Transit passengers with a long connection in Nairobi will be able to leave Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and visit the city thanks to a new electronic travel authorization (ETA).
Speaking today at the 14th edition of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE), Kenyan President William Ruto announced the upcoming launch of an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for transit travellers with long connections.
According to President Ruto, rather than waiting in the terminal, this new category of ETA will allow transit visitors to exit Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and visit the Kenyan capital for a few hours.
“It will now be possible for travellers who have 12 hours, instead of spending it at the airport, they can step out, they can come and enjoy a meal in the city, they can go to the national park, they can see our wildlife, they can visit our national museum and be able to travel back,” Ruto explained.
The Head of State said this arrangement for entry formalities in Kenya “is being rolled out to make sure that we have additional numbers of people visiting our country.”
“Our target is to make Kenya a must-visit destination and attract 5 million visitors a year by 2027,” William Ruto said on his social media.
Kenya is a visa-free country in 2024, but an ETA is still required
Since January 2024, Kenya has implemented a visa waiver for all travelers, regardless of their nationality. This policy allows visitors to enter Kenya without having to obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa) for tourist or business stays of up to 90 days.
In parallel with this visa waiver, Kenya has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
All travelers must now apply for an ETA before their trip on the government portal www.etakenya.go.ke, or from the mobile application available for Android device users.
This electronic process allows the Kenyan government to better manage and monitor visitor flows while simplifying administrative procedures for travelers.
The ETA must be applied for at least three days before departure for Kenya and costs around US$30, except for nationals of the following 17 countries for whom this formality is free:
- Botswana, Comoros, Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, San Marino, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The ETA is required for single entries to Kenya and must be renewed for each new visit, except in the case of a visit to Burundi, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sudan or Tanzania, and a return to Kenya with a still valid ETA and without leaving this region.
The implementation of the ETA by Kenya is part of a global trend, adopted by several other countries such as the United States, South Korea, New Zealand, Israel or the United Kingdom, aimed at improving the management of security and traveler flows while maintaining the ease of access offered by the visa exemption.
