Kenyan Embassy in Mozambique Cautions Citizens Against Overstaying 90-Day Visa-Free Limit
The Kenyan Embassy in Mozambique has warned Kenyans traveling to the country to strictly adhere to the 90-day visa-free period, saying those who exceed the limit will face severe legal consequences.
In a public notice issued last night, the High Commission in Maputo expressed concern over the increasing number of Kenyans staying in Mozambique beyond the allowed duration.
The embassy reminded travellers that while the 2018 visa waiver agreement allows Kenyans with ordinary passports to stay in Mozambique for up to three months without a visa, staying beyond the period without proper authorization is against local immigration laws.
“The Kenya High Commission in Maputo has observed an increase in cases of Kenyan nationals overstaying in Mozambique, contrary to the Agreement on Exemption from Visa Requirements for Holders of Ordinary Passports between the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Mozambique which has been in force since 2018,” the mission said in a statement.
It further advised Kenyans to “strictly comply with the permitted duration of stay to avoid inconveniences, fines or other sanctions.”
Mozambique’s new immigration regulations that came into effect in January 2023 state that foreigners who exceed their visa-free stay will face fines, deportation or even ban from re-entering the country for up to 10 years. In serious cases, violators will also be detained.
The 2018 visa waiver agreement was signed on November 21, 2018 during a bilateral meeting between former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi. The deal aimed to boost trade, tourism and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The warning comes just months after Kenya removed Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) requirements for nearly all African countries. The decision was announced through a cabinet dispatch on July 14 and was meant to strengthen diplomatic relations and boost intra-African travel.
Under the new policy, citizens from 52 African countries can now enter Kenya without prior authorization. Only Somalia and Libya are excluded from the exemption due to security concerns.
Previously, visa exemptions were limited to EAC member states—Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and DRC—who can stay in Kenya for up to 180 days.“ETA exemption for all African countries except Somalia and Libya, security concerns,” the statement said.
The notice is a reminder to Kenyans to follow foreign travel rules to avoid diplomatic and personal problems abroad.
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Kenyan Embassy in Mozambique Cautions Citizens Against Overstaying 90-Day Visa-Free Limit