Kenya has removed ETA visa prior authorization for almost all visitors from Africa

Kenya will allow citizens of almost all African countries to visit without prior permission, according to a new cabinet directive.

Last year, Kenya introduced a “visa-free” policy, requiring most visitors to apply for a permit online before leaving their country.

But the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which replaced the visa requirement for all visitors, was criticized as a “visa by another name”.

On Tuesday, a Cabinet statement said ETA would be withdrawn “for all African countries, except Somalia and Libya, due to security concerns”.

He said that this is “part of efforts to support open skies policies and the growth of tourism” and “to promote regional integration and facilitate travel on the continent”.

Despite the inclusion of ETA, Kenya fared worse in the latest ranking of openness to visitors, dropping to 46th out of 54 nations in the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index.

Several African countries have tried to relax travel requirements for visitors from other parts of the continent in recent years, research shows, often making it easier for citizens of Western countries to visit.

Earlier this year, Ghana said all African passport holders he would now be able to visit without the need for a visa. African visitors to Rwanda also do not need a visa to enter the country.

The movement to facilitate travel within the continent is also being promoted by the African Union (AU).

Under the updated system, citizens of most African countries will be allowed to stay in Kenya for up to two months without an ETA.

Members of the East African Community, which includes Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, can abide by the bloc’s policy for six months.

Kenya has also said it will implement an improved process to “enable travelers to receive immediate approval” and a processing time of up to 72 hours.

It is not clear when it will take effect. To propose guidelines to various ministries within a week to improve the “passenger experience at all airports in Kenya,” according to the cabinet statement.

Before ETA was introduced, visitors from more than 40 countries, including several from Africa, could arrive in Kenya, get their passports stamped and enter without paying anything.

All travelers must apply for and pay for an ETA at least three days prior to travel to Kenya, except for citizens of an exempt country.

The ETA fee is $30 (£24) and is valid for 90 days.

The policy has drawn criticism, with some saying it could make it harder for potential visitors to come to the country.

Kenya has said there was a security element to the new system, which a government spokesman told the BBC last year that it was necessary to screen passengers.

The country has been targeted by al-Shabab jihadist militants from neighboring Somalia in several well-known attacks.

On Tuesday, the government said it was also introducing a system that would “strengthen safeguards, security and facilitate processing at entry points for travelers”.