Kenya Is Launching a Digital Nomad Visa

08.10.2024 - 06:55 / cntraveler.com / Nast Traveler / William Ruto

Kenya has long been one of Africa's most popular destinations. There's something here for every type of traveler: Wildlife fanatics flock to Masai Mara for once-in-a-lifetime safaris, beach lovers island-hop through the turquoise waters of the Lamu Archipelago, and cosmopolitans appreciate Nairobi's growing culinary and art scene.

Now, remote workers from all over the world can call the East African nation their home away from home thanks to its newly instituted digital nomad visa. On October 2, Kenya's President William Ruto announced the creation of a remote work permit that will allow digital nomads to “live and work in Kenya while enjoying the country's natural beauty and high quality lifestyle."

Kenya is the latest of several countries—including Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Turkey, and Italy—to have announced digital nomad visa schemes this past year in a bid to attract more long-time visitors.

To apply for the Kenya digital nomad visa, remote workers will need to show proof of the following, according to Euronews: (1) a valid passport, (2) remote employment for a company outside Kenya, (3) accommodation within Kenya and (4) a clean criminal record. The minimum annual income required to apply for the visa is $55,000.

In order to better accommodate digital nomads, Kenya will be expanding its fiber optic footprint to increase internet connectivity across the country, Ruto said.

Condé Nast Traveler top travel specialist Deborah Calmeyer of ROAR Africa says that “Kenya has witnessed a journey of connectivity and digital prosperity in recent years and internet speeds are amongst some of the best on the continent."

“Of course, connectivity is best in the main hubs and cities—Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru—but there is excellent coverage in outlying areas including Eldoret, Nyeri and Nanyuki," she says. "Even in remote regions, 4G mobile networks provide dependable internet access.”

This infrastructure has “laid the foundation for a thriving, entrepreneurial movement” in Kenya, Calmeyer tells Traveler, adding that tech hubs, startups, and co-working spaces can be found in towns and cities across the country. “The ingenuity of Kenyan innovators—who frequently develop creative, low-cost, and scalable solutions to problems like water scarcity, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture—can inspire nomads to think about how their work can positively impact the world.”

At the October 2 conference, Kenya's president also announced the creation of an electronic travel authorization for visitors with long flight layovers that will allow them to leave the airport and explore the city during their connection.

The recent news follows Kenya's decision last year to go “visa free” for foreign visitors as of