Togo Becomes Sixth African Country to Grant Visa Free Access to All Africans

Togo has announced the immediate removal of visa requirements for nationals of all African countries entering the country for short stays of up to 30 days, a move aimed at deepening continental integration. The announcement, made in a statement by Togo’s Ministry of Security via its official X handle on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, grants visa free entry to any African holding a valid national passport for a stay within the period. The ministry said the move was part of efforts to deepen African integration and promote mobility across the continent. The waiver took effect on Monday, May 18, 2026.

The reform applies to short term stays not exceeding 30 days, and visitors are still required to complete a travel declaration on an official government platform at least 24 hours before arrival to obtain a travel slip. Officials clarified that the exemption does not eliminate existing security, immigration, and public health requirements applicable to entry into the country.

With this decision, Togo becomes the sixth African country to allow visa free entry for all holders of African passports. According to reports, Togo joins Rwanda, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles, which have already adopted full or near full visa free access for African travelers. The visa openness index published by the African Development Bank found that only 28.2% of intra African travel was visa free by the end of 2025.

Ahead of the announcement, Togo was also preparing to host the Biashara Afrika 2026 trade summit in Lomé under the theme Powering Africa’s Economic Transformation through the AfCFTA. The event was jointly convened by the AfCFTA Secretariat and the government of Togo. The timing of the policy shift has been widely seen as reinforcing Togo’s positioning as a more open and connected regional hub at the heart of African trade integration.

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