Lomé (TDI): Togo has announced a sweeping visa-free policy for all African nationals, allowing citizens from every country on the continent to enter without prior authorization for short stays.
The Togolese government announced the removal of visa requirements for nationals of all African countries coming into the country for stays of up to 30 days.
The announcement was made on Tuesday in a statement issued by Togo’s Ministry of Security via its official X account.
African nationals holding valid national passports will now be allowed to enter Togo without a visa for the duration of the permitted period.
The ministry framed the decision as a step toward deeper continental solidarity, saying that Togo is reaffirming “its commitment to making Togo a space of openness, mobility, opportunities, and cooperation at the heart of the African continent.”
LE TOGO SUPPRIME LE VISA POUR TOUS LES AFRICAINS !
Le Togo franchit une étape historique dans le renforcement de l’intégration africaine. Désormais, tous les ressortissants des États africains détenteurs d’un passeport national valide peuvent entrer sur le territoire togolais… pic.twitter.com/ewa2QRSfyq
— Ministère de la Sécurité – Togo (@MSPC_TOGO) May 18, 2026
The ministry added that the policy underscores Togo’s commitment to regional integration and strengthening ties among African countries.
The announcement marks a significant expansion of access. Previously, only a limited number of African nations enjoyed visa-free entry into Togo.
As recently as 2025, only around 16 African countries were exempt from Togo’s visa requirement, while nationals from 37 others on the continent were required to obtain a valid entry visa.
The development places Togo among African countries that have eased entry requirements for citizens of other African nations as part of efforts to boost trade, tourism, and regional cooperation.
Read More: Brazil Announces Short Stay Visa Free Entry for Chinese Nationals
The move follows a similar visa-free policy recently implemented by Rwanda. Nigeria, in turn, has begun rolling out a reciprocal 30-day visa exemption for Rwandan nationals, suggesting the policy shift could trigger a broader wave of openness across the continent.
Togo’s decision aligns with the long-standing ambitions of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a borderless Africa where the free movement of people drives economic integration. Despite years of advocacy, progress on that front has been uneven.
The West African nation, home to roughly 9.7 million people, sits at a geographic crossroads between Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, and Burkina Faso.
With the capital Lomé serving as a major regional trading hub, the new policy could give Togo’s economy a significant boost by attracting business travelers, entrepreneurs, and tourists who previously faced bureaucratic barriers at the border.
