Kenyans Still Need Visitor Visas to Travel to Canada
Canada has confirmed that Kenyan citizens will continue to require a visitor visa to enter the country in 2026, as they are not eligible for travel under the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said Kenya is not among the countries whose nationals can use the eTA programme. Kenyan travellers must therefore apply for a standard visitor visa before travelling to Canada.
The eTA system is available only to eligible travellers arriving in Canada by air. It does not apply to those entering the country by land or sea. More than 50 countries qualify for the programme, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and the United Arab Emirates.
Only a small number of African countries are included. The IRCC has also outlined several exemptions to its entry requirements. Some travellers, including holders of diplomatic passports, certain commercial flight crew members and French nationals travelling directly from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, do not require either a visa or an eTA.
A separate category allows some nationals of visa-required countries to apply for an eTA if they meet specific conditions, such as holding approved travel documents. However, this arrangement does not apply to Kenyan citizens.
Kenyans travelling to Canada must continue to follow the standard visitor visa process. Applicants are required to submit supporting documents, meet the eligibility requirements and wait for approval before travelling.
The updated rules come as several countries review their border and travel policies in response to changing patterns of tourism, business travel and migration. Japan has also introduced changes to its entry requirements as part of this wider trend.
Canada’s decision means Kenyan citizens remain outside its simplified travel system. Unless the eligibility criteria change in future, they will continue to require a visitor visa to enter the country.
