African countries are taking further steps to make movement across the continent easier, with several governments introducing or announcing policies designed to reduce visa barriers for African travellers.
The latest developments have placed Chad and the Republic of the Congo among the countries preparing to significantly ease entry requirements for African nationals.
Chad has announced that African passport holders will be able to enter the country without a visa from January 1, 2027. The move was presented as part of efforts to strengthen African unity and make the free movement of people and goods across the continent more practical.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby said the decision was intended to support the broader objective of removing barriers that have historically made movement between African countries difficult.
The Republic of the Congo has announced a similar policy. President Denis Sassou-Nguesso confirmed that his country plans to abolish visa requirements for African nationals from January 1, 2027.
The two announcements come at a time when African governments are under increasing pressure to make it easier for citizens to travel, conduct business and pursue economic opportunities across national borders.
The issue of free movement is also closely connected to the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to increase trade and economic cooperation among African countries.
Although the continent has made progress, visa restrictions remain a major obstacle to intra-African movement. According to the African Development Bank’s Visa Openness Index, only 28.2 per cent of intra-African travel was visa-free at the end of 2025.
Several countries have already introduced policies that make entry easier for African nationals.
Togo, for example, introduced visa-free entry for African passport holders on May 18, 2026. The policy allows eligible African travellers to stay for up to 30 days without obtaining a visa before travelling.
However, travellers to Togo are still required to complete an online travel declaration at least 24 hours before arrival. This means that while the visa requirement has been removed, travellers must continue to comply with the country’s entry procedures.
Rwanda has also developed a relatively open travel policy for African nationals. The country offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival arrangements to citizens from African countries, helping to facilitate travel for business, tourism and investment.
The policy is part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to position itself as a major destination for international conferences, investment and tourism.
Ghana has also taken steps to reduce the financial burden associated with travelling to the country. From May 25, 2026, the government announced that African travellers would no longer be required to pay visa fees.
The policy is expected to support Ghana’s efforts to promote tourism, business and closer connections with other African countries.
However, the removal of visa fees does not automatically mean that every African traveller can enter Ghana without meeting other immigration requirements. Travellers may still be required to provide relevant documents and comply with security and entry procedures.
In West Africa, Benin also provides visa-free access to African nationals. The arrangement has helped make the country more accessible to visitors from across the continent and supports movement linked to tourism, trade and investment.
The Gambia is another country that maintains visa-free access for African travellers. With tourism playing an important role in its economy, easier movement can help the country attract more visitors from other parts of Africa.
Seychelles also operates a visa-free entry system, making it one of the continent’s most accessible destinations from a visa perspective.
Travellers to Seychelles, however, must still meet the country’s standard immigration and entry requirements. Visa-free access therefore does not mean that visitors can enter without meeting any conditions.
The growing number of countries easing entry requirements reflects a wider debate about the future of movement within Africa.
For many African travellers, obtaining visas can be expensive, time-consuming and uncertain. Requirements may include application fees, invitation letters, proof of accommodation, financial documents and other paperwork.
Reducing these barriers could therefore make it easier for entrepreneurs, investors, students, tourists and professionals to move between African countries.
Supporters of greater visa openness also argue that easier movement could strengthen regional economies by encouraging people to spend money, establish businesses and explore opportunities in countries beyond their home markets.
The changes could be particularly significant for small businesses and traders who depend on cross-border commerce.
As Chad and the Republic of the Congo prepare to implement their new policies in 2027, attention will likely remain on whether more African governments follow the same path.If the trend continues, the continent could gradually move closer to the long-standing goal of making Africa a region where people can travel more freely and economic opportunities can cross borders with fewer restrictions.
