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Having Trouble Paying for Your Kenya eTA? Here's a Fix That Works

3 min read

If you've tried to pay for your Kenya eTA on the official site (etakenya.go.ke) and ran into problems, you're not alone. One of the most frustrating issues we’ve seen — and personally experienced — is when your payment fails, even after doing everything right. Here's the error message many people receive:

“Authentication Failed! Your card issuer cannot authenticate this card. Please select another card or form of payment to complete this transaction.”

Sometimes, the error even shows a cloud or lock icon, but no matter what you try, the payment just won’t go through.

Common Fixes That Don’t Always Work

When this error happens, people often try:

  • Switching browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)

  • Using a different device (computer vs. phone)

  • Clearing cookies or cache

  • Trying different cards

But many times, none of this helps.

The Unexpected Solution That Actually Works

Here’s what finally worked for me — and continues to work for many others we’ve helped:

I changed my internet connection.
That’s right. When I switched from Wi-Fi to mobile data (my phone’s internet), the payment suddenly went through. I don’t know why this works, but the results are consistent. Many others using office Wi-Fi or certain home routers experience blocked payments — possibly due to security settings, firewalls, or how the card verification process runs in the background.

New Payment Problem: No OTP Appears Anymore

Lately, we’ve also seen a new issue. After filling in card details, the site doesn’t even send the OTP (One Time Password) anymore. It used to fail after entering the OTP — now it won’t even reach that step on certain networks or devices.

So again, the trick: change the internet and try on your phone.

Don't Reapply — Just Use the Payment Link

A big mistake travelers make is starting the application from scratch on a new device. That’s not necessary.

When you complete the application on the Kenya eTA site, you receive a unique payment link that looks like this:

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Hello, JAKE THOMPSON ERIC Here is your payment link for invoice number KGLXVJ4R. Please complete the payment of USD 30. https://etakenya.go.ke/form/apply/payment/checkout/KGLXVJ5G

✅ Instead of starting over, just take that exact payment link and open it on your phone (or any other device with different internet). You’ll see the payment window again — ready to use.

Is the Payment Link Safe?

Yes. Even if the link doesn't display your name or details once opened, it’s still tied to your application. The reference number in the link (like KGLXVJ4R) is unique to your file.

So as long as you took the link from the correct confirmation email (e.g., the one addressed to JAKE THOMPSON ERIC), you’re paying for that exact application. No need to worry — just double-check before copying it.

What If You’re Not Sure the Payment Went Through?

Sometimes, after submitting card details, you may not see a success or failure message. That can be confusing.

Here’s what to do:

  1. Wait a few minutes.
    The backend system might be verifying your payment. Avoid clicking “Submit” again too quickly.

  2. Open the same payment link again after 5–10 minutes.

    • If payment succeeded, you’ll see: “Your payment was successful.”

    • If payment failed, the same card input form will appear again.

You can also check your bank account or credit card app to see if the charge went through.

After you successfully complete the payment, you will receive an email like this:

Hello, JAKE THOMPSON ERIC
Your payment for application [G5GWBB3E8E] has been successfully received. Kindly find a copy of your e-receipt attached. We have commenced processing your application. Welcome to Kenya.

This message confirms your payment went through and your application is now in the processing stage.

Want to skip the wait?
Send us just your reference number (like G5GWBB3E8E) and we’ll fast-track your existing application in as little as 10–24 hours — no uploads, no sensitive data, no need to reapply and 100% guarantee.

Your approval will come directly from the official Kenya eTA system (email: donotreply@ecitizen.go.ke), not from us.

Zero stress. Real results.

Learn more How eTA Rush works