Effective January 2024, Kenya will eliminate visa requirements, opening its borders to all foreign nationals.
Africans planning to visit Kenya will no longer need visas but will instead require advance electronic travel authorization.
Kenyan President William Ruto, in his announcement on December 12, 2023, emphasized that the country is transitioning to a visa-free status, eliminating the need for individuals to go through the visa application process before visiting.
Ruto stated, “This is to echo a message to humanity to welcome everyone home…this is why the government of Kenya has abolished the requirements of visas for all visitors,” he noted.
“To implement this policy, we have developed a digital platform to ensure that all travellers to Kenya are identified in advance on an electronic platform.
Consequently, all travellers will obtain electronic travel authorization as they come to Kenya,” President Ruto added.
To implement this policy, a digital platform has been developed to identify all travelers in advance on an electronic platform.
Consequently, travelers will obtain electronic travel authorization before coming to Kenya.
President Ruto initially announced the visa-free initiative in October 2023, highlighting that visa requirements were hindering trade, tourism, and overall development.
He emphasized the impact on business people and entrepreneurs when travel is restricted.
“When people cannot travel, business people cannot travel, entrepreneurs cannot travel, we all become net losers,” President Ruto earlier said.
Kenya’s move mirrors a recent visa waiver agreement between Ghana and South Africa.
Both countries declared that Ghanaians and South Africans can travel to each other’s countries without a visa, effective from November 1, 2023.