Kenya’s passport has regained strength on the global stage, climbing five positions to 68th in 2026, even though the number of visa-free destinations slightly decreased.
According to the Henley Passport Index, Kenyan citizens can now travel to 69 countries without obtaining a visa beforehand. This comes after last year’s drop to 73rd place, which followed stricter visa requirements in key regions and a period of declining global mobility for Kenyan travellers.
The rebound signals a pause in the downward trend seen over recent years, reflecting a more stable performance for Kenya’s travel document despite limited reciprocal agreements with other nations.
While the total number of destinations dropped from 70 to 69, Kenya’s improved ranking is due in part to losses among comparable countries, boosting its relative position.
“The Henley Passport Index looks at how much effort a traveller must make before departure to be authorised to travel,” Henley & Partners explained. The index uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and measures passports by the number of destinations accessible without prior visas.
Historical records show Kenya’s passport has experienced wide swings, reaching its best position at 52nd in 2006 and hitting a low of 77th in 2021. Last year’s decline extended a series of shifts caused by tighter visa regimes in major global regions.
Within Africa, Kenya holds the 10th spot, maintaining its continental rank despite rising competition from countries that have increased diplomatic and visa waiver agreements.
It remains behind Seychelles, Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Morocco, and Malawi. Seychelles continues to top the African list, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 154 countries thanks to strong diplomatic ties.
The rise comes even after Kenya removed visa requirements for most African nationals in mid-2025, allowing citizens from nearly all African countries to enter and stay for up to 60 days without visas or electronic travel authorisation.
However, this move has yet to create equivalent access for Kenyan travellers abroad.
The Henley Index treats electronic travel authorisations as visa-free access, whereas electronic visas still count as restrictions due to the extra processing they require.
Globally, Singapore remains the strongest passport, offering visa-free entry to 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea. At the other end, Afghanistan holds the weakest passport, with access to just 24 countries without pre-arranged visas.
