Visa restrictions in Africa have long been a topic of discussion and a significant factor influencing travel and economic interactions across the continent.
As countries strive for greater integration and collaboration, the landscape of visa policies is evolving. There has been a remarkable shift in the policies of many African nations, a shift that is increasingly aligning with the vision of a united and economically vibrant Africa.
The Africa Visa Openness Index 2023, published on Tuesday, reveals much progress has been made regarding visa openness on the continent.
The Visa openness achieved its highest score ever in 2023, surpassing levels last seen before the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, data from the report shows that 50 countries improved or maintained their 2022 score, with only 4 countries scoring lower.
The Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) measures the extent to which African countries are open to visitors from other African countries.
Insights from the report:
- The continent now features 4 champions (Rwanda, Benin, The Gambia and Seychelles): countries that have eliminated visas for citizens from all African countries.
- Â 24 countries now offer an e-visa, almost three times as many as in 2016
- West African countries continue to lead the rankings: 7 of the continent’s top 10 performers are from West Africa
- Within ECOWAS, 97% of country-to-country travel routes are visa-free for citizens of the region.
Below are 10 African countries with the most relaxed visa policies in 2023:
| Rank | Country | No visa required | Visa on arrival | Visa required | 2023 score | 2022 Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benin | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 |
| 2 | Gambia The | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 |
| 3 | Seychelles | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 |
| 4 | Rwanda | 53 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.868 |
| 5 | Ghana | 25 | 26 | 2 | 0.864 | 0.883 |
| 6 | Nigeria | 17 | 36 | 0 | 0.864 | 0.864 |
| 7 | Guinea-Bissau | 13 | 40 | 0 | 0.849 | 0.849 |
| 8 | Cabo Verde | 16 | 36 | 1 | 0.845 | 0.845 |
| 9 | Togo | 15 | 37 | 1 | 0.842 | 0.838 |
| 10 | Mauritania | 9 | 44 | 0 | 0.834 | 0.830 |
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