Kenyan government has announced plans to enhance its electronic travel authorisation (eTA) system for African visitors.
The Government approved recommendations during the federal government’s first cabinet meeting of the year chaired by President William Ruto. Ways of driving transformative change in Kenya were discussed during the meeting.
The state house said in a statement released, “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.”
“This initiative aims to promote regional integration and ease travel across the continent.”
According to the state house; most African visitors will be allowed a two-month stay while East African Community (EAC) nationals will continue to enjoy a six-month stay under the bloc’s free movement protocols.
It added, “To improve efficiency, an expedited eTA processing option will be introduced, allowing travelers to receive approval instantly, with processing time capped at 72 hours based on operational capacity.”
“Additionally, the introduction of an Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record system will enhance pre-screening, strengthen security, and streamline passenger processing at entry points.”
The statement said the cabinet mandated the secretaries of national treasury, transport, interior, and tourism to review, report, and propose guidelines to improve travellers’ experience at all Kenyan airports within a week.
Recall that Kenya introduced a “visa-free” policy that required most visitors to apply online for authorisation before leaving their countries in 2024.
