Kenya Visa & Policy Updates
Kenya has removed Electronic Travel Authorisation requirements for most African citizens and established a $50,000 minimum health insurance floor for short-term visitors. Non-citizen traders must regularize their legal status by December 8, 2026, while foreign workers are now required to exit the country before switching employers. New legislative amendments also aim to streamline citizenship paths by removing permanent residency requirements for specific applicants.
Non-citizen traders in Kenya have until Dec. 8 to fix legal status
Kenya has granted foreign business operators a 90-day grace period to regularize their work permits, immigration status, and local trade licenses. Foreign entrepreneurs and self-employed expats must ensure their legal status is fully compliant before strict enforcement begins.
Kenya ends Electronic Travel Authorization for African nationals under new tiered stay rules
Kenya has eliminated the Electronic Travel Authorisation requirement for most African citizens, streamlining short- and medium-term travel. East African Community nationals can now stay up to 6 months, while other eligible African passport holders receive up to 2 months visa-free.
Kenya sets $50,000 minimum health insurance floor for tourists and nomads
Kenya now requires all non-citizens staying less than 12 months to purchase inbound travel health insurance from Kenya-licensed insurers. The policy mandates a minimum coverage of $50,000, significantly increasing the entry costs and compliance burden for digital nomads and tourists.
What Kenya's Citizenship Amendment Bill Actually Means for Nomads
The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to streamline the path to citizenship by removing permanent residency requirements for certain applicants and eliminating application deadlines. These changes could simplify the legal status process for long-term foreign residents and stateless individuals currently living in the country.
Kenya's Citizenship Bill for Long-Term Stateless Residents, Explained
The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill proposes removing time limits for citizenship applications by certain migrants and stateless persons. While primarily targeting those without documentation, the bill clarifies the legal pathways for long-term foreign residents to seek permanent status in the country.
Understanding Kenya's Exit Requirements for Expats
Kenya now requires foreign workers to cancel their current work permit and exit the country before applying for a new permit under a different employer. New applications will not be processed until proof of departure is provided, ending the previous practice of in-country employer transfers.
Kenya Updates Entry Rules for Macau SAR Passport Holders
Macau SAR passport holders can now enter Kenya visa-free for up to 90 days. Travelers must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) prior to arrival, streamlining entry for digital nomads and visitors from the region.