By a Correspondent
Cabo Verde has reaffirmed its position as one of Africa’s most accessible tourist destinations by allowing citizens of 67 countries to enter the island nation without a visa, a move expected to strengthen tourism, business travel and regional integration.
The visa-free policy covers travellers from several African countries, Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia, reflecting the archipelago’s strategy of positioning itself as a global tourism and investment hub.
Among the African nations whose citizens enjoy visa-free access are Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Togo.
The duration of visa-free stays varies by country, ranging from 30 days for visitors from Morocco and South Africa to up to 180 days for travellers from Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique.
While travellers from eligible countries do not require visas, Cabo Verde requires most visitors arriving by air to complete a pre-arrival registration through its Electronic Airport Security and Entry (EASE) platform and pay the applicable Airport Security Tax before departure.
The initiative is aimed at simplifying travel procedures while maintaining border security and improving passenger processing at the country’s international airports.
The policy is expected to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by making it easier for businesspeople, entrepreneurs and tourists to move across borders. Improved mobility has long been identified as one of the key requirements for boosting intra-African trade, investment and cultural exchange.
Tourism remains the backbone of Cabo Verde’s economy, contributing significantly to employment and foreign exchange earnings. The government has continued to pursue policies that make the Atlantic island nation more attractive to international visitors while encouraging greater connectivity with African markets.
However, not all African countries benefit from the visa exemption. Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and several other countries are not included on the current visa-free list, meaning their citizens must obtain visas before travelling to Cabo Verde unless they qualify under other exemptions.
The updated list underscores the uneven pace of visa liberalisation across Africa, even as the African Union continues to encourage member states to ease travel restrictions to promote regional integration and economic growth.
Analysts say broader visa-free access across the continent could help unlock Africa’s tourism potential, stimulate cross-border investment and bring the continent closer to achieving its long-standing goal of seamless movement of people.
