Chad to waive visa requirements for all African travelers starting January 1, 2027

Chad is preparing to open its borders more widely to travelers from across the African continent.

Starting January 1, 2027, citizens of African countries will no longer be required to obtain a visa to enter Chad.

The decision was announced on July 15, 2026, by President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno during the opening of the African Water Forum in N’Djamena. The president said Chad would “open its borders and eliminate entry visa requirements for all Africans as of January 1, 2027.”

Visa-free entry for citizens of every African country

The wording used by the Chadian president covers citizens of all African countries, regardless of nationality.

Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno presented the decision as another step in Chad’s commitment to African integration and the free movement of people. In his speech, he described the country as a crossroads connecting West Africa, East Africa, and the northern and southern parts of the continent.

The announcement applies to entry visas. It does not automatically mean that African travelers will be allowed to work, settle permanently, or conduct professional activities in Chad without additional authorization.

Several African nationalities are already visa-exempt in Chad

The effective date has been clearly set for January 1, 2027, but several practical details still need to be released by the Chadian authorities.

The president’s speech did not specify the maximum length of a visa-free stay, the travel documents that will be accepted, any advance registration requirements, the conditions applying to minors, or the rules governing business travel.

The announced reform will expand an exemption already available to citizens of several African countries.

Chad’s official evisa.td platform currently lists the following African countries among those whose citizens are exempt from visa requirements:

• Benin;
• Cameroon;
• the Central African Republic;
• the Republic of the Congo;
• Côte d’Ivoire;
• Equatorial Guinea;
• Gabon;
• The Gambia;
• Mali;
• Mauritius;
• Niger;
• Nigeria;
• Rwanda;
• Togo.

Citizens of other African countries must continue to follow the current entry requirements until the new visa exemption is formally implemented.

Since May 11, 2026, travelers who still require a visa have been required to apply exclusively online through the official evisa.td platform. Diplomatic and courtesy visas continue to be handled separately by Chad’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chad joins the push for visa-free travel across Africa

Chad’s decision aligns with the African Union’s goal of promoting the free movement of people across the continent.

Chad will notably join Togo, which has allowed citizens of all African countries to enter without a visa since May 18, 2026. The exemption permits stays of up to 30 days for travelers holding a valid passport, provided they submit a travel declaration through the Togolese government platform at least 24 hours before arrival.

Chad’s reform will also take effect on the same date as the exemption announced by the Republic of the Congo. On May 25, 2026, President Denis Sassou N’Guesso said citizens of every African country would be granted visa-free entry beginning January 1, 2027, subject to administrative and security procedures that have yet to be detailed.

The African Union’s African Passport and Free Movement initiative seeks to reduce the barriers that prevent Africans from traveling, working, and living in other countries on the continent.

Despite reforms introduced by several governments, visa-free travel within Africa remains limited. According to the 10th edition of the Africa Visa Openness Index, published by the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission, only 28.2% of intra-African travel was visa-free in 2025.

Chad’s planned opening should therefore make tourism, family visits, and business travel between the country and the rest of Africa easier beginning in 2027.