Kenya has announced plans to have a fully automated visa issuance service by 2021. According to the Immigration Department, applicants will apply online for the e-visa from January 1, 2021.
Deputy Director of Immigration Services Alicent Odipo in a letter to the Airline Operators Committee at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) say the 100pc shift to e-visa means foreigners seeking to travel to the country will no longer be required to physically visit the Kenyan embassies or consulates in their countries to apply for a visa.
Instead, the e-visa can easily be obtained through www.evisa.go.ke, printed and endorsed in the passport at the port of arrival.
Many countries across the world are shifting to electronic visa, which is more convenient for travelers. The move is also in line with the government’s plan to switch to e-services in a bid to improve efficiency and seal security loopholes.
There have also been calls to migrate to the e-passport by March 2021 when Kenyans will replace their old passports with the East African Community biometric e-passport.
