Rwanda is ranked the first country in visa openness in Africa, a position it has maintained since 2023 due to its visa-free regime, according to the Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) 2024. The authors of the Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) 2024 also ranked Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles as leading countries in first place of visa openness for offering visa-free access to all Africans. The report is a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the African Union (AU) Commission. AVOI measures the extent to which African countries are open to visitors from other African countrie

Rwanda is ranked the first country in visa openness in Africa, a position it has maintained since 2023 due to its visa-free regime, according to the Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) 2024. The authors of the Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) 2024 also ranked Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles as leading countries in first place of visa openness for offering visa-free access to all Africans. The report is a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the African Union (AU) Commission. AVOI measures the extent to which African countries are open to visitors from other African countries. It analyses each country’s visa requirements to show which nations on the continent most facilitate travel to their territory. The report indicates that the top 10 countries scored an average of 0.910. Eight countries decreased their score, 17 countries increased their score, and 29 countries maintained their score. It highlights that nine top 20 performers are low‑income countries whereby three of them are landlocked, including Rwanda. However, when it comes to reciprocity, Rwandans need visa when traveling to 16 African countries, visa-on-arrival when traveling to 16 African countries, and visa required when traveling to 21 countries. Rwanda is one of the most tourism-friendly countries in Africa, as evidenced by 1.4 million tourists who visited Rwanda in 2023. Rwanda has opened its gates to all people from all over the world, as citizens of all countries are allowed to get a visa upon arrival without prior application. Citizens of countries that are members of the African Union, Commonwealth, and La Francophonie can get free visas upon arrival in Rwanda for a visit of up to 30 days. A citizen of an East African Community Member State can receive a pass/entry visa free of charge upon arrival for a six-month stay in Rwanda.

A little more informed. A little more connected.