Ethiopian travelers are now relieved from the obligation to pay the usual $30 Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) fee when traveling to Kenya.
Through a post on his X account, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Bacha Debele Buta, expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Government of Kenya for its quick response and generous decision to waive the electronic payment requirement for Ethiopian citizens in connection with the eTA, VisaGuide.World reports.
We kindly inform our citizens that they can enter Kenya without any requirement for a visa and its related payment, but the requirement to fill out the eTA form online before arrival remains mandatory.
The announcement came amid concerns about the implications of Kenya’s new visa regulations on the long-standing visa-free agreement between Kenya and Ethiopia, allowing citizens of both countries to travel without needing a visa.
President Ruto unveiled Kenya’s transition to a visa-free agreement on December 12, 2023, with the introduction of eTA requirements for all foreigners, effective January 1, 2024. Speaking during a conference held in the Republic of Congo earlier in October 2023, President Ruto emphasized that citizens of African countries can travel to Kenya without visas by the end of 2023.
Moreover, the eTA system facilitates advanced identification and verification processes. The first influx of foreign arrivals under the new visa regime occurred on January 5 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
In this regard, Chief Immigration Secretary Julius Bitok revealed that the Immigration Department had received 5,000 eTA applications at that time.
During the same month, the Kenya Association of Travel Agents revealed a remarkable revival in the country’s travel sector, citing a staggering 90 percent increase in arrivals. Buoyed by such significant growth, Kenya predicted the same pace for this year as well, aiming to reach and surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels.
At a meeting, Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, noted their commitment to implementing reforms aimed at strengthening Kenya’s Kenya’s position as one of the top choices for tourists worldwide.
As of February 2024, the Kenyan passport is ranked 138th globally according to the VisaGuide Passport Index. This ranking allows Kenyan citizens to enjoy visa-free travel privileges to 44 countries worldwide. However, for entry into the remaining countries, holders of Kenyan passports must undergo the visa application process beforehand.