion operator (Class C)
Tourism Regulatory Authority · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Apply online on the TRA Licensing Portal (licensing.tra.go.ke) or eCitizen, upload your company papers plus vehicle, insurance and office documents, pay on eCitizen and get your office inspected. Tour and safari operators, travel agents, tourist vehicle hire, water sports, balloon and boat excursion operators all need this licence.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- How long
- About 14 working days for a new licence
- Deadline
- Renew three months before the licence expires
- Where
- Online only, on the TRA Licensing Portal (licensing.tra.go.ke) or through eCitizen. Payment is on eCitizen.
What you need
- Certificate of business registration or incorporation
- CR12 and/or ID copies of the directors
- KRA PIN certificate of the business
- Professional certificates of the person running the business
- Tour operators: vehicle logbooks or a hire contract with a licensed company, and insurance
- Title deed or lease for your office
- Boat excursions: coxswain certificate, insurance and seaworthiness certificate for the boats
- Foreign-owned businesses: entry or work permits
Steps
- Create an account on the TRA Licensing Portal (licensing.tra.go.ke) or use your eCitizen account.
- Fill in the licence application online and upload the documents for your type of tour business. Paper applications are not accepted.
- Pay the licence fee through eCitizen.
- TRA officers inspect your premises before the licence is issued.
- Renew at least three months before your licence expires.
Watch out
- You need a real office: TRA asks for the title deed or lease for your office space.
- A foreign-owned tour or safari company must show a base of at least USD 100,000.
- Renewing late costs 10% of the licence fee for every month you are late.
Who can apply
- Tour and safari operators, tourist vehicle hire, local air charter, travel agencies, water sports, balloon operators and boat excursion operators.
Official sources (5)
- Licensing - Class C tra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- TRA Licensing tra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Public Notice: 2026 Tourism Licence Applications & Renewals Now Open tra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- TRA Service Charter (English, July 2026) tra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- TRA Licensing Portal licensing.tra.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026