Visa-free travel gains momentum in Africa

Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. Photo source: Que Boxi

Two prominent sub-Saharan African (SSA) economies, Ghana and Kenya, have recently revised their visa policies to facilitate easier travel for citizens of other African nations. The outgoing Ghanian president, Nana Akufo-Addo, in his final state-of-the-nation address made visiting Ghana visa-free for all African passport holders. His move followed a decision by the Kenyan cabinet to approve visa-free entry for citizens of nearly all African countries, with the exceptions of Somalia and Libya, citing security concerns.

These measures make Ghana the fifth African country to allow visa-free travel for all African nations, joining Benin, Seychelles, The Gambia, and Rwanda. Open visa regimes are regarded as key to fostering regional integration, trade, and tourism. Greater freedom of movement also encourages cultural and economic interactions, reduces xenophobia, and promotes peace and understanding.

Over the past decade, African nations have incrementally eased travel for fellow Africans – slowly turning over a colonial legacy that made it difficult for Africans to travel withing their own continent. According to the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI), which monitors the ease of movement for African citizens across the continent, 47% of intra-African travel routes require a visa before departure, down from 55% in 2016. Meanwhile, 25% of routes allow travellers to obtain visas on arrival, a figure remaining unchanged from 2016. The most progress was witnessed in Benin, which moved from 31st to 1st place on the AVOI rankings, followed by Ethiopia (46th to 19th), Sierra Leone (32nd to 13th), Nigeria (25th to 6th), and The Gambia (18th to 1st). Of the 54 countries assessed in the latest report, 17 improved their scores over the past year, building on gains made by 15 countries in the previous edition. However, 29 countries’ scores remained unchanged, while eight saw their scores decline. In 2024, several nations implemented significant visa reforms. Some introduced measures to ease movement across the continent, while others adopted digital solutions, such as e-visas. However, in certain cases, digitisation has added complexity to the process, creating new hurdles for travellers. Despite the progress it is still easier for a citizen of a typical OECD country to enter an African country visa free than it is for an African to do so.  

Some of the continent’s wealthier nations remain protective of their borders, citing concerns over illegal migration, terrorism, and economic disruption – though evidence often shows such fears to be overstated. Kenya, for example, has faced high-profile attacks by Somalia-based al-Shabab militants, which partly explains its exclusion of Somalia from its visa-free policy. Many of the most open nations, such as island states and smaller economies, face lower immigration pressures and can control their borders more easily.

The adoption of e-visa systems is also growing. According to the AVOI, 26 African countries now offer e-visas, with Mauritania and Chad recently joining the list. E-visas allow applicants to complete the process online, avoiding embassy visits and the need to surrender passports. This digitisation reduces time and costs for travellers, making cross-border movement more accessible.

The push for greater visa openness is closely tied to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area. Improved mobility is critical for trade in services, which underpins economic growth and regional integration. From cross-border telecom and consulting services to financial and legal expertise, the movement of professionals is central to unlocking Africa’s economic potential. Additionally, smoother travel is essential for facilitating infrastructure projects, education exchanges, and goods transport.

References

‘Africa Visa Openness Report 2024’, African Development Bank Group, 20 November 2024

‘African countries ease visa restrictions for African visitors’, Semafor, 26 November 2024

‘Chad launches electronic visa system’, VisasNews, 11 December 2024

‘Ghana opens up visa-free travel to all Africans’, BBC, 03 January 2025

‘Mauritania launches electronic visa system’, VisasNews, 03 January 2025

‘Africa: Ghana amplifies Africa's visa-free push as continental integration efforts grow’, The Independent, 21 January 2025

‘Kenya eases travel requirements for nearly all African visitors’, BBC, 22 January 2025

‘Africa: A dream deferred - Why is traveling across Africa so hard for Africans?’, IPS, 23 January 2025