Kenya’s passport has climbed five places to 68th globally in 2026, marking a recovery from last year’s decline despite a slight reduction in visa-free travel access.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Kenyan passport holders can now access 69 destinations visa-free or with a visa-on-arrival, down marginally from 70 last year. In 2025, Kenya slipped to 73rd place after losing six positions amid tightening visa regimes in several key regions.
The rebound reverses a downward trend and signals a stabilization in the strength of Kenya’s travel document after years of volatility linked to weak reciprocity and limited bilateral visa-waiver agreements. Kenya’s improved ranking reflects broader global shifts, with declines among peer countries lifting its relative position on the index.
Compiled using exclusive International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, the Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations holders can enter without obtaining a visa before departure. Henley & Partners notes that the index fundamentally measures “how much effort a traveller must make before departure to be authorized to travel.”
Historical data show Kenya’s passport performance has fluctuated sharply over the past two decades. It peaked at 52nd place in 2006 before declining steadily to a low of 77th in 2021. Last year’s drop to 73rd extended a multi-year period of ranking swings driven by increasingly restrictive visa policies in major global regions.
Within Africa, Kenya ranked 10th in 2026, maintaining its continental standing despite intensified competition from countries that have expanded diplomatic ties and visa-waiver arrangements.
Kenya trailed Seychelles, Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Morocco and Malawi.
Seychelles retained Africa’s strongest passport, with visa-free access to 154 destinations, a position attributed to sustained diplomatic outreach and strong bilateral engagement.
The rankings come despite Kenya abolishing visa requirements for most African nationals in mid-2025, a move that has yet to yield reciprocal access for Kenyan travellers. In July last year, Kenya allowed citizens of nearly all African countries to enter and stay for up to 60 days without visas or electronic travel authorization requirements.
Under the Henley methodology, electronic travel authorizations are classified as visa-free access, unlike electronic visas, which require more extensive processing and are treated as visa restrictions.
Globally, Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea. Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the index, with passport holders able to access just 24 destinations without a visa in advance.