Countries and Foreign Nationals Exempt from Kenya's Electronic Travel Authorization
Learn which countries, citizens, and international organizations are exempt from the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) in Kenya. Understanding these exemptions and duration of stay is important for those planning to visit Kenya.
1. Foreign Nationals with Official Kenyan Documents
Exemption from the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is applicable to specific groups of people in Kenya. These include:
- A person with a valid Kenyan Passports or a one-way Emergency Travel document issued by a Kenyan Missions abroad.
- Those holding Kenya Permanent Residence, valid Work Permits, and Passes.
2. Foreign Nationals in the Following Situations
- Passengers transiting through Kenya on the same aircraft or transferring to another without leaving the airport precincts.
- Ship passengers who arrive and depart on the same vessel without disembarking.
- Owners of private aircraft stopping over for refueling in Kenya without leaving the airport precints.
- Crew members of ships, aircraft, trains, and vehicles, listed in the manifest and continuing to travel outside Kenya.
3. East African Community (EAC) Member States
Citizens of East African Partner States do not need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter Kenya and they can stay for a period of up to 6 months (180 days). This exempted countries includes;
- Burundi
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Tanzania, and
- Uganda.
4. United Nations Travel Documents and Official Representatives
- Holders of a valid United Nations Conventional Travel Documents issued by the Government of Kenya.
- Members of Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations accredited to Kenya.
5. Countries Permitted to Stay Up to 2 Months
Citizens from these african countries are permitted to stay for a period not exceeding 2 months (60 days). The table below contains the list.
List of Countries |
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Algeria Angola Benin Burkina Faso Cape Verde Cameroon Central African Republic |
Chad Cote d'Ivoire Djibouti Egypt Equatoria Guinea Gabon Guinea |
Guinea Bissau Liberia Madagascar Mali Mauritania Morocco Niger |
Nigeria Sao Tome and Principe Senegal Seychelles Sudan Togo Tunisia |
6. Countries Permitted to Stay Up to 3 Months
Citizens from these specified countries are permitted to stay for a period not exceeding 3 months (90) days.The table below contains the list.
List of Countries | ||||
Barbados Belize Botswana Brunei Cyprus Dominica Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia |
Fiji Island Gambia Ghana Grenada Guyana Jamaica Kiribati Lesotho Malaysia |
Maldives Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Nauru Papua New Guinea Union of Comoros Samoa |
San Marino Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa St. Kitts and Navis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Swaziland Seychelles |
The Bahamas The Gambia Tonga Trinidad and Tobago The Republic of Congo Tuvalu Vanuatu Zambia Zimbabwe |
7. Foreign Nationals and Diplomats Applying for eTA but Exempt from Payment
Diplomats, foreign delegates (including United Nations officials), and holders of a Laissez Passer document are exempt from paying the standard fee for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). However, if you require expedited processing, you have the option to pay for faster service.
Here is a list of holders exempt from paying the eTA service fee.
- A person possessing Diplomatic, Official, or Service Passports while on official duty.
- A person holding specific Laissez Passers for official business purposes and associated with international and regional organizations. These include;
- United Nations Organization
- African Union
- African Development Bank
- Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
- African Development Bank
- Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
- International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa
- Desert Locust Control Organization
- COMESA
- International Monetary Fund and World Bank
- Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
- African Airlines Travel Association (IATA)
- Environment Liaison Centre International (ELCI)
- Union of Radio, Television Network of Africa (URTNA)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
- European Union
- CIP (International Potato Centre)
- African Reinsurance Corporation (ARC)
- African Housing Fund (AHF)
8. Useful Links
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