ABUJA — Nigerian passport holders will be able to travel to Chad and the Republic of the Congo without obtaining an entry visa in advance from Jan. 1, 2027, following separate announcements by the two Central African governments.
Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno announced the policy July 15 during the African Water Forum in N’Djamena, saying his country would abolish entry visas for citizens of all African countries from the beginning of 2027.
“Chad will open its borders and abolish entry visas for all Africans, effective January 1, 2027,” Déby said, describing the move as part of efforts to advance African integration and the free movement of people and goods.
The Republic of the Congo made a similar announcement earlier in May. President Denis Sassou N’Guesso said during the African Development Bank’s annual meetings in Brazzaville that citizens of all African countries would no longer require visas to enter the country from Jan. 1, 2027. He said the policy would be subject to “minimal administrative and security provisions.”
For Nigerian travelers, the changes could make tourism, business trips, family visits and other forms of travel to the two countries easier and less costly. However, visa-free entry does not necessarily mean that travelers will face no border requirements. Passports, health documentation, proof of accommodation or onward travel and other immigration conditions may still apply when the policies take effect.
The announcements are part of a wider push to improve movement across Africa. The African Development Bank and African Union have identified visa openness as an important part of continental integration, but the latest 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index found that only about 28% of intra-African travel was visa-free.
The effort also connects with the broader goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to increase trade and economic cooperation among African countries. Easier movement can help businesses, traders, workers, students and tourists cross borders more easily, although poor transport links, high travel costs and different immigration rules remain obstacles.
The push for freer movement has a long history. The African Union introduced the African passport in 2016 as part of a broader vision for easier movement across the continent, while countries such as Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya and others have introduced measures to reduce visa restrictions for African travelers.
For Nigeria, Chad and the Republic of the Congo’s decisions could strengthen travel and commercial links with Central Africa. The real impact, however, will depend on how the two governments implement the policies, including border procedures and security measures, when the visa exemptions officially begin on Jan. 1, 2027.
