Kenya has announced that citizens from nearly all African countries can now visit without prior authorization, following a new cabinet directive.
Previously, travelers were required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) online—criticized as a “visa in disguise.”
However, on Tuesday, the cabinet confirmed the ETA will no longer be required for “all African countries except Somalia and Libya,” citing security concerns.
The government stated that this decision aligns with efforts to boost tourism, support open skies policies, and enhance regional integration.
Despite the visa-free policy, Kenya dropped 17 places to rank 46th out of 54 nations in the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index.
Under the revised rules, most African nationals can stay in Kenya for up to two months without an ETA, while citizens of the East African Community—Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi—can stay for up to six months, as per regional agreements.
Additionally, an improved system will allow instant approvals, with a maximum processing time of 72 hours.Before the ETA requirement, visitors from over 40 countries, including many in Africa, could enter Kenya without restrictions.
Currently, all travelers—unless exempt—must apply and pay $30 for an ETA at least three days before travel.
The ETA system has drawn criticism for complicating travel and discouraging visitors, but authorities defend it as a tool for pre-screening, enhancing security, and streamlining processing.
Kenya continues to face security threats from al-Shabab militants in Somalia, which has led to stricter border controls.
The government has promised new airport guidelines to improve the traveler experience within a week, but no implementation date for the new policy has been announced.
