Kenya Visa Free for all Travelers Starting From January 2024
Kenya Will Be Visa-Free for Travelers From 2024 Instead, visitors will need to receive electronic travel authorization prior to arrival.
The good news is that traveling to Kenya is going to get a bit easier in the new year, so if you’re planning on island hopping in the Lamu Archipelago or going on an exciting wildlife safari, you won’t have to worry as much.
President William Ruto stated this week that all tourists, regardless of country, will no longer be required to get a visa to enter Kenya starting in January 2024.
“It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya,” President Ruto stated at a December 12 event in Nairobi to celebrate the 60-year anniversary of Kenya’s independence.
In its place, Ruto said that all tourists would have to register for an electronic travel license before they can set foot in Kenya.
President Ruto declares Kenya a visa-free destination from 2024
Kenya Will Be Visa-Free for Travelers From 2024
The specifics of the new electronic travel permission system are still under wraps, but it will likely function similarly to the ETA systems used by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada at now. Executive Director of Alluring Africa Sunit Sanghrajka speaks with Condé Nast Traveler. He assures us that the application process will be quick and easy, and that we will receive an email with approval instructions soon after we submit.
More and more countries are using digital immigration processes. The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which has been postponed multiple times, is finally expected to debut in the spring of 2025. The Passport Index was developed by Armand Arton, CEO of Arton Capital. “In our lifetime we will see more natural, efficient, and non-invasive ways to cross borders, all while being more secure both for the destination and the traveler,” Arton said.
“Another example of recent efforts by African Union countries to boost their economies through eliminating frictions on travel” is Arton’s description of Kenya’s decision to do away with visa requirements. The visa requirements for African nationals will soon be lifted by Rwanda, joining a trend that began with Gambia, Benin, and Seychelles. This will allow unfettered movement within Africa, similar to the Schengen Area in Europe.
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, several nations have loosened visa requirements in an effort to attract tourists again. These include Indonesia and Mongolia.
According to Sanghrajka, who spoke with Traveler, removing the difficulty of visa applications will allow international tourists to enjoy more spontaneous excursions to Kenya, rather of having to plan farther in advance. A “game-changer” for visitors from nations who have a harder time applying for electronic visas under the current system, he says, even though the new electronic authorization system will assist simplify travel from important markets like the US.
To paraphrase President Ruto, “a simple message to humanity: welcome home” is sent by Kenya’s determination to become a visa-free nation.
