Rwanda has once again retained its position as Africa’s most visa-open country, according to the 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI), reaffirming its long-standing policy of facilitating free movement across the continent. The government has occupied the top spot since 2023, primarily due to its decision to allow visa-free entry for citizens of all African nations.
The 2025 index places Rwanda jointly at the top with The Gambia, while Kenya ranks third. Benin ranks fourth after introducing new visa requirements for nationals of five African countries. The rankings highlight differing approaches among African states as they balance mobility, security, and administrative concerns.
Published by the African Development Bank in partnership with the African Union Commission, the AVOI marks its tenth consecutive year of tracking visa policies across Africa. The index assesses how open African countries are to visitors from within the continent by examining whether travellers can enter without a visa, obtain one on arrival, or must apply in advance.
This year’s report shows that Africa’s overall visa openness score stands at 0.445, lower than the levels recorded over the past three years and broadly comparable to 2021. The figure suggests that, while progress has been made over the last decade, momentum towards greater openness has slowed in some parts of the continent.
In 2025, 20 African countries revised their visa policies. Of these, 11 improved their openness scores, nine declined, and 34 made no change.
At the same time, the number of visa-free travel scenarios within Africa rose slightly, from 803 in 2024 to 814 in 2025. These now account for 28.2 per cent of all intra-African travel scenarios, the highest proportion since the index was first introduced.
Although Rwanda grants visa-free access to all African visitors, Rwandan citizens do not enjoy the same level of mobility across the continent. They can travel visa-free to 16 African countries, obtain visas on arrival in another 16, and must obtain a visa in advance for travel to 21 countries.
Commenting on the findings, Joy Kategekwa, Director of Regional Integration at the African Development Bank Group, said that a decade of monitoring through the AVOI shows visa-free mobility in Africa is “full of promise” but still requires accelerated action to reach its full potential.
She noted that most African mobility occurs within the continent, driven by the search for jobs, trade opportunities, and education. Visa-free and simplified entry regimes, she said, are critical for supporting economic growth, boosting intra-African trade, and ensuring that skills and labour can move to where they are most needed.
Kategekwa added that expanding visa-free access will require creativity and innovation, as well as learning from countries that have already taken bold steps to open their borders. She stressed the importance of developing effective border management systems that anticipate challenges and manage risks, rather than avoiding openness altogether.
Rwanda’s continued leadership in visa openness is widely seen as part of a broader strategy to promote regional integration and align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a more connected, prosperous, and unified Africa.
