Togo offers 30-day visa-free access to African citizens

Togo has removed visa requirements for citizens of all African Union member states holding a valid passport, according to an official government announcement reported on May 19. The measure took effect immediately after a statement released on Monday, May 18, and allows short stays of up to 30 days. The move was presented by authorities as part of Togo’s push to ease movement across the continent. It was also highlighted this week in social media posts that framed the step as a gain for African mobility and integration. ### Who exactly can now enter Togo without a visa? African Union nationals with a valid passport are now exempt from entry visa requirements for short visits to Togo, according to the government announcement cited by Togo First. The exemption applies to citizens of all AU member states, not only travelers from West Africa’s ECOWAS bloc, which already benefited from separate regional facilitation rules. (togofirst.com) The 30-day limit is central to the new policy. Travelers can enter without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, but the exemption does not by itself authorize longer residence or settlement in Togo. ### Does visa-free mean travelers can just arrive at the border? Togo’s government said the visa waiver does not remove existing security, health or immigration requirements. (togofirst.com) Visitors must still complete a pre-arrival declaration on an official online platform at least 24 hours before arrival and obtain a travel authorization document to present at the border. The official Voyage Togo procedures page says travelers entering or leaving by air must fill out immigration forms on the platform, and it notes that the process applies even for some categories of travelers who do not need a visa. The same page also says travelers should carry a yellow fever vaccination card and recommends travel or medical insurance. ### Why did Togo say it made the change now? (togofirst.com) President Faure Gnassingbé announced the measure at the opening of the third edition of the Biashara Afrika Business Forum in Lomé, according to Togo First. Authorities said the decision reflects Togo’s commitment to regional integration and to the free movement of people and goods across Africa. (voyage.gouv.tg) The government also linked the policy to its ambition to position Togo as a regional hub for services, business and cultural exchange, in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area. Those aims were described by officials as part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation between African states and make the country more attractive to investors, entrepreneurs and visitors. (togofirst.com) ### What changes for travelers who want to stay longer than 30 days? Togo’s residence rules remain in place for foreigners who plan to settle or remain beyond short visits. The government’s public-service portal says foreigners who decide to establish residence in Togo must obtain a residence permit, with processing times of 30 to 45 days. (togofirst.com) The same portal lists permit prices ranging from 100,000 CFA francs for a one-year student residence card to 800,000 CFA francs for a five-year privileged residence card. Those requirements indicate that the new visa-free policy applies to entry and short stays, not to long-term residence. ### Where should travelers look before departure? (service-public.gouv.tg) Togo’s official Voyage platform remains the main site for pre-arrival formalities. The procedures page says travelers can use the platform to complete immigration forms and check whether a visa is required, even as the new policy broadens visa-free entry for African passport holders. Lomé is hosting the Biashara Afrika Business Forum through Wednesday, May 20, where the policy was announced, according to Togo First. (service-public.gouv.tg) Travelers seeking to use the new exemption can verify the latest entry steps on the Voyage platform before departure. (togofirst.com) (voyage.gouv.tg)