In the 2024 rankings by the African Visa Openness Index (AVOI), Rwanda ties at the top position with Benin, Seychelles, and The Gambia, all offering visa-free access to all African travellers.

Rwanda introduced visa-free access for travellers from all African countries in January 2018.

The visa-free policy is part of the country’s efforts to promote Pan-Africanism, regional integration, and ease of movement across the continent. It allows citizens of African Union member states to enter Rwanda without requiring a visa.

Ghana ranks fifth, while Cape Verde and Nigeria share the sixth position. The three countries have mixed policies, offering visa-free access to some African nations and visa-on-arrival options for others.

Completing the top 10 are Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Mauritius, each showcasing a blend of policies.

Other countries that made it into the top 20 include Burundi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Djibouti, Comoros, Senegal, Madagascar, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.

Interestingly, Kenya’s introduction of new visa policies earlier this year, which the government claimed would simplify access, has instead made the country less accessible.

The East African economic powerhouse has dropped 17 places on the index and now ranks 46th out of 54 African countries.

Notably, the 2024 report highlights the disparities in visa policies among African countries and their impact on regional integration. It underscores how restrictive visa policies hinder free movement, contradicting the aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the AU Agenda 2063.

According to the report, lower-income nations are generally more open to liberal visa policies. In contrast, several higher-income countries continue to maintain restrictive visa regimes, possibly due to concerns that visa openness could incentivize inbound travel for purely economic reasons or create pathways for irregular migration.

Rwanda introduced visa-free access for travellers from all African countries in January 2018. The visa-free policy is part of the country's efforts to promote Pan-Africanism, regional integration, and ease of movement across the continent.