Visa-free Kenya: Surge in visitors recorded after policy change

The country has recorded a surge in the number of visitors since the abolishment of visa requirements for all foreign visitors.

The details were revealed in a committee meeting chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Friday.

According to the National Development Implementation Committee (NDIC), between January and March 2024, the number of visitors processed through the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) was 330,000, compared to 188,570 processed through eVisa over the same period in 2023.

Last year, President William Ruto announced that Kenya would become a “visa-free country” and existing requirements would be waived in January this year.

Ruto noted that the abolishment of visa's for foreigners lies against the backdrop of embracing globalisation and opening the borders to spur the socio-economic development of the country.

However, all travellers to Kenya were required to apply for an eTA to be allowed to enter the country. Under the new system, travellers apply online for an eTA and pay a $30 processing fee.

The eTA system is a semi-automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to Kenya.

Currently, the eTA is valid for single entry into Kenya, but plans are underway to introduce a multiple-entry eTA option in the near future. The validity period is 90 days from the date of issuance.

Persons exempted from obtaining the eTA include; holders of valid Kenya passports or one-way emergency certificates issued by Kenya Missions abroad, holders of Kenya permanent residence, valid work permits and passes, and holders of a valid United Nations Conventional Travel Document issued by the government of Kenya.

Additionally, members of the diplomatic missions and International Organizations Accredited to Kenya are also exempted from eTA.

Citizens of the East African Partner States in countries such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda were exempted for six months.

Further, all passengers in transit through Kenya arriving and leaving by the same aircraft or transferring to another aircraft and who do not leave the precincts of airports in Kenya, don't require an Electronic Travel Authorization.

This also includes all passengers arriving and leaving by the same ship and who do not leave the ship.

Members of the crew of any ship, aircraft, train, vehicle or carrier; whose name and particulars are included in the crew manifest of the ship, aircraft, train, vehicle, or carrier; and who are proceeding in such ship, aircraft, train, vehicle or carrier to a destination outside Kenya were also exempted.