Nigerian passport holders are set to gain visa-free access to two African countries from January 1, 2027, following announcements by the governments of Chad and the Republic of the Congo.

The two countries have announced plans to remove entry visa requirements for nationals of all African countries, meaning Nigerians will be able to travel to both destinations without obtaining a visa in advance.

The decisions are part of a broader push across Africa to promote the free movement of people, strengthen regional integration and make travel and trade between African countries easier.

1. Chad

Chad will abolish entry visa requirements for African nationals from January 1, 2027.

President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno announced the policy in July 2026, saying the move was aimed at advancing African integration and the free movement of people and goods across the continent.

Under the new policy, Nigerians and citizens of other African countries will be able to enter Chad without first obtaining an entry visa.

2. Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville, will similarly remove visa requirements for all African nationals from January 1, 2027.

President Denis Sassou Nguesso announced the decision during the 2026 African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings in Brazzaville.

He said that from January 1, 2027, nationals of all African countries would no longer require visas to enter the Republic of the Congo, subject to minimal administrative and security provisions.

The policy is intended to support greater continental integration and the free movement of Africans, while also complementing efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Visa-Free Countries for Nigerian Passport Holders

  • Barbados
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi – Visa on arrival
  • Cambodia – Visa on arrival
  • Cameroon
  • Cape Verde Islands
  • Chad
  • Comoro Islands – Visa on arrival
  • Cook Islands
  • Cote d’Ivoire
  • Djibouti
  • Dominica
  • Fiji
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Haiti
  • Iran – Visa on arrival
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar – Visa on arrival
  • Maldives – Visa on arrival
  • Mali
  • Mauritius
  • Micronesia
  • Montserrat
  • Mozambique
  • Niger
  • Niue – Visa on arrival
  • Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa – Visa on arrival
  • Senegal
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • The Gambia
  • Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
  • Togo
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu

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