Kenya to be a visa-free country for all tourists from January 2024

Kenya has announced that it will abolish visa requirements for all global visitors beginning January 2024. This decision, announced by President William Ruto, is rooted in the country's commitment to embracing globalization and opening its borders to drive socio-economic development.

"Beginning January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country. It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya," Ruto said.

To implement this policy, a digital platform has been developed to identify all travelers to Kenya in advance through an electronic system. Once identified, visitors will obtain an electronic travel authorization, streamlining the entry process.


President Ruto, a vocal advocate for a borderless Africa and visa-free travel, conveyed a simple message to the world: "To echo the call of the Turkana people to the world: 'Tobong’u Lorre!' a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home!"

Prior to this broad visa-free policy, Kenya had already lifted visa requirements for Indonesian nationals. President Ruto revealed that this decision came after bilateral talks with Indonesian leader Joko Widodo on August 21. Indonesia joined Senegal and Congo as nations with which Kenya has visa-free agreements, and Comoros is expected to sign a similar agreement with Kenya by the end of the year.

IndiGo and Kenyan Airlines operate direct flights from Mumbai to Nairobi, and Air India flies to Nairobi from New Delhi.

Several countries have relaxed visa requirements for Indian travellers over the past few months, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.