Kenya has redefined its immigration, removing the requirement for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for many nationalities to simplify procedures for arriving into the country. The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Regulations 2025, the Government provides a new list of 34 exempt categories of travellers. These exempt categories include citizens from African, Caribbean and other friendly states as well as holders of specific legal, work or diplomatic credentials. Depending on the country, visa free travel will allow visits of up to 30, 60, 90 or 180 days. This policy aims to enhance tourism, trade and regional collaboration.
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List of countries that are exempted
| Duration of Stay | Countries |
| Up to 180 days | Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Uganda (EAC member states) |
| Up to 90 days | Barbados, Belize, Namibia, Nauru, Botswana, Brunei, Cyprus, Dominica, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malaysia, Maldives, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Union of Comoros, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Seychelles, The Bahamas, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Up to 60 days | Gabon, Guinea, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Liberia, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, São Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sudan, Togo, Tunisia |
| Up to 30 days | Iran (Diplomatic/service passports only) |
Other Travelers Exempt from Kenya’s eTA Requirement:
- Permanent resident of Kenya, valid work permit or re-entry pass
- Transit passengers only staying in the areas of the airport or port
- Crew members of an international flight or ship
- Private aircraft use only in re-fueling
- Officials with laissez-passers from:
United Nations
African Union
World Bank
African Development Bank
COMESA
IGAD
ELCI
African Airlines Travel Association
- Diplomatic/service passport holders from:
India
China
Turkey
Brazil
- British military stationed in Kenya
