The removal of entry visas from 1 January 2027 is intended to support continental mobility, economic integration and the movement of goods and people.
Chad will abolish entry visas for citizens of every African country from 1 January 2027, in a move intended to advance continental integration and facilitate the movement of people and goods, according to reports.
The policy was announced by Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno during the opening of the African Water Forum in N’Djamena. The measure will apply to all African nationals.
Visa Reform Announced in N’Djamena
The African Water Forum was organized by the Chadian government and the World Bank, bringing together African heads of state, international institutions and delegations from across the continent.
Although the meeting focused on water and sustainable development challenges, Déby used the event to announce a policy extending beyond the forum’s central agenda. The planned measure will remove entry visa requirements for Africans travelling to Chad from the beginning of 2027.
Supporting African Integration
Before announcing the reform, Déby described Chad’s position within the continent and its role in connecting different African regions.
“We are, in Chad, the crossroads of Africa, of human encounters, of links between the West and the East, the North and the South of the continent – a land of welcome and integration, a center of African unity,” he said.
He subsequently declared: “Faithful to this ideal in favor of African integration and the free movement of goods and people, I would like, from this platform, on this historic day, to announce to you that Chad, the land of Toumaï, the cradle of humanity, is opening its borders and abolishing entry visas for all Africans, starting from January 1, 2027.”
Part of a Wider Continental Shift
Chad will join a group of African countries that have removed or substantially eased entry requirements for African travelers. Countries such as Benin, Rwanda, The Gambia, Seychelles, Ghana, Kenya and Togo are among those pursuing more open access policies.
The Republic of the Congo has also announced that it will introduce visa-free entry for all African nationals from 1 January 2027. Its decision was unveiled during the African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Brazzaville in May 2026.
Mobility as an Economic Priority
The direction of the reforms corresponds with the objectives of the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area, which regard the free movement of people as an important component of continental economic integration.
Reducing travel restrictions is intended to facilitate intra-African tourism and talent mobility while supporting investment, trade and wider regional connections. Chad’s announcement therefore adds a mobility commitment to the continent’s broader efforts to create more integrated markets.
For businesses, investors and policymakers, the implementation of the policy from January 2027 will represent a practical reduction in the administrative barriers facing African nationals travelling to Chad.
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