Kenya's Visa Elimination Brings Unforeseen Costs for Comesa Nations

Kenya’s recent decision to eliminate visas for foreigners, though ostensibly a cause for celebration, has incurred unanticipated costs for certain nations that were previously exempted from visa fee.

The introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), replacing traditional visa requirements, has resulted in a reduction in document costs from $50 to the current rate of $30.

While this benefits citizens of nations previously obligated to pay visa fees, it poses a financial burden for individuals from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) who were previously exempted from any amount.

In the past, Comesa nationals enjoyed exemption from visa fees and the need for travel document applications when visiting Kenya.

However, the implementation of the ETA now requires them to pay a minimum of $30 for entry. This policy adjustment impacts individuals from the 51 countries that were formerly granted visa-free access to Kenya.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice outlining specific exemptions from the ETA requirement.

Individuals holding Kenyan Permanent residence, valid work permits and passes, as well as those possessing valid United Nations Conventional Travel Documents issued by the Government of Kenya, are exempt.

Additionally, members of Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations Accredited to Kenya enjoy this privilege.

Other exempted groups include passengers in transit through Kenya, provided they arrive and depart on the same aircraft or transfer to another one without leaving the precincts of Kenyan airports.

Similarly, passengers arriving and departing on the same ship, without disembarking, are exempt. Crew members of ships, aircraft, trains, vehicles, or carriers listed in the respective manifests, heading outside Kenya, also fall under the exemption.

Residents of East Africa have been granted a six-month exemption from the ETA requirement, with a subsequent review by the government expected after the lapse of the window.

According to the Department of Immigration, the government has already collected one million dollars (Ksh159 million) from approximately 25,000 ETA applications.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org