Why Are African Travelers Facing Unprecedented Visa Barriers

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Why Are African Travelers Facing Unprecedented Visa Barriers

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, we’ll 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 country’s 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 (Côte d’Ivoire)

Passport Ranking: 75
Visa-Free Countries: 68
eVisa Issuance: 24
Visa on Arrival: 39
Traditional Visa Requirements: 105

 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

 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

 U

Uganda

Passport Ranking: 76
Visa-Free Countries: 67
eVisa Issuance: 22
Visa on Arrival: 34
Traditional Visa Requirements: 109

 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.
  •  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 Africa’s development can drive policy changes.

5. Regional integration: Strengthening intra-African travel and economic ties can boost the continent’s 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.

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