Chad to grant visa-free entry to all African citizens from January 1

Chad has announced plans to remove entry visa requirements for all African nationals, with the new policy set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

President Mahamat Idriss Déby said the decision was aimed at strengthening African unity and promoting greater freedom of movement across the continent. According to Déby, the policy will help make the free movement of people and goods in Africa a more practical reality.

With the move, Chad is set to become the eighth African country to adopt a blanket visa-free policy for citizens of other African countries. Other countries that have introduced similar open-door policies include Benin Republic, The Gambia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Ghana, Kenya and Togo.

In May, Togo announced that African nationals with valid passports could enter the country without a visa and stay for up to 30 days. Chad’s decision is expected to further strengthen efforts towards greater regional integration and easier movement of Africans across national borders.