Kenya
Kenya Visa-free stay (6 months)
First stay: 6 mo
Visa-free stay of up to 180 days (East African Partner State citizens)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Visa-free stay (6 months) is a long-stay route for Kenya. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- First stay
- 6 mo
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Only for passports from 6 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply1
- Be a citizen of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania or Uganda.
Steps1
- No eTA is required for these citizens.
After you arrive1
- The exemption covers a period not exceeding 180 days.
When you become tax resident
How Kenya decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
6 months at first
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a year of incomeIndividual with no permanent home in Kenya is resident if present 183 days or more in the year of income.
- More than 122 days in a year of income and each of the two preceding years (average)Alternative test for an individual with no permanent home in Kenya: present in the year and averaging more than 122 days per year over the three years.
- Foreign-source income
Territorial
Kenya charges income tax on all income, of residents and non-residents, that accrued in or was derived from Kenya, at progressive rates from 10% to 35%; income arising wholly outside Kenya is outside that charge, except employment or service pay to a resident, which is deemed Kenyan-source wherever the work is done.
All tax rules for Kenya Tax records checked
Full official text
Citizens of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda are exempt from the Kenya eTA for stays of up to 180 days. 1
Requirements
- Be a citizen of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania or Uganda. 1
- No eTA is required for these citizens. 1
- The exemption covers a period not exceeding 180 days. 1
Stay
- Up to 180 days
- Initial permitted stay: 6 months.
Nationality
Citizens of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Open to: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda.
Fine print
Kenya's eTA page names six East African partner states for the 180-day exemption: Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Somalia, an East African Community partner state since 2024, is not on that list. The page does not state work rights.
Official sources
- General Information: eTA exemptions under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Rules, 2025 · Directorate of Immigration Services, Republic of Kenya · checked 2026-10-12
Visa-free stay (6 months) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free stay (6 months) | – | 6 mo | – |
| East African free movement | – | – | – |
| ECOWAS free movement Nigeria | – | – | – |
| East African free movement Rwanda | – | 6 mo | No |
| ECOWAS free movement Ghana | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Visa-free stay (6 months)?
Up to 180 days
Who can apply for the Visa-free stay (6 months)?
Citizens of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Open to: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda.
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 1 official source. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- General Information: eTA exemptions under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Rules, 2025 · Directorate of Immigration Services, Republic of Kenya · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.