Key points
- Chad will remove entry visa requirements for all African passport holders from January 1, 2027.
- President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno announced the move at the African Water Forum in N'Djamena.
- The measure supports regional integration and the African Union's Agenda 2063.
- Operational details such as permitted stay length have not yet been published.
Chad has announced that it will remove entry visa requirements for all African passport holders starting January 1, 2027.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno made the announcement during the opening of the African Water Forum in the capital, N’Djamena. “The Chad of Toumaï, cradle of humanity, opens its borders and abolishes entry visas for all Africans from Jan. 1, 2027,” he said.
The aim of the policy
The government framed the decision as a way to strengthen regional integration and make it easier for people across Africa to travel, trade, and do business. Officials linked the move to the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s long-term development framework.
Chad is not acting alone. The Republic of the Congo has announced similar visa-free access for African travelers from January 2027.
What is not yet clear
For now, existing visa rules remain in place until the policy takes effect. Some African nationalities already enter Chad without a visa under regional or bilateral agreements.
The Chadian government has not yet released operational guidance, including how long visa-free visitors will be allowed to stay, any additional entry conditions, or the procedures at border crossings. Those details are expected closer to the January 2027 start date.
Non-African travelers
The announcement does not change anything for non-African passport holders, who must continue to follow Chad’s existing entry requirements.
Travelers planning a 2027 trip should watch for the government’s implementation rules before assuming visa-free entry applies to their situation.
