Kenya has abolished fees to apply for its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for travellers from seven countries, including the key source market of South Africa.

The eTA came into effect at the start of 2024, ostensibly as a part of President William Ruto’s promise of providing visa-free entry to travellers from all countries globally. The eTA has been met with mixed reaction from the tourism industry — particularly travellers from previously visa-exempt countries such as South Africa, who are now required to apply for the eTA and were paying a US$34 processing fee.

The Ministry of Interior has subsequently exempted seven countries from paying the eTA fees, with effect from February 15, according to an in-house memo penned by Dr Dan Opon, Director of Immigration Services in the ministry.

Nationals from South Africa, the Comoros, the Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mozambique and San Marino all fall under the exemption, due to the fact that these countries had “concluded visa abolition agreements or signed visa waiver agreements” with Kenya prior to the eTA’s introduction.

Industry has responded positively to the move.

Adam Bannister, Manager of the Mara Training Centre in the northern Maasai Mara, said the abolishment came as a “huge relief”.

“As the South African rand is currently so weak, every little bit helps. We have family who live in South Africa and they visit us two to three times a year, so this will help a lot. They should be making similar efforts for key source markets and for other African countries where travellers don’t have much disposable income but who still love to travel across Kenya,” said Bannister.

Before the introduction of the eTA system, citizens from 51 countries enjoyed visa-free entry to Kenya.

Currently, passport holders from Kenya’s fellow East African Community member states – Burundi, the DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda – are the only travellers exempted from applying.