Kenya has finally implemented its promise of a borderless Africa, scrapping all Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) requirements for all African countries except Libya and Somalia.

This is in fulfilment of the government's proposal issued in January that sought to open up the skies for all African countries for tourism growth.

In the proposal, Libya and Somalia are the only two African countries sidelined due to security concerns.

“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.

A photo collage of a Visa and an application illustration in progress.

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File/Edify

The latest update means that citizens of these countries can enter the country without prior authorisation. All the countries whose entry previously required an eTA can now simply pay for an air ticket, grab their passport and visit Kenya, or simply get to the border and get in hassle-free.

Citizens of the East African Community (EAC), including Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, will be eligible for the longest of the stays, capping at 180 days.

Another category allowing for a stay of up to 90 days or three months includes citizens of 45 other countries from across the globe.

In Africa, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, South Africa, and the Republic of Congo fall under said category. Other notable ones outside Africa are Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Fiji Islands, Singapore and Trinidad and Tobago.

Citizens of 28 more African countries will also be allowed to extend their stays in Kenya without a Visa or an eTA for up to 60 days or two months.

They include Nigeria, Algeria, Niger, Egypt, Central Africa Republic, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia, Morocco, Seychelles, Djibouti, Benin and Chad.

Several other categories of people, including holders of United Nations Convention travel documents issued by the Kenyan Government, serving members of the British military, among others.

Previously, the only citizens exempt from having an eTA were those from the East African Partner States of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.

A photo of the Kenyan Passport

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