Kenyan High Commission Warns Nationals on Mozambique Visa Overstay Penalties

The Kenyan High Commission in Maputo has formally warned its nationals, urging them not to exceed the 90-day visa-free stay allowed in Mozambique following a rise in overstay cases.

In a statement released on Sunday, the mission expressed concern over increasing instances of non-compliance with the visa waiver agreement signed between Kenya and Mozambique in 2018. The agreement permits holders of ordinary passports from both countries to enter and stay in the other for up to three months without a visa. 

However, the High Commission noted a growing number of Kenyans remaining in Mozambique beyond the authorised period. Mozambique’s immigration laws, which were updated in January 2023, impose strict penalties on individuals who overstay their permitted duration. 

Offenders may face fines, detention, or bans of up to ten years from re-entering the country. In its advisory, the High Commission urged Kenyan travellers to strictly observe the allowed stay to avoid legal consequences and maintain good bilateral relations.

“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 statement read. 

It further advised Kenyan citizens to “strictly comply with the permitted duration of stay to avoid inconveniences, fines, or other sanctions.”

The advisory follows Kenya’s recent changes to its own entry regulations. In July, the government removed Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) requirements for most African countries in a move aimed at promoting regional travel and cooperation. 

Only Libya and Somalia were excluded due to security concerns. Under Kenya’s revised policy, citizens from 52 African nations can now enter the country without prior authorisation. This expanded access builds on the previous arrangement, which had primarily applied to members of the East African Community (EAC). 

Nationals from EAC member states, including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are also eligible for extended stays of up to 180 days.