Photo: Norvikk / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
More than half of African air travellers say immigration requirements have discouraged them from visiting a destination, placing visa policy at the centre of the continent’s connectivity challenge.
A barrier to movement
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said 52% of respondents in Africa had been put off travelling to a destination by immigration requirements, the highest share among the regions measured in its 2026 Global Passenger Survey.
DGBN has also reported on High travel costs threaten Africa’s business tourism ambitions.
The finding comes as African governments seek to grow tourism, trade and business travel through the African Continental Free Trade Area and the African Union’s wider integration agenda. Yet travellers still confront visa applications, document demands, fees and uncertain processing times before they can board a flight.
Globally, 43% of passengers said entry requirements had discouraged a trip, up from 33% in IATA’s 2025 survey. Among those deterred worldwide, 53% identified the complexity of the process as the main reason; privacy and cost were each cited by 17%.
Demand for simpler digital processes
IATA said travellers increasingly want immigration procedures shifted online and completed before reaching the airport. Sixty per cent of respondents preferred to apply for visas online, compared with 25% who preferred applying in person at a consulate or embassy.
The survey also found that 86% were likely to share immigration information digitally before departure to speed up processing, while 45% preferred to complete immigration formalities before arriving at the airport.
For more context, read DGBN’s coverage of Hip-Hop’s Long Embrace Of The Black August Movement.
IATA senior vice-president Nick Careen said governments could remove friction by simplifying entry requirements, avoiding duplicate checks and speeding up the issuance and acceptance of secure digital travel credentials.
For African travellers, the figures point to a practical barrier to freedom of movement rather than simply an inconvenience. Restrictive or costly visa systems can prevent families from travelling, limit opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals, and weaken the flow of visitors needed by airlines, hotels and tourism businesses.
Progress, but gaps remain
There has been movement towards greater visa openness. IATA has previously noted that Ghana, Benin, The Gambia, Rwanda and Seychelles have offered visa-free entry to all African nationals, while Kenya has eased restrictions for most African visitors. The Republic of Congo and Togo have also recently joined the group of states offering visa-free access for African nationals, according to IATA.
However, the industry body says nearly half of intra-African trips still require travellers to obtain a visa before departure. It argues that this suppresses regional tourism, air connectivity and economic integration.
The survey, based on more than 10,000 responses from travellers in over 200 countries, also showed strong appetite among African respondents for digital travel tools. Eighty-seven per cent said they were interested in using a digital passport for online check-in, while 82% were willing to share biometric data for airport processes.
Related DGBN reporting includes Advocates urge Nigeria to open visa-free travel for Africans.
For wider context, see South Africa v Guinea preview: Mosimane’s Bafana return begins with Group D showdown in Soweto on Diajem Sports Network.
That creates an opening for governments to pair stronger border management with easier lawful mobility. For Black communities across the continent and diaspora travellers visiting family, investing or building cultural ties, a simpler visa system could make Africa more accessible on African terms.