Wednesday, January 22, 2025 On January 21, 2025, the Kenyan Cabinet, under the leadership of President William Ruto, approved a series of transformative changes to the country’s Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) visa policy. These changes are aimed at boosting Kenya’s position as a key tourism and business hub in Africa, while also facilitating smoother travel for African nationals. By removing the pre-authorization requirement for most African travelers, Kenya hopes to attract more visitors and improve its regional integration efforts.
The updated policy reflects a shift towards enhancing both accessibility and security for travelers, with particular attention to improving Kenya’s standing in the global tourism sector. Key Changes to Kenya’s eTA Policy The newly revised eTA policy introduces several notable changes: These adjustments are in line with Kenya’s broader efforts to address operational inefficiencies, improve tourism, and bolster regional cooperation across the African continent. Challenges That Led to the Policy Shift Before these policy changes, the eTA system, introduced in January 2024, encountered several issues that led to growing frustration among travelers and industry stakeholders.
Below are the main challenges that prompted the government to revisit the visa process: These issues ultimately highlighted the flaws in the previous system, prompting the government to act swiftly to address these concerns and make the visa process more efficient.
