The government has announced plans to change travel policies to allow all African countries entry to Kenya without the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) application.
The government in a cabinet dispatch dated Tuesday, January 21, indicated that the move will enhance regional integration and boost tourism across the African continent.
This means that soon, if the proposal is passed into law, all African countries except Somalia and Libya, will be granted exemptions from ETA application.
According to the cabinet, Somalia and Libya are exceptions because they pose security risks.
“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,” the dispatch read in part.
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Other Changes to the ETA Application Process
Further, the changes will allow the African visitors to stay in Kenya for up to two months, with East African Community (EAC) nationals benefiting from a six-month stay as per existing free movement protocols within the EAC.
The decision comes as part of broader efforts to support open skies policies and foster growth in the tourism sector.
By simplifying entry procedures, Kenya hopes to make it easier for travellers to move across borders, strengthening ties within the continent.
At the same time, Kenya is also introducing several measures to improve the travel experience. The government also plans to launch an expedited ETA processing option.
This will allow travellers to receive approval instantly, or within 72 hours, depending on operational capacity.
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Also, a new passenger information system will be introduced to enhance security and streamline passenger processing at entry points.
Additionally, the introduction of an Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record system will be introduced to enhance pre-screening, strengthen security, and streamline passenger processing at entry points.
“Consequently, the Cabinet Secretaries of National Treasury, Transport, Interior, and Tourism were mandated to review, report, and, within a week, propose guidelines to improve travellers’ experience at all Kenyan airports,” added the dispatch.
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