Govt To Slap Airlines With KSh 1.5m Fine For Failure To Provide Passenger Data In Visa-Free Entry

• The government is currently coming up with legislation to govern the visa-free entry programme
• President William Ruto issued directives that, beginning January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country to attract investors and tourists
• Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government proposed Immigration (Amendment) Regulation Bill 2023
• The Bill requires passengers to apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation and airlines to provide accurate passenger information

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Travellers visiting Kenya on a visa-free entry programme will be required to apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before boarding any airline.

This is according to a new bill proposed by the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government for a Visa-free entry programme.

The Immigration (Amendment) Regulation Bill 2023 proposed the introduction of Advanced Passenger Information (API) onboarding a specific aircraft, showing their security database.

Fine to airlines carrying passengers without valid ETA

If passed into law, the new bill will see airlines that fail to provide accurate information about the passengers onboard fined $10,000 (KSh 1.57 million).

“An administrative penalty shall not be payable where the aircraft operator or pilot in command of the aircraft satisfies the director that the contravention was not made knowingly or recklessly,” read the Bill in part as quoted by People Daily.

The airline shall be required to return any passenger without a valid ETA back to the country of origin.

What kind of data is contained in ETA document?

According to the bill, the information captured in the ETA will show passenger status on acts of terrorism; participation in a criminal organisation; trafficking in human beings; sexual offences, including exploitation of children; illicit trafficking in narcotics, weapons and explosives; corruption; fraud; and laundering of the proceeds of crime.

Others are cybercrime; forgery of administrative documents; crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court; unlawful seizure of aircraft; piracy; sabotage; and industrial espionage.

Any passenger found with these criminal offences will not be issued with an ETA pass to the country.

The data shall be kept for five years before it is disbanded.

How to apply for ETA, visa charges in Kenya

Current visa holders shall still use it to come into the country until it expires or is revoked.

Anyone applying for ETA shall be required to present;

• Valid passport for at least six (6) months after their planned date of arrival into Kenya with at least one blank page.
• Selfie or passport-type photo
• Contact information (Email address and phone number)
• Details of arrival and departure itinerary
• Accommodation booking confirmation(s)
• Credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or other means of payment
• Financial assets and return flight ticket details for some passengers based on their country of origin.

ETA charges will be $30 (about KSh 4,700), effective January 2024.

A gazette notice issued in November 2023 highlighted changes in visa fees.

These include KSh 15,700 for a Single Entry Visa, KSh 78,500 for a Multiple Entry Visa, KSh 25,120 for a 5-year Multiple Entry Visa and KSh 31,400 for an extension of visa after six months.

Referral/Multiple Entry Visa costs KSh 15,700, a Transit Visa (KSh 7,850) and an East African Tourism Visa costs KSh 15,700.

Is Kenya ready for visa-free entry?

The bill followed President William Ruto's earlier declaration of visa-free entry into the country.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) stated the visa application process would continue until the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system was ready.

The ETA system is still under development, and once complete, it would help identify travellers coming to Kenya in advance.