According to the Henley Passport Index Kenya ranks No. 72 out of 104.
What this means is that, unlike citizens of countries such as Japan, Singapore, and South Korea whose passports are the strongest in the world hence can travel to at least 188 of the 194 UN-recognized countries visa free; as a Kenyan passport holder, it takes a little more struggle to travel outside of our borders due to the visa situation.
As at 2019, Kenya passport holders can travel to only 63 countries visa free and 9 Kenya visa on arrival countries, making our passport rather ‘weak’ or ‘powerless’.
However, there multiple ways through which you can strengthen your Kenyan passport and make it more powerful.
So without much further ado:
What's Covered in This Article
Build a travel history
This is basically code for, travel more and get stamps on your passport.
And the best part is that you can start off your travels with neighboring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, etc and then mover further out to other countries that Kenyans can travel to without needing a visa or countries that Kenyans can visit with an e-visa or a visa on arrival.
One advantage of traveling more is that over time you start getting stamps on your passport and building a travel history.
A travel history significantly increases your chances (not guaranteeing) of getting visas and in effect increasing the ‘power’ of your Kenyan passport aka opportunity to travel to more countries.
A second advantage of traveling more is that it is one tangible way of showing the visa officer that you do not intend to illegally immigrate to their country; hence also increasing the chances of having your visa approved.
A huge travel history also gives you the opportunity to request for longer-term visas especially in consulates or embassies where this is not the norm.
A classic example is the Schengen tourist visit visa for Kenyan passport holders which is typically about a month long.
I for instance have successfully negotiated and been granted for a 2-year Schengen tourist visa on the basis of my past travel history.
The main benefits of a long-term visa is the time and cost savings (apart from the UK visa, most embassies charge same amount of money for visas whether single – entry, multiple – entry, long-term or short – term).
Get a Multiple Entry US B1/B2 Tourist Visitor Visa
Of course with your US visa you can visit the United States.
However, with your multiple entry US B1/B2 visa as a Kenyan citizen or Kenyan passport holder, you also automatically qualify to legally visit an additional 14 countries that you’d normally need a visa to visit.
So with a US visa, your Kenyan passport’s power automatically strengthens from from a ranking of 72 to 86 making it as strong as a Botswana passport.
Click on this link here for a full list of the countries that Kenyan passport holders can travel to with a valid US visa.
I have personally traveled to Panama, Cuba, Turkey, and Montenegro courtesy of my US B1/B2 visa without needing to getting additional visas for the respective countries.
You can, of course, travel to the US with a US visa.
But you can also travel to 39 other countries with a US visa.
List of Countries Kenyans Can Travel to Visa – Free with a US Tourist Visa
North America
01. United States
- With your B1/B2 US visa, you can visit mainland US and it’s territories – US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa
02. Mexico
- Maximum stay: up to 180 days
- Sources: Secretary of Foreign Relations, Mexico
Central America
03. Belize
- Maximum stay: up to 30 days
- Sources: Belize.com, Belize High Commission in London
04. Costa Rica
- Your B1/B2 US visa must be valid for at least 1 day from the date of arrival
- Maximum stay: up to 30 days
- Sources: Embassy of Costa Rica in Canada, Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington DC, USA
05. Panama
- Your B1/B2 US visa must be valid for at least one year from the date of arrival
- You must have used this B1/B2 US visa to enter the US before at least once before this trip
- Maximum stay: up to 30 days
- Sources: Embassy of Panama in the USA
***
Caribbean
06. Cuba
- You must have a valid Cuban Tourist Card, obtainable from the nearest Cuban embassy or authorized airlines and travel agencies
- Maximum stay: up to 30 days
- Sources: IATA Travel Center, TIMATIC Web
***
South America
None – What a shame!
***
Europe
07. Turkey
- A valid US Tourist Visa gives you eligibility to apply for a 30 day eVisa
- Sources: Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
08. Georgia
- Maximum stay: up to 90 days
- Sources: Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
09. Albania
- You must have used your B1/B2 tourist visa to visit the US at least once before this trip
- Maximum stay: up to 90 days
- Sources: Albania Ministry of Foreign Affairs
10. Macedonia
- Your US visa must be valid for at least 5 days beyond your intended period of stay
- Maximum stay: up to 15 days
- Sources: Macedonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
11. Montenegro
- Maximum stay: up to 30 days
- Sources: Montenegro Ministry of Foreign Affairs
12. Serbia
- Maximum stay: up to 90 days
- Source: Serbia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Middle East
13. Qatar
- Entitles you to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) free of charge* by completing an online application prior to travelling. Once your request has been approved** you will receive an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) allowing you to obtain a visa-on-arrival to Qatar)
- Source: Visit Qatar, Qatar Ministry of Interior
Africa
14. São Tomé and Príncipe
Get a Canadian Visa
Another way of giving more power to your Kenyan passport is by getting you a Canadian visa.
With the Canadian visa, you can legally travel to Canada in addition to 11 additional countries.
Following is the list of countries that Kenyan passport holders can visit visa-free with a Canadian visa.
List of Countries Kenyans Can Travel to Visa – Free with a Canadian Tourist Visa
For some countries though, you must have used your multiple-entry Canadian visa at least once. As usual, be informed that a visa is not a guarantee of entry.
Entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer handling your case at the border point of arrival.
North America
01. Canada
- With your Canadian visa, you can visit Canada.
02. Mexico
- Maximum stay: up to 180 days
- Sources: Consulate of Mexico in Kenya
Central America
03. Costa Rica
- Your Canadian visa must allow multiple entries, and with a minimum validity of at least six months in Canada. The six month validity period will be counted from the day of entry into Costa Rica. The passport must be at least six months valid.
- Maximum stay: up to 30 days
- Sources: Embassy of Costa Rica in Canada
04. Panama
- Your Canadian visa must be valid for at least one year from the date of arrival
- Your passport must valid for the minimum of three (3) months as of the date you enter Panama. If staying in Panama for more than three (3) months, the passport must be valid for at least six (6) months as of the date you enter Panama.
- Maximum stay: up to 30 days
- Sources: Consulate of Panama in Toronto, Canada
***
Caribbean
05. Dominican Republic
- If you currently hold a valid visa to enter Canada, you DO NOT require a Tourist Visa to enter the Dominican Republic, only a Tourist Card.
- Maximum stay: up to 30 days
- Sources: : Embassy of Dominican Republic in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
***
South America
None – What another shame!
***
Europe
06. Turkey
- A valid Canadian Tourist Visa gives you eligibility to apply for a 30 day eVisa
- Sources: Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
07. Georgia
- Maximum stay: up to 90 calendar days in any 180-day period
- Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
08. Macedonia
- Your Canadian visa must be valid for at least 5 (five) days beyond the intended period of stay in the Republic of Macedonia
- Maximum stay: up to 15 days (fifteen) days at any given entry on the territory while the total duration of consecutive stays in the Republic of Macedonia must not exceed 3 (three) months in any six-month period calculated from the day of first entry.
- Sources: Macedonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
09. United Kingdom
- You might be eligible for ‘transit without visa’ if:
- you arrive and depart by air
- have a confirmed onward flight that leaves on the day you arrive or before midnight on the day after you arrive
- have the right documents for your destination (e.g. a visa for that country)
One of the following must also apply:
- you’re travelling to (or on part of a reasonable journey to) Canada and have a valid visa
- you’re travelling from (or on part of a reasonable journey from) Canada and have a valid visa for that country
- Available at Heathrow airport only
- You won’t be able to transit without a visa if a Border Force officer decides you don’t qualify under the immigration rules.
Source: Check if you need a UK Visa
Middle East
10. Qatar
- It is NOT Visa-Free travel. The Canadian Visa entitles you to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) free of charge* by completing an online application prior to travelling. Once your request has been approved** you will receive an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) allowing you to obtain a visa-on-arrival to Qatar)
- Source: Visit Qatar, Qatar Ministry of Interior
Africa
None – What a shame!
Asia
11. South Korea
- You must hold a Multiple entry Canadian visa, and
- On transit to Canada through Korea; or
- stay in Canada and take a direct flight from Canada to Korea to go to Kenya or a third country.
-
You must have a flight ticket that is scheduled to depart from Korea within 30 days, and have never violated laws (e.g. overstay, etc.) after entering the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.
-
Source : Republic of Korea Visa Portal
Get a Schengen Visa
A schengen visa gives you the ability to visit a whooping 26 countries in the Schengen territory.
I list all of these countries in this post.
But did you know that a Schengen visa (double entry or multiple entry) on your Kenyan passport, grants you visa-free access for a maximum of 90 days (unless otherwise noted) to an additional 15 countries that would ordinarily require you to get a visa before travelling to these countries.
List of Countries Kenyans Can Travel to Visa – Free with a Schengen Tourist Visa
Africa
São Tomé and Príncipe
Kenyans with a valid Schengen Visa do not require an additional visa for São Tomé and Príncipeto enter the republic.
Maximum allowed stay: Maximum of 15 DAYS in any 180-DAY period.
Check out this link here for updates.
Central America
None – What another shame!
Europe
Albania
Kenyan passport holders can enter/transit and stay in Albania without an Albanian visa for a maximum of 90 DAYS per period of 180 DAYs period as long as they have a valid, multiple-entry short-stay Schengen visa, previously used in one of the Schengen countries.
Please check this link for any updates or changes to this law.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kenyan passport holders with a multiple-entry Schengen Visa, previously used in any one of the Schengencan states, to enter and stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina for up to 15 DAYS in any 180 DAY period.
Please check here and here for any updates or changes to this law.
Bulgaria
Beginning 31st of the January 2012, Kenyans with valid Schengen Visas can travel to and stay in Bulgaria visa free for up to 90 DAYS in any 6-MONTH period.
Check out this post here about my experience in Bulgaria and how to visit Bulgaria on a budget plus a free itinerary.
Croatia
From 22nd of the July 2014, Kenyans with valid Schengen Visas can visit or transit through Bulgaria without needing to get an additional Croatian visa.
Maximum allowed stay: Up to 90 DAYS in any 6-MONTH period.
Check out this link here for updates to this provision.
Cyprus
Kenyans can use their valid type C, double or multiple-entry Schengen Visa to enter Cyprus without needing to apply for an additional Cypriot Visa.
Maximum allowed stay: Up to 3 MONTHS in any 6-MONTH period.
Check out this link here for any changes or updates.
Georgia
Kenyans holding a valid visa from any of the Schengen member states does not require an additional Georgian Visa to enter or transit through Georgia.
Maximum allowed stay: Maximum of 90 DAYS in any 180-DAY period.
Check out this link here for more information.
Kosovo
Kosovo is another country that allows Kenyan nationals with a valid multi-entry Schengen Visa to enter, transit or stay within its territory.
Maximum allowed stay: Maximum of 15 DAYS in any 180-DAY period.
Check out these links click here or here for additional information.
Macedonia
Kenyan passport holders with valid short-stay Type C Schengen Visa can travel to Macedonia aka the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia without an additional Macedonian visa.
Maximum allowed stay: Maximum of 15 DAYS in any 180-DAY period.
Check out this link here for additional information.
Montenegro
Kenyan passport holders with valid Schengen Visa can travel to Montenegro without an additional Montenegran visa.
Maximum allowed stay: Maximum of 30 DAYS in any 180-DAY period.
Check out this link here for additional information.
Romania
Kenyans in possession of a valid type C, double or multiple entry Schengen Visa can enter on short-stay or transit through Romania without needing a Romanian Visa.
Maximum allowed stay: Maximum of 90 DAYS within any 180-DAY period.
Check out this link here for additional information.
Serbia
Beginning 30th October 2014, Kenyans with a valid Schengen Visa can enter the Republic of Serbia visa free.
Maximum allowed stay: Maximum of 90 DAYS in any 180-DAY period.
Check out this link here for updates and additional information.
Turkey
With a valid Schengen visa on your Kenyan passport, you are ALLOWED to enter or transit through Turkey for a short stay.
The Schengen visa gives you access to a single-entry Turkish e-Visa which you can apply for either online at www.evisa.gov.tr or on arrival at one of the booths at Artatuk Airport arrivals in Istanbul.
Maximum allowed stay: The Turkish e-visa has a validity period of up to 1 MONTH.
Check out this link here for updates and additional information.
North America
Mexico
With a valid Schengen visa, Kenyan passport holders can enter Mexico visa free on tourism, business or transit as long as the visa is valid for the entire period in Mexico.
Check out this link here for additional information.
South America
None – What another shame!
