President William Ruto has announced plans to revise visa and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) requirements for passengers arriving at the Port of Mombasa.
Kenya introduced the eTA system on January 1, 2024, requiring all foreign visitors, including children and infants, to obtain authorization before entering the country.
The system aims to enhance security and vet travellers, streamline passenger processing at entry points, monitor entries into Kenya and simplify the travel process for visitors.
Speaking during the welcoming ceremony for the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship at Mombasa Port on Sunday, Ruto stated that the changes are imperative.
He said
this because the government wants to align with recent adjustments made for
international arrivals at the country’s major airports, ensuring a standardized
entry process for all travellers.
Ruto emphasized that the revision aims to make the clearance process for visitors and tourists at the port paperless and seamless.
"I
want to confirm to you and other cruise ships that we will be revising our visa
and eTA requirements to make it easier and more efficient for visitors. This
will eliminate unnecessary paperwork and delays," Ruto announced.
He added, "We have agreed with the port management that the process will be simplified to ensure visitors can explore our country, cities, and parks with ease."
The introduction of ETA, which replaced the visa requirement for all visitors, was criticised as a "visa under another name".
Last month the government said it will allow citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without needing prior authorisation.
Several
African countries have tried to ease travel requirements for visitors from
elsewhere on the continent in recent years, with studies showing it is often
easier for citizens of Western countries to visit.
Speaking when he accompanied Ruto, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir welcomed the directive, stating that it would allow travellers to move freely across Kenya after a one-time clearance at the port.
"This
will create a seamless visa process where the shipping line will provide a
passenger manifest to port authorities, who will then handle the clearance in a
single step," Nassir explained.
