Kenya is set to abolish the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) requirement for citizens of all African states except Somalia and Libya. The policy, which will take effect in 2025, will allow African travellers to stay in Kenya for up to two months without an ETA. The East African Community (EAC) members—comprising Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi—will be permitted to stay for up to six months.
This initiative aligns Kenya with other African nations such as Rwanda, Seychelles, Ghana, Gambia, and Benin, which have implemented visa-free entry policies to foster regional cooperation and ease of movement.
As reported by the BBC, the announcement directs various ministries to develop implementation guidelines within a week to improve the travel experience at Kenyan airports.
The Kenyan government is also bolstering its border control systems to ensure robust pre-screening, enhanced security, and smoother passenger processing at entry points.
This policy reflects a broader trend of improving visa openness across Africa. According to the latest Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) report, West Africa has become a leader in facilitating easier travel for African nationals. Eight of the top 20 countries with the most liberal visa regimes are in this region, including Benin, The Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. Ghana recently became the fifth African nation to adopt a continent-wide visa-free entry policy.
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