Africa is advancing on its quest for greater integration, and the AVOI provides a clear gauge of progress – to ensure there is constant attention to the need to create a continent where movement is seamless, and borders connect rather than divide. This year’s Index reveals both inspiring progress and some persistent barriers.
At the AfDB, we see visa openness as fundamental to realising the goals of our Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033), which seeks to seize Africa’s opportunities for a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and integrated continent. When we remove barriers to movement, we facilitate the creation of larger, more attractive markets, enhance intra-African trade, and encourage investments that boost job creation and industrialisation.
Many African countries have stepped up action to simplify visa processes or offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival options to more African travellers. Today, visa openness across Africa stands at its highest level since we began tracking it nine years ago in 2016. So far, 39 African countries have improved their scores, a testament to Africa’s shared commitment to ease travel and foster collaboration across borders.
Despite this progress, the 2024 AVOI reveals pestering challenges. Many Africans still face significant visa hurdles when crossing into neighbouring countries, not only restricting access to opportunities for curious travellers, but also constraining the dreams of young entrepreneurs, and professionals.
As we seek to advance the AfCFTA, strengthen regional value chains, and open new opportunities in the dynamic services sector, it is evident that visas, their attendant processes and high costs, are barriers we must dismantle. To achieve “The Africa We Want” as envisioned in the AU Agenda 2063, we must address these barriers with urgency and creativity. Solutions such as e-visas and electronic travel authorisation are paving the way for easier travel. But we can and must go further. As regional economic communities continue to model best practices for free movement, we have an opportunity to expand these practices continent-wide.
By breaking down visa-related barriers, we will come much closer to an Africa that is united by shared goals, free movement and collective prosperity for all. It is my hope that this Index continues to serve as a powerful tool for policy makers, spotlighting areas to celebrate, while highlighting areas for continual improvement. The African Development Bank is proud to support this important work alongside the African Union Commission.
Nnenna Lily Nwabufo Vice President Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery African Development Bank Group
