Kenya Opens Doors: Visa-Free Travel for Most African Nations
Kenya has announced a major policy shift, allowing citizens from nearly all African countries to visit without prior authorization. The decision, revealed in a cabinet directive, eliminates the need for the previously required Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which many criticized as a hidden visa.
The new visa-free entry applies to all African nations except Somalia and Libya due to ongoing security concerns. Visitors from most African countries can now stay for up to two months without an ETA, while citizens of East African Community (EAC) nations—including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi—can enjoy extended stays of up to six months.
This move is part of Kenya’s efforts to boost tourism, embrace regional integration, and support open skies policies. It comes despite Kenya’s drop to 46th out of 54 countries in the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index.
To ease the transition, the government has pledged faster travel approvals, with a maximum processing time of 72 hours. Additional measures to enhance the traveler experience at Kenyan airports are expected to be announced soon, though no implementation date for the visa-free policy has been set.
This bold initiative positions Kenya as a leader in promoting free movement across the continent while balancing its security needs and economic growth ambitions.
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