What is a Visa Free Africa?
27 October 2017
Tripindigo
5 min read
The new visa-free Africa also called the "open border" passport is a proposed policy under the African Union (AU) 2063 Agenda, which is a strategic document with the vision for African development. The plan is to introduce a sole African passport issued by the member states of African Union and abolish visa requirements for all African citizens in every African country by 2018. Also this could greatly impact the African countries with regards to economic development, intra-regional trade, and regional integration.
Reasons for a visa-free Africa
The new visa-free Africa proposal embodies many opportunities as well as several challenges for the economy and security of the continent. In addition, the policy will bring cross-national benefits and considerable economic draws as a result of job and investment opportunities, improved tourism and elimination of trade barriers.
According to the AU’s 2063 Agenda, the visa policy has three primary components which include visa-on-arrival scheme for all African nationals, a minimum of 30-day visa for African citizen visiting another African country by 2018, and lastly, an introduction of a solitary national passport for all Africans by 2020.
One of the major goals outlined in "AU's Agenda 2063" is for an integrated continent which is united on all fronts. Some African countries have already abolished visa requirements for African citizens from African countries such as Ghana, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Rwanda. These countries issue visa-on-arrival to all African citizens and passport holders.
Reducing travel barriers has been goal for many African countries
Even some regional African countries have taken some steps towards the pan-African goal with an introduction of the visa-free policy. The Economic Community of West African States – ECOWAS was introduced to allow free movement for West Africans within the West African countries. Similarly, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was introduced to allow free movement within the Southern African countries. African can also travel across the East African Community (EAC) member states with a single visa. There’s also a common visa policy which unites Zimbabwe and Zambia for the citizens to travel freely across the two countries.
Recently, the African Union Political Affairs office tweeted that Nigeria has decided to take a step toward the African free movement goal by issuing visa-on-arrival to all African citizens. But, Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information told The Associated Press that the country has no such plans.
Some exceptions to the rule
However, South Africa recently adopted a risk-based approach where there is an incremental removal of the movement formalities for frequent and trusted travellers. This includes students, government officials, business persons, and academics. According to the International Migration white paper published by the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa, Africa citizens should visit South Africa visa-free initially if there’s a return agreement. The white paper states that Africa nationals can stay up to 90 days visa-free in South Africa.
There will also an agreement on standards for civil registration, immigration, and border management. Visas will only be required if the traveller has overstayed or has been considered for deportation, or if the traveller poses a security or civil registration risk. Travellers from countries where a large number of their nationals have abused the asylum system will also require a visa to enter South Africa.
Current African Open Border countries
As you can see from the table below some countries, have been more liberal than others when it comes to an open border policy with Seychelles leading the way in Africa.
These inconsistencies on which counties require a visa and which do not definitely has restrictions on tourism, business travel and other far-reaching implications as well as admin and policy issues. Standardizing the open border policy across nations will go a long way into injecting economic growth with freedom of travel.
| Ranking |
Country |
Visa openness by number of countries |
| No Visa required |
Visa on arrival |
Visa required |
| 1 |
Seychelles |
54 |
0 |
0 |
| 2 |
Uganda |
18 |
36 |
0 |
| 3 |
Togo |
16 |
38 |
0 |
| 4 |
Guinea Bissau |
14 |
40 |
0 |
| 5 |
Cape Verde |
16 |
37 |
1 |
| 6 |
Ghana |
17 |
35 |
2 |
| 7 |
Mauritania |
8 |
46 |
0 |
| 7 |
Mozambique |
8 |
46 |
0 |
| 9 |
Mauritius |
26 |
22 |
6 |
| 9 |
Rwanda |
6 |
47 |
1 |
| 11 |
Djibouti |
0 |
54 |
0 |
| 11 |
Madagascar |
0 |
54 |
0 |
| 11 |
Comoros |
0 |
54 |
0 |
| 11 |
Somalia |
0 |
54 |
0 |
| 15 |
Kenya |
18 |
30 |
6 |
| 15 |
Senegal |
42 |
0 |
12 |
| 17 |
Tanzania |
6 |
37 |
11 |
| 18 |
Gambia |
28 |
0 |
26 |
| 19 |
Malawi |
14 |
13 |
27 |
| 20 |
Burkina Faso |
15 |
11 |
28 |
| 21 |
Zambia |
13 |
13 |
28 |
| 21 |
Zimbabwe |
17 |
8 |
29 |
| 23 |
Cote d'Ivoire |
21 |
0 |
33 |
| 23 |
Tunisia |
21 |
0 |
33 |
| 25 |
Guinea |
20 |
0 |
34 |
| 25 |
Mali |
20 |
0 |
34 |
| 27 |
Benin |
18 |
0 |
36 |
| 27 |
Niger |
18 |
0 |
36 |
| 27 |
Botswana |
18 |
0 |
36 |
| 30 |
Nigeria |
17 |
1 |
36 |
| 31 |
Swaziland |
17 |
0 |
37 |
| 32 |
Lesotho |
16 |
0 |
38 |
| 33 |
Sierra Leone |
15 |
1 |
38 |
| 34 |
South Africa |
14 |
0 |
40 |
| 34 |
Liberia |
14 |
0 |
40 |
| 36 |
Namibia |
13 |
0 |
41 |
| 36 |
São Tomé and Príncipe |
13 |
0 |
41 |
| 38 |
Chad |
11 |
2 |
41 |
| 39 |
Central Africa Republic |
12 |
0 |
42 |
| 40 |
Congo republic |
0 |
13 |
41 |
| 41 |
Morocco |
9 |
0 |
45 |
| 42 |
Algeria |
7 |
0 |
47 |
| 43 |
Democratic Republic of Congo |
4 |
3 |
47 |
| 43 |
Egypt |
0 |
8 |
46 |
| 45 |
Burundi |
5 |
0 |
49 |
| 45 |
Cameroon |
5 |
0 |
49 |
| 47 |
South Sudan |
0 |
5 |
49 |
| 48 |
Gabon |
3 |
1 |
50 |
| 49 |
Ethiopia |
2 |
1 |
51 |
| 49 |
Eritrea |
2 |
1 |
51 |
| 51 |
Sudan |
1 |
2 |
51 |
| 52 |
Angola |
1 |
1 |
52 |
| 53 |
Libya |
1 |
0 |
53 |
| 54 |
Equatorial Guinea |
0 |
0 |
54 |
| 54 |
Western Sahara |
0 |
0 |
54 |
For more on countries that do not need a visa to enter Tanzania or Kenya click out our articles here
Pushing forward with a visa-free Africa
The implementation of the new visa-free Africa policy may have its challenges such as importing and exporting illegal goods, and risks of economic migration. However, the policy has many advantages such as improved security against cross-border crime, increased tourism, which will nurture the growth of unexploited markets across the continent.
At the end of the day, free movement of Africans is the strategic goal that can be achieved. All African countries should put systems in place to check these risks and ensure that the system is not abused.
Have your say
What do you think of an open border policy for Africa?Will it encourage you to travel to your neighbouring countries more often or explore other regions of Africa? Let us know what you think via our social media channels
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