The Kenyan government has scrapped the entry fee for passport holders from South Africa and six additional countries, a fee that had been introduced in January 2024.
Previously, the government had abolished visa requirements for all foreign passport holders as part of an initiative to position Kenya as an attractive tourist destination and to appeal to business travellers.
However, a $30 (£23) entry fee was implemented, impacting even those visitors who had previously been exempt from visa requirements.
This decision triggered significant criticism, with concerns raised about the possibility of other nations, with which Kenya has visa-waiver agreements, adopting a similar fee structure, thereby increasing the cost and bureaucratic processes associated with travel.
Notably, only travellers from the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc were initially exempted from the entry fee.
In addition to South Africa, the exemption has now been extended to passport holders from five other African nations: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Congo-Brazzaville, Comoros, and Mozambique. San Marino, Europe’s third-smallest nation, is the sole non-African country on the exemption list.
A memorandum from Kenya’s interior ministry and immigration department stated that the exempted countries had either entered into “visa abolition agreements or signed bilateral visa waiver agreements” with Kenya.
Despite the exemption, travellers from these countries are still required to obtain an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) in advance, providing details such as flight information and proof of accommodation.
The ETA permits a single entry and remains valid for a period of 90 days, offering a streamlined yet secure entry process for eligible visitors.