Kenya drops to 46th position in Africa Visa Openness Index amid criticism of new system
By Amina Wako |
Rwanda, Benin, Seychelles, and Gambia tied for first place, each achieving a perfect score of 1.0 by allowing visa-free access to all African nationals.
Kenya has been ranked 46 out of 54 countries in the Africa Visa Openness Index 2024, highlighting its limited visa-free access to other African nations. In 2023, Kenya was position 29 with a score of 0.396.
The country’s score of 0.113 in 2024 places it behind regional peers like Tanzania (20th), Uganda (26th), Ethiopia (19th), and Somalia (17th).
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Rwanda, Benin, Seychelles, and Gambia tied for first place, each achieving a perfect score of 1.0 by allowing visa-free access to all African nationals.
The index, which evaluates how accessible each African nation is to visitors from the continent, revealed that Kenya's recent introduction of an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system negatively impacted its ranking. Although member states of the East African Community (EAC) are exempted, other African travellers now face a Sh4,000 fee and additional application processes before visiting Kenya.
“Kenya’s requirement of an ETA prior to travel for most travellers from other African countries lowered the score, notwithstanding exemptions for EAC member states,” the report noted.
While Kenya introduced the ETA to streamline immigration processes and reduce on-arrival delays, it has drawn criticism from other African nations, many of which do not require visas for Kenyans.
The report also highlighted notable regional contrasts. Ethiopia, for example, climbed from 46th to 19th position in just eight years, achieving a score of 0.732. Somalia and Tanzania improved their rankings after easing visa access to countries like Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The changes in visa policies have sparked debate, with critics arguing Kenya’s ETA could deter intra-African travel and trade.
According to the interior ministry's statement, the ETA aims to significantly enhance the travel and transit experience for foreign nationals visiting Kenya.
In contrast to traditional visa programs with multi-year validity, the ETA for Kenya is specific to a single trip, requiring travellers to obtain a new ETA for each visit. Previously, a single-entry visa cost $50 (Sh6,400), while a multiple-entry visa cost $100 (Sh12,900).
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