Kenya’s passport has been ranked as the seventh most powerful in Africa and the 67th in the world by the Henley Passport Index.
This means that Kenyan passport holders can travel to 76 countries without a visa or with a visa on arrival.
This is a significant improvement from the previous ranking, where Kenya was ranked 8th in Africa and 73rd in the world. The improvement is due to Kenya’s recent decision to waive visa requirements for citizens of several countries, including South Africa, Comoros, Djibouti, and Eritrea.
The ranking of Kenya’s passport is a positive sign for the country’s economy and tourism industry. A strong passport can make it easier for businesses to do business internationally and for tourists to visit Kenya. It can also help attract foreign investment.
Kenya received 451,441 international visitors in Q3 2023, a 42.3% increase from 317,196 visitors in Q2 2023.
On a year-on-year basis, the total arrivals in the first nine months of 2023 rose by 28.7% to 1,238,330, compared to 962,157 in the same period in 2022.
Kenya Simplifies Visa Process and Fees for Foreign Visitors
The Kenyan government is continuing to work to improve the country’s passport ranking. The new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system is designed to make it easier for foreign nationals to travel to Kenya.
“The introduction of ETA is premised on the need to have a fair, faster, and reliable system that also addresses Kenya’s security and other strategic interests,” the Ministry of Interior and National Administration said. “Before ETA, citizens from 51 countries enjoyed visa-free entry to Kenya, while travellers from 155 other countries were subject to a visa application process for $50.”
The ETA system replaces the visa requirements that were scrapped by President William Ruto in 2023. The processing time is up to 72 hours, faster than the previous visa application process, which took up to 14 days.
How to Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to Kenya
To apply for an ETA, travellers need to have a valid passport and provide their contact details, proof of accommodation, flight information, and other relevant information.
They should submit their applications at least three days before their travel date to ensure enough time for approval. They can also apply up to three months in advance, and it is advisable to do so as soon as they have confirmed their bookings.
The ETA system is now available for citizens of 12 countries, and the government plans to expand it to more countries in the future.
Each year, Henley & Partners releases their Passport Index:
“The index’s scoring system was developed to give users a practical, and reliable overview of their passport’s power. Each passport is scored on the total number of destinations that the holder can access visa-free. For each travel destination, if no visa is required, then a score of 1 is allocated for that passport. This also applies if passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) upon entry.”
The top 10 most powerful African passports in Q1 of 2024
| Rank | Country | Economic Mobility Score | Global Visa-Free Access (Out of 226 Destinations) | Global Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Seychelles | 55.89% | 156 | 26th |
| 2. | Mauritius | 57.68% | 150 | 30th |
| 3. | South Africa | 16.37% | 108 | 53rd |
| 4. | Botswana | 14.77% | 91 | 59th |
| 5. | Lesotho | 12.6% | 80 | 65th |
| 6. | Namibia | 8.33% | 80 | 65th |
| 7. | eSwatini | 8.34% | 78 | 66th |
| 8. | Kenya | 5.48% | 76 | 67th |
| 9. | Malawi | 5.1% | 76 | 67th |
| 10. | Tanzania | 4.92% | 76 | 69th |
