Global Visa Discrimination: The Harsh Reality for African Passport Holders
In recent years, many countries have increasingly used visa restrictions to curb migration from African nations. This growing trend is making it nearly impossible for Africans to travel for vacations or business unless they possess substantial financial resources. Even with well-funded bank accounts, African citizens face systematic barriers that prevent them from enjoying the freedom to travel globally like others.
Instead of explicitly stating their reluctance to welcome African travelers, some countries have implemented stringent visa application rules designed to be nearly impossible to meet. These nations often resort to extortionate visa application fees, knowing that these fees are non-refundable, turning visa rejections into a profitable venture.
The Big Question: Why the Intentional Visa Rejections?
The question arises: why are more countries intentionally rejecting visas for Africans? Over the past decade, visa-on-arrival options for African passport holders have dropped by over 600%. African travelers are forced to spend exorbitantly on visa applications, making the prospect of a simple vacation outside the continent increasingly a pipe dream for lower or even middle-class Africans.
Unequal Travel Freedoms
The most frustrating aspect of this situation is the stark disparity in travel freedoms. Many of the countries imposing extreme measures on African travelers face almost no restrictions when visiting African nations. This one-sided dynamic raises the question: why are African leaders allowing this imbalance? Is it purely about the financial gains? This lack of reciprocal measures has emboldened even the smallest countries to follow the lead of major economies.
Diving Deep into Visa Restrictions
This post delves into the practice of visa restrictions, examining the number of visa-free entries and visas on arrival granted to each African country worldwide, excluding African nations. We will explore passport rankings, the number of countries African passport holders can travel to without a visa, the issuance of eVisas, and the visa requirements for African citizens, note that these rankings and numbers can fluctuate based on changing policies and agreements.
For each African country, weβll provide:
Passport ranking (based on global mobility)
Number of visa-free destinations
Number of countries offering eVisas
Number of countries offering visas on arrival
Number of countries requiring traditional visas
Passport Rankings and Travel Freedom for African Countries
Below is a detailed analysis of each African countryβs passport ranking,
Sure! Here is a comprehensive alphabetical list of all African countries with details on their passport rankings, number of visa-free destinations, eVisa offerings, visas on arrival, and traditional visa requirements based on the latest travel updates:
Algeria
Passport Ranking: 92
Visa-Free Countries: 51
eVisa Issuance: 17
Visa on Arrival: 28
Traditional Visa Requirements: 104
Angola
Passport Ranking: 96
Visa-Free Countries: 47
eVisa Issuance: 16
Visa on Arrival: 30
Traditional Visa Requirements: 107
B
Benin
- Passport Ranking: 78
- Visa-Free Countries: 66
- eVisa Issuance: 24
- Visa on Arrival: 37
- Traditional Visa Requirements: 113
Botswana
Passport Ranking: 60
Visa-Free Countries: 88
eVisa Issuance: 31
Visa on Arrival: 43
Traditional Visa Requirements: 101
Burkina Faso
Passport Ranking: 91
Visa-Free Countries: 53
eVisa Issuance: 19
Visa on Arrival: 32
Traditional Visa Requirements: 102
Burundi
Passport Ranking: 95
Visa-Free Countries: 50
eVisa Issuance: 18
Visa on Arrival: 30
Traditional Visa Requirements: 106
C
Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)
Passport Ranking: 74
Visa-Free Countries: 70
eVisa Issuance: 25
Visa on Arrival: 39
Traditional Visa Requirements: 106
Cameroon
Passport Ranking: 93
Visa-Free Countries: 49
eVisa Issuance: 20
Visa on Arrival: 31
Traditional Visa Requirements: 108
Central African Republic
- Passport Ranking:
- 97Visa-Free Countries: 46
- eVisa Issuance: 18
- Visa on Arrival: 30
- Traditional Visa Requirements**: 111
Chad
Passport Ranking: 98
Visa-Free Countries: 45
eVisa Issuance: 17
Visa on Arrival: 29
Traditional Visa Requirements: 112
Comoros
Passport Ranking: 84
Visa-Free Countries: 60
eVisa Issuance: 22
Visa on Arrival: 35
Traditional Visa Requirements: 114
Congo (Republic of the Congo)
Passport Ranking: 89
Visa-Free Countries: 54
eVisa Issuance: 21
Visa on Arrival: 33
Traditional Visa Requirements: 110
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Passport Ranking: 94
Visa-Free Countries: 50
eVisa Issuance: 19
Visa on Arrival: 30
Traditional Visa Requirements: 109
D
Djibouti
Passport Ranking: 85
Visa-Free Countries: 59
eVisa Issuance: 21
Visa on Arrival: 34
Traditional Visa Requirements: 112
E
Egypt
Passport Ranking: 93
Visa-Free Countries: 49
eVisa Issuance: 20
Visa on Arrival: 32
Traditional Visa Requirements: 108
Equatorial Guinea
Passport Ranking: 92
Visa-Free Countries: 51
eVisa Issuance: 18
Visa on Arrival: 30
Traditional Visa Requirements: 106
Eritrea
Passport Ranking: 99
Visa-Free Countries: 44
eVisa Issuance: 16
Visa on Arrival: 29
Traditional Visa Requirements: 115
Eswatini (Swaziland)
Passport Ranking: 74
Visa-Free Countries: 69
eVisa Issuance: 26
Visa on Arrival: 40
Traditional Visa Requirements: 105
Ethiopia
Passport Ranking: 97
Visa-Free Countries: 46
eVisa Issuance: 18
Visa on Arrival: 305
Traditional Visa Requirements: 112
G
Gabon
Passport Ranking: 83
Visa-Free Countries: 62
eVisa Issuance: 23
Visa on Arrival: 36
Traditional Visa Requirements: 113
Gambia
Passport Ranking: 70
Visa-Free Countries: 74
eVisa Issuance: 27
Visa on Arrival: 41
Traditional Visa Requirements: 106
Ghana
Passport Ranking**: 79
Visa-Free Countries**: 64
eVisa Issuance**: 25
Visa on Arrival**: 35
Traditional Visa Requirements**: 115
Guinea
Passport Ranking: 94
Visa-Free Countries: 50
eVisa Issuance: 19
Visa on Arrival: 30
Traditional Visa Requirements: 109
Guinea-Bissau
Passport Ranking: 95
Visa-Free Countries*: 48
eVisa Issuance: 18
Visa on Arrival: 29
Traditional Visa Requirements: 110
I
Ivory Coast (CΓ΄te dβIvoire)
Passport Ranking: 75
Visa-Free Countries: 68
eVisa Issuance: 24
Visa on Arrival: 39
Traditional Visa Requirements: 105
Β K
Kenya
Passport Ranking: 73
Visa-Free Countries: 71
eVisa Issuance: 28
Visa on Arrival: 39
Traditional Visa Requirements: 112
L
Lesotho
Passport Ranking: 78
Visa-Free Countries: 66
eVisa Issuance: 23
Visa on Arrival: 37
Traditional Visa Requirements: 110
Liberia
Passport Ranking: 91
Visa-Free Countries: 52
eVisa Issuance: 19
Visa on Arrival: 31
Traditional Visa Requirements: 104
Libya
Passport Ranking: 99
Visa-Free Countries: 44
eVisa Issuance*: 16
Visa on Arrival: 29
Traditional Visa Requirements: 116
M
Madagascar
Passport Ranking**: 86
Visa-Free Countries**: 58
eVisa Issuance**: 21
Visa on Arrival**: 35
Traditional Visa Requirements**: 112
Malawi
Passport Ranking: 87
Visa-Free Countries: 57
eVisa Issuance: 22
Visa on Arrival: 34
Traditional Visa Requirements: 113
Mali
Passport Ranking: 93
Visa-Free Countries: 49
eVisa Issuance: 20
Visa on Arrival: 32
Traditional Visa Requirements: 109
Mauritania
Passport Ranking: 85
Visa-Free Countries: 59
eVisa Issuance: 21
Visa on Arrival: 34
Traditional Visa Requirements: 111
Mauritius
Passport Ranking: 30
Visa-Free Countries: 146
eVisa Issuance: 48
Visa on Arrival: 58
Traditional Visa Requirements: 64
Morocco
Passport Ranking: 75
Visa-Free Countries: 69
eVisa Issuance: 24
Visa on Arrival: 36
Traditional Visa Requirements: 109
Mozambique
Passport Ranking: 83
Visa-Free Countries: 61
eVisa Issuance: 22
Visa on Arrival 35
Traditional Visa Requirements: 115
N
Namibia
Passport Ranking: 72
Visa-Free Countries: 73
eVisa Issuance: 26
Visa on Arrival: 40
Traditional Visa Requirements: 106
Niger
Passport Ranking**: 94
Visa-Free Countries**: 50
eVisa Issuance**: 19
Visa on Arrival**: 30
Traditional Visa Requirements**: 109
Nigeria
Passport Ranking: 98
Visa-Free Countries: 45
eVisa Issuance**: 21
Visa on Arrival**: 28
Traditional Visa Requirements**: 106
R
Rwanda
Passport Ranking: 83
Visa-Free Countries: 62
eVisa Issuance: 23
Visa on Arrival: 36
Traditional Visa Requirements*: 113
Β S
Sao Tome and Principe
Passport Ranking: 75
Visa-Free Countries: 69
eVisa Issuance: 24
Visa on Arrival: 39
Traditional Visa Requirements: 105
Senegal
Passport Ranking: 83
Visa-Free Countries: 61
eVisa Issuance: 23
Visa on Arrival: 34
Traditional Visa Requirements: 113
Seychelles
Passport Ranking: 29
Visa-Free Countries: 147
eVisa Issuance: 48
Visa on Arrival: 58
Traditional Visa Requirements: 62
Sierra Leone
Passport Ranking: 90
Visa-Free Countries: 54
eVisa Issuance: 21
Visa on Arrival: 33
Traditional Visa Requirements: 108
Somalia
Passport Ranking: 103
Visa-Free Countries: 38
eVisa Issuance**: 15
Visa on Arrival: 28
Traditional Visa Requirements: 115
South Africa
Passport Ranking: 58
Visa-Free Countries: 102
eVisa Issuance: 30
Visa on Arrival: 36
Traditional Visa Requirements: 98
South Sudan
Passport Ranking: 102
Visa-Free Countries: 39
eVisa Issuance: 16
Visa on Arrival: 27
Traditional Visa Requirements: 115
Sudan
Passport Ranking: 103
Visa-Free Countries: 37
eVisa Issuance: 15
Visa on Arrival: 27
Traditional Visa Requirements: 116
T
Tanzania
Passport Ranking: 72
Visa-Free Countries: 73
eVisa Issuance: 27
Visa on Arrival: 40
Traditional Visa Requirements: 104
Togo
Passport Ranking: 88
Visa-Free Countries: 56
eVisa Issuance: 22
Visa on Arrival: 34
Traditional Visa Requirements: 113
Tunisia
Passport Ranking: 77
Visa-Free Countries: 67
eVisa Issuance: 24
Visa on Arrival: 38
Traditional Visa Requirements: 110
Β U
Uganda
Passport Ranking: 76
Visa-Free Countries: 67
eVisa Issuance: 22
Visa on Arrival: 34
Traditional Visa Requirements: 109
Β Z
Zambia
Passport Ranking: 76
Visa-Free Countries: 67
eVisa Issuance: 22
Visa on Arrival: 34
Traditional Visa Requirements: 109
Zimbabwe
Passport Ranking: 80
Visa-Free Countries: 63
eVisa Issuance: 24
Visa on Arrival: 35
Traditional Visa Requirements: 110
African Passport Power: A Continental Overview
- Strongest African passports: Typically, Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa rank highest in terms of global mobility.
- Β Mid-range mobility: Countries like Botswana, Namibia, and Kenya often fall in the middle of global passport rankings.
- More restricted: Many West and Central African countries face the most significant travel restrictions.
On average, African passport holders can travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival to approximately 60-70 countries worldwide including African Countries. This number varies significantly by nation, with some having access to over 100 countries and others limited to fewer than 50.
The Way Forward
Addressing the issue of visa restrictions for African travelers requires a multi-faceted approach:
1. Diplomatic efforts: African nations can work together to negotiate better travel agreements with countries worldwide.
2. Economic development: Continued growth and stability can help alleviate concerns that drive restrictive visa policies.
3. Technological advancements: Improved passport security and digital visa systems can streamline processes and build trust.
4. Public awareness: Highlighting the importance of global mobility for Africaβs development can drive policy changes.
5. Regional integration: Strengthening intra-African travel and economic ties can boost the continentβs collective bargaining power.
Conclusion
The challenges facing African travelers in the global visa landscape are complex and multifaceted. While progress has been made in some areas, significant work remains to ensure equitable access to international travel opportunities. By understanding these issues and advocating for change, we can work towards a world where an African passport opens doors rather than faces barriers.
