(Posted 10th January 2024)
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION STATE DEPARTMENT FOR IMMIGRATION & CITIZEN SERVICES
OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
PRESS STATEMENT JAN 7, 2024 UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORISATION (ETA)
To boost tourism and attract more foreign investments to Kenya, the Government removed all visa requirements for all foreign nationals visiting and transiting through Kenya from January 2024. This decision reflects our commitment to the promotion of an open, accessible and inclusive tourism and investment environment. The vacated visa requirements have been replaced by the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system. This is designed for visaexempt foreign nationals traveling to or transiting through our country, especially by air.
So far 9787 ETA applications have been received on https://www.etakenya.go.ke. Of these, 4046 have already been processed while the others are undergoing review on priority basis guided by the travel schedule submitted by each applicant. The introduction of ETA is premised on the need to have a fair, faster and reliable system that also addresses Kenya’s security and other strategic interests.
Before ETA, citizens from 51 countries enjoyed visa-free entry to Kenya, while travellers from 155 other countries were subject to a visa application process at a cost of $50.
ETA has introduced significant changes to the travel and transit experience for foreign nationals visiting Kenya in four fundamental ways:
1. Equal Treatment and Reduced Fees.
The entry requirements and applicable payments for all foreign nationals, except for East African Community (EAC) citizens, will now be the same irrespective of the country of origin. The visa fee was $50 while the ETA fee for all is $30, thereby ensuring fairness and equality.
2. Advance Passengers Information.
Previously, travellers from 51 countries were not required to fill out any forms on personal and relevant travel details. There was therefore no means of obtaining data to inform critical decisions and plans around security, infrastructure and insurance needs. With the introduction of the ETA, we now have comprehensive data on all visitors, significantly improving our ability to ensure the safety and well-being of both our visitors and citizens.
3. Reduced Processing Time.
Compared to visa application, ETA provides for a simple and faster process. Previously, it took up to 14 days to process visa applications for foreigners from 12 listed countries. The waiting period for this category has now been drastically reduced to a maximum of 72 hours.
4. Dedicated ETA Desk.
To guarantee a seamless experience, we have introduced a 24-hour service desk dedicated to ETA. This will ensure clients are promptly attended to irrespective of the hour while also taking into consideration the different time zones across the world.
We will continue to review and refine the ETA system to align it with our clients’ convenience and to support our commitment to make Kenya a natural home for visitors and investors. With ETA system now in place, we are proud to declare to the world: ‘Welcome Home!’
Amb. (Prof.) Julius K. Bitok, MBS
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
Adds ATCNews that travelers using Nairobi as a transit airport and not airport of final destination should ascertain if they too now have to apply for an ETA and pay the USD 30 in the process as in the past transit airside through Nairobi was apparently not subject to Visa.
The questions asked by duly registered expatriates in Uganda and Rwanda, previously traveling Visa free to Kenya on a so called Interstate Pass are also begging for answers, if the past arrangements stay in place, i.e. no need to apply for an ETA and pay 30 US Dollars per person, or else they too now have to go through the process.
It is obvious that Kenya’s big announcement for Visa free travel was clearly understating the need for another buereaucratic process and associated cost and does not help Kenya’s case to attract more visitors, in particular upsetting those from the region whose legitimate questions have gone unanswered.
