Chad Visa-Free Entry for Africans Starts in 2027
Chad has announced visa-free entry for Africans from January 1, 2027, but its current e-Visa rules still apply until that date.
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Chad visa-free entry for African passport holders is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027, after the government said it will abolish entry visas for all African nationals. For African passport holders, that would remove the entry-visa step once the change is in force.
What changed
Chad announced on July 15, 2026, that it will drop entry visas for Africans from January 1, 2027. That is a major shift from the current rule on Chad’s official e-Visa site, which still says entry is subject to a visa for non-exempt foreign travelers and that visa requests are filed online.
When it takes effect
The change is announced, not yet in force. Until January 1, 2027, the old rule applies, so African passport holders should expect the current visa process unless they are already exempt.
Why Chad made the change
Chad said the reform supports African integration and the free movement of people and goods. The government also said it would strengthen Chad’s role as a crossroads linking regions of Africa, and described the move as a step toward becoming the eighth African country to offer visa-free entry to all Africans.
What travelers should do
African travelers should not assume visa-free entry before January 1, 2027. Until the change takes effect, they should check Chad’s current visa rules and apply through the official e-Visa system if they are not already exempt. The operational details of the rollout are still unclear because no decree, gazette text, or border-implementation guidance surfaced in the search results.
