Togo has announced the immediate scrapping of visa requirements for nationals of all African countries visiting for short‑term stays of up to 30 days, a measure designed to deepen continental integration.Released via the official X account of Togo’s Ministry of Security on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, the statement grants visa‑free entry to any African national holding a valid national passport for stays within the 30‑day limit.
The ministry noted the policy forms part of broader efforts to advance African integration and boost cross‑continental mobility, with the visa waiver taking effect on Monday, 18 May 2026.
The reform applies to short‑term visits of no more than 30 days. Travellers must still submit a travel declaration via an official government platform at least 24 hours prior to arrival to receive a travel slip. Authorities clarified the exemption does not waive existing entry‑related security, immigration and public health regulations.
With this move, Togo becomes the sixth African nation to offer visa‑free entry to all holders of African passports. It joins Rwanda, Ghana, Benin, The Gambia and Seychelles, which have implemented full or near‑complete visa‑free access for African travellers.
According to the African Development Bank’s Visa Openness Index, only 28.2 per cent of intra‑African travel was visa‑free by the end of 2025.
Prior to the announcement, Togo was set to host the 2026 Biashara Afrika Trade Summit in Lomé, themed Powering Africa’s Economic Transformation through the AfCFTA. Co‑hosted by the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Togolese government, the policy adjustment is widely viewed as strengthening Togo’s position as an open, well‑connected regional hub central to Africa’s trade integration drive.
