Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) citizens no longer need a visa to enter Kenya.
As a result, holders of DR Congo national passports can now visit Kenya without a visa.
According to Evelyn Cheluget, director general of immigration and citizen services, the waiver complies with “the East Africa Community (EAC) regulations on free movement of persons within the member states.”
An order to that effect was also issued by President William Ruto in July 2023.
“The government has removed DRC from Category 2 to Category 1 of the visa regulations,” Cheluget said.
All regional directors, foreign missions, and officers in charge of border posts received notice of the directive’s execution.
With the signing of the Treaty of Accession at State House in Nairobi in April 2022, the DR Congo became the EAC’s seventh formal member. Kenya’s former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who was serving as the EAC’s chair at the time, was present.
The action was taken after the DRC met the requirements stipulated in Articles 3 and 4 of the Treaty for the creation of the EAC.
Kenya hopes to make trade and travel between the two countries easier and more affordable by eliminating the need for visas, which will help businesses and residents in the area.