Kenya plans to implement a visa-free policy for most African citizens, allowing them to enter and stay there for up to 2 months. This move aims to boost tourism and strengthen inter-African relations.
On Tuesday, the Kenyan Cabinet approved recommendations to grant visa-free entry to citizens of most African countries, excluding Somalia and Libya.
“As part of efforts to support open skies policies and tourism growth, a key proposal is to grant eTA exemptions to all African countries—except Somalia and Libya—due to security concerns. This initiative aims to promote regional integration and ease travel across the continent. Most African visitors will be allowed a two-month stay, while East African Community (EAC) nationals will continue to enjoy a six-month stay under EAC free movement protocols,” a dispatch from the cabinet reads.
This decision follows concerns that Kenya’s previous visa requirements, including a mandatory three-day pre-registration period, had made the country less accessible to African travellers.
The new policy, aimed at enhancing the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system, will allow most African visitors to stay in Kenya for up to two months without a visa.
Citizens of the East African Community (EAC) will continue to enjoy a six-month stay under existing free movement protocols.
To further improve the traveller experience, the government will:
- Expedite eTA processing: Introduce an option for instant approval, with a maximum processing time of 72 hours.
- Implement an Advanced Passenger Information system: Enhance pre-screening, strengthen security, and streamline passenger processing at entry points.
This decision comes after Kenya’s recent decline in the Africa Visa Openness Index, where it slipped 17 places to rank 46th out of 54 African countries. The index assesses the ease of travel within the African continent.
The Cabinet Secretaries of National Treasury, Transport, Interior, and Tourism have been tasked with developing guidelines within a week to improve the traveller experience at all Kenyan airports.
This move is expected to significantly enhance Kenya’s tourism sector and strengthen its position as a leading travel destination within Africa.
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