Updated 1 November 2026
To run a tour or safari company in Kenya you need a tour operator licence (Kenya Tourism Regulatory Authority, TRA). Getting a tour operator licence Kenya-wide is done through the TRA (TRA). Under the Tourism (Tourism Enterprises) Regulations, 2025 (Legal Notice No. 200 of 16 December 2025), a citizen-owned tour or safari operator pays a one-off KSh 1,000 application fee and KSh 21,500 a year. A non-citizen pays US$100 to apply and US$1,500 a year. Every licence expires on 31 December, and each tour vehicle also needs a TRA sticker. This guide lists the documents TRA asks for, the steps on the TRIMS portal and the penalties for operating without a licence.
Updated 1 November 2026 from Legal Notice No. 200 of 2025 (First Schedule, Class C) and the TRA Class C licensing page. Confirm on tra.go.ke before you pay.
Tour operator licence Kenya fees (2025 regulations)
| Class C enterprise | Application fee (once) | Citizen annual fee | Non-citizen application | Non-citizen annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour or safari operator | KSh 1,000 | KSh 21,500 | US$100 | US$1,500 |
| Tourist service vehicle hire | KSh 1,000 | KSh 21,500 | US$100 | US$1,500 |
| Travel agency | KSh 1,000 | KSh 21,500 | US$100 | US$1,500 |
| Local air charter | KSh 1,000 | KSh 89,500 | US$100 | US$1,800 |
| Balloon operator | KSh 1,000 | KSh 89,500 | US$100 | US$1,800 |
| Water sports / boat excursions | KSh 1,000 | KSh 21,500 | US$100 | US$1,500 |
Source: Legal Notice No. 200 of 2025, First Schedule. The regulations also say EAC citizens get the same treatment as Kenyan citizens, so a Ugandan or Tanzanian owner pays the citizen rate.
Tour vehicle stickers
Every vehicle or vessel used for tourists must display a Tourist Service Vehicle Sticker. A locally registered vehicle pays KSh 1,000 a year per vehicle, and the sticker expires on 31 December. A foreign-registered vehicle from outside the EAC pays US$500 for a six-month sticker. To get one you need the TRA licence, the logbook in the business or owner’s name, insurance, a tour guide licence copy and a vehicle that meets the national minimum standards.
What a first-year safari company pays TRA
A Kenyan-owned operator with three vans pays KSh 1,000 + KSh 21,500 + (3 Ă— KSh 1,000) = KSh 25,500 to TRA in year one, then KSh 24,500 each year after. Add your county permit, insurance and company costs on top.
Documents TRA asks for (C01 tour or safari operator)
- Certificate of registration or incorporation (reserve a name first: see how to reserve a business name on eCitizen)
- CR12 and/or ID copies of the directors
- KRA PIN certificate of the business (company KRA PIN guide)
- Professional certificates of the person running the enterprise
- Vehicle logbook copies, or a hire contract with a licensed vehicle-hire company
- Insurance copies
- Title deed or lease agreement for the office
- Entry or work permit if foreign-owned
- Evidence of investment of at least US$100,000 if foreign-owned
The 2025 regulations add that applications must include proof of membership of a registered tourism sector association where applicable, and TRA may verify that membership.
How to apply for a tour operator licence Kenya: step by step
- Register the business and get its KRA PIN.
- Secure an office with a lease or title, since TRA licences only cover the physical address in the application.
- Sort vehicles and insurance, either your own logbooks or a contract with a licensed hire firm.
- Apply on TRIMS, TRA’s online system (trims.tourismauthority.go.ke), upload the documents and pay the KSh 1,000 application fee.
- Inspection. TRA officers can inspect your premises and vehicles before granting the licence.
- Pay the annual fee once approved. TRA may issue a provisional licence for up to three months if some requirements are still outstanding.
- Display the licence at your office and get stickers for each vehicle.
- Get your county permit. Under regulation 15(3), the county cannot issue a business permit for a tourism enterprise until you show the TRA licence. See our single business permit guide.
Renewal, penalties and online listings
- Expiry: 31 December every year. The Tourism Act asks you to renew three months before expiry.
- Late renewal: 10% of the fee for each month you are late.
- Online booking platforms: the 2025 regulations bar unlicensed enterprises from listing on any digital marketing or booking platform, which affects operators selling on Viator, GetYourGuide or similar sites.
- Operating without a licence: section 112 of the Tourism Act sets a fine of up to KSh 100,000, up to 18 months in jail, or both.
- Change of address: notify TRA in writing; a variation attracts a fee.
- Records: keep guest and staff records for at least five years and send TRA monthly data.
Tour operator vs travel agency licence
A tour operator designs and runs trips with its own or hired vehicles, so TRA wants logbooks and insurance. A travel agency sells flights, hotels and packages run by others, so it needs office documents but no vehicles. Both pay KSh 21,500 a year for citizens. Many firms hold both. Hosts running guest houses or Airbnbs need a separate Class A licence; see our Airbnb TRA licence guide.
TRA contacts
Tourism Regulatory Authority, P.O. Box 25357-00100 Nairobi. Tel 0111 161 200. Verify any licence on the TRA “Entities Licensed by TRA” page before booking a safari company.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a tour operator licence in Kenya?
KSh 1,000 to apply (once) and KSh 21,500 a year for citizens and EAC citizens. Non-citizens pay US$100 and US$1,500 a year.
When does a TRA licence expire?
On 31 December of the year it is issued. Late renewal costs 10% of the fee for each month of delay.
Do I need vehicles to get a tour operator licence?
TRA asks for vehicle logbooks or a contract of hire with a licensed vehicle-hire company, plus insurance.
Can a foreigner own a tour company in Kenya?
Yes, with a work or entry permit and evidence of at least US$100,000 investment, paying the non-citizen fees.
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