Kenya is committing Sh720 million annually to run a system that vets foreign visitors before they travel, highlighting the costs involved in efforts to attract more tourists.
According to government budget documents, the electronic travel authorisation (eTA) system is expected to cost Sh20 billion over the next 14 years.
The eTA, introduced following the 2024 visa-free policy, replaced traditional visa requirements and allows travellers to get clearance while still in their home countries, easing processing at entry points.
Last year, the Cabinet approved removing eTA requirements for most African countries, excluding Somalia and Libya, as part of a push to expand tourism.
“As part of efforts to support open skies policies and tourism growth, a key proposal is to grant eTA exemptions to African countries – except Somalia and Libya – due to security concerns,” the Cabinet said in January 2025.
Recent budget disclosures reveal that around 80 per cent of the eTA system’s budget will be used for consultancy services and other fees, while the system itself costs Sh1 billion.
The project began in July 2025, with Sh720 million allocated for the first year and similar amounts for the next three financial years.
Authorities say the eTA has strengthened pre-screening compared to the old eVisa system, which was not linked to other border management tools and lacked fraud detection and risk management features.
“Increasing traveller numbers and evolving border challenges require a robust system to pre-screen travellers, prevent entry of prohibited persons and enhance compliance with migration policies,” the Directorate of Immigration Services said during a presentation outlining the system’s advantages.
The directorate confirmed that all necessary government approvals have been obtained to implement the system.
The eTA enables secure and timely processing of travel authorisations, supporting tourism, business visits, and national security through early digital checks.
It conducts automated background screening and profiles travellers before they reach the country.
The 2026/27 budget submitted to the Treasury notes that the project covers “procurement of consultancy and outsourcing services for system maintenance and operations to pre-screen travellers for risk mitigation, reduce immigration processing time at entry points, improve data collection and interoperability with security systems, increase transparency and reduce fraudulent entries.”
Consultancy services represent the bulk of the expenditure, with Sh18 billion of the Sh20 billion total budget set aside for fees and services. Equipment costs Sh1 billion, while another Sh1 billion is planned for other operational expenses.
Since replacing visas with the eTA, visitor arrivals have increased, largely due to lifting eTA requirements for 52 African countries.
From January to September 2025, arrivals at Jomo Kenyatta and Moi Airports – excluding Kenyans – rose to 1.27 million, up from the same period in 2024, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
