Visa-on-arrival policies remain a key driver of regional integration and mobility across Africa, though the number of countries offering such access to fellow African nationals has slightly declined, according to the 2024 African Visa Openness Index. The index shows that 27 African nations now provide visa-on-arrival options to at least one other African country, down from 30 in 2023. While many governments have embraced the policy to foster movement, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Chad have opted for e-visa systems instead.
Djibouti and Comoros lead the ranking, each granting visa-on-arrival to citizens of 53 African countries. Djibouti’s list includes Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, while Comoros extends the privilege to travellers from Nigeria, Seychelles, Libya, Togo, and Sudan. Madagascar and Somalia follow closely, each offering access to 52 nations. Madagascar covers Cameroon, Nigeria, Zambia, and Tunisia, and Somalia includes Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa. Burundi provides visa-on-arrival to 47 countries, among them the Republic of the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Nigeria, and Gabon. Ethiopia extends the policy to 46 nations, including Mali, Mauritius, Cabo Verde, and Eswatini. Mauritania offers access to 45 countries, such as Namibia, Nigeria, Eritrea, and Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau allows visa-on-arrival for 40 nations, including Lesotho, South Sudan, South Africa, and Tanzania. Mozambique covers 39 countries, among them Equatorial Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Benin, and Libya. Nigeria rounds out the top ten with visa-on-arrival for 36 African countries, including Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Zambia, Uganda, and Tunisia.
The index highlights ongoing efforts to ease intra-African travel, though the slight decline in participating nations suggests uneven progress. As the African Continental Free Trade Area advances, visa liberalization remains critical for deeper economic and social integration. Future editions of the index will track whether more countries adopt visa-on-arrival or shift toward digital alternatives.
