Kenya Exempts All African Countries From eTA, Except 2

Kenya has officially eliminated visa requirements for all African nations and most Caribbean states.

People from these regions no longer need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), fill out detailed forms, or pay any visa-related charges. Essentially, eligible travellers can now arrive at the border and enter the country without any complications.

That said, Libya and Somalia are, however, excluded from this policy, with the government citing security concerns as the reason.

East African Community (EAC) nationals—including those from Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda—now qualify for the longest permitted stay in Kenya, up to 180 days.

Photo of a Kenyan passport. /CITIZEN DIGITAL

A separate group of travellers from 45 countries worldwide can stay for up to 90 days, or three months. In Africa, this includes Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, South Africa, and the Republic of Congo. Beyond Africa, countries like Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Fiji, Singapore, and Trinidad and Tobago are part of this group.

Citizens from 28 additional African nations can now stay visa-free or without an eTA for up to 60 days. This list features countries such as Nigeria, Algeria, Niger, Egypt, CAR, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Morocco, Seychelles, Djibouti, Benin, and Chad.

Other exempt groups include people holding UN Convention travel documents issued by Kenya, serving members of the British military, and a few others.

Previously, only citizens from EAC partner states were exempt from the eTA requirement. The cabinet says this move supports open skies initiatives and aims to boost tourism.

President William Ruto has argued that easing entry requirements will make cross-border travel smoother, helping to build stronger connections between Kenya and the rest of Africa.

In a notice issued in January 2025, the government also announced plans for additional steps to enhance the overall travel experience.

“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,” a dispatch from the cabinet read in part.

Kenya also pledged to implement systems that enable travellers to get their eTA approvals either instantly or within 72 hours, depending on processing capacity.

Additionally, the government plans to roll out a new passenger information system to improve pre-screening, tighten security, and speed up processing at border entry points.

The eTA system was introduced on January 1, 2024, and mandates all travellers, including infants and children, to obtain an approved eTA before commencing their journey to Kenya.

President William Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting at State Lodge, Kakamega on January 21, 2025. /PCS