Kenya’s recent implementation of an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system has led to a decline in its ranking in the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI).
Visa openness refers to the ease with which travellers can obtain authorization to travel and enter a country, pending final determination by the destination country’s immigration officials.
The country has dropped 17 places to 46th out of 54 African nations, marking its lowest position since the index’s inception.
In 2023, Kenya ranked 29th with a score of 0.396. However, the 2024 score of 0.113 places it behind regional peers like Tanzania (20th), Uganda (26th), Ethiopia (19th), and even Somalia (17th).
Rwanda, Benin, the Seychelles, and Gambia tied for first place, offering visa-free access to all African nationals.
While intended to streamline immigration processes, the ETA has imposed a KSh4,000 fee and additional application procedures on most African travellers, excluding East African Community (EAC) members. This has drawn criticism from other African nations that do not require visas for Kenyan citizens.
Ethiopia’s remarkable ascent from 46th to 19th position in eight years highlights the potential impact of visa liberalization.
Somalia and Tanzania also improved their rankings by easing visa access to countries like Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Top 10 most visa-friendly countries in Africa for 2024
| Country | Rank | No visa | Visa on arrival | Visa required* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | 1 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Seychelles | 1 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| The Gambia | 1 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Rwanda | 1 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Ghana | 5 | 26 | 25 | 2 | 0.868 |
| Nigeria | 6 | 17 | 36 | 0 | 0.864 |
| Cabo Verde | 6 | 17 | 36 | 0 | 0.864 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 8 | 40 | 0 | 0.849 | |
| Mauritania | 9 | 8 | 45 | 0 | 0.830 |
| Mauritius | 10 | 27 | 21 | 5 | 0.826 |
The AVOI 2024 underscores the growing importance of visa-free travel within Africa. Forty-eight 54 African countries now offer visa-free entry to at least one African nation.
However, Kenya’s recent policy shift has moved it in the opposite direction, potentially hindering its integration into the continent’s travel and economic landscape.
