Angola has recently joined the growing list of African nations to offer visa-free entry, allowing nationals from more than 90 countries to visit for up to 90 days
This policy change, enacted through Presidential Decree Number 189/23 on September 29, 2023, aims to promote tourism and open Angola’s borders to a wide range of international visitors.
President Joao Lourenco has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to communicate this exemption from tourist visas to the eligible countries.
However, the 90-day visa-free stay is exclusively granted for tourism purposes.
This move aligns with Angola’s strategy to enhance its tourism sector by welcoming travellers from a multitude of countries. Notably, 14 African nations are on the list of countries benefiting from this visa-free entry policy.
They include Tanzania, Eswatini, Morocco, Lesotho, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Cape Verde, and Algeria.
Since December 2017, South Africans have enjoyed visa-free access to Angola following an agreement between the two nations.
Note that only five African countries—Seychelles, Mozambique, Rwanda, Comoros, and Madagascar—offer visa-free access or visas on arrival to citizens of all African countries. In comparison, Europe boasts 35 countries on the list, while Asia has 11.
Angola has identified several priority foreign countries, including the United States, Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Russia, and China. As the second-largest oil producer in Africa, Angola also boasts diverse tourist attractions, including the National Museum of Slavery, tropical Atlantic beaches, the Sub-Saharan Namib desert, and numerous rivers.