Kenya removes visa requirements for Nigerians, all African countries, and most Caribbean nations

Kenya has joined the growing list of African nations—including Rwanda, Benin, Seychelles, and The Gambia—that have implemented visa-free policy across their borders. This visa-free policy allows Nigerians, all African countries, and most Caribbean nations to enter into the East African nation without a visa requirement.

However, it's worth noting that this visa-free policy doesn't apply to Libya and Somalia. The Kenyan government said that Libya and Somalia posed security threats to the country. Aside from Libya and Somalia, citizens of other African nations can now enter Kenya without needing to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), complete extensive paperwork, or pay any visa charges/fees.

All that's needed is to arrive at Kenya's border via road or board a flight—no extra steps involved. However, it's important to note that the introduction of the visa-free policy aligns with the Kenyan president William Ruto’s ongoing efforts to boost tourism, facilitate trades and investment sectors, support open-skies policies, and strengthen Kenya’s ties across the continent.

How Does Kenya's Visa-Free Entry Work?

Kenya's visa-free policy/entry allows African citizens and some countries in the Caribbean to stay in Kenya for up to two months visa-free. Meanwhile, nationals of the East African Community (EAC) are permitted to stay in Kenya for up to six months, in line with current free movement arrangements. The move is also expected to simplify travel for businesspeople, creatives, and holidaymakers alike.

In addition to removing the visa requirement, the Kenyan government has promised to roll out faster ETA approvals for countries still required to apply and introduce a new passenger information system to streamline entry processing and enhance security. All these policy shifts are gradually echoing the African Union’s vision for greater continental mobility.

What do you think about Kenya's visa-free entry? Is it a good one or a bad one that'll affect the country? Let us know your opinion in the comment section, and please, don't forget to share this article to all your social media pages. Cheers!