Africa has 54 countries, and each sets its own entry rules. Rules also depend on your passport, where you are flying from and how long you plan to stay, and they change often. This guide explains what to look for, so you know which questions to ask. Always confirm the current rules with each country’s official government website and with your airline before you book.
The short versionCheck your passport, find out which visa or travel authorisation each country needs, ask your doctor about vaccines and health certificates, and save copies of every document before you fly. Start at least six to eight weeks before you leave.
Your passport
- Validity: most African countries want at least six months left on your passport from the day you arrive. Some accept less, but airlines often apply the stricter rule and may refuse boarding.
- Blank pages: many countries ask for at least one or two empty pages for stamps. Visa pages can fill quickly on a multi-country trip.
- Condition: a damaged, water-stained or torn passport can be refused. Renew it first if in doubt.
- Name and details: your booking, visa and passport must show exactly the same name.
- Copies: keep a photo of the photo page on your phone and a paper copy in a different bag.
Visas and travel authorisations
There are four common systems. Which one applies to you depends on the country and your nationality.
| Type | How it works | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No visa needed | Citizens of many countries can enter for a short stay, often 30 to 90 days. Countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Morocco and Mauritius allow this for many nationalities. | Check the length of stay allowed and any passport conditions. |
| Online visa or travel authorisation (e-visa, eTA) | You apply online and receive an approval to print or save. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Zambia and Zimbabwe are among countries that use online systems. | Apply on the official government site, a few weeks before you travel. |
| Visa on arrival | You buy the visa at the airport or border. Queues can be long, and you may need cash in a particular currency. | Carry the exact fee in clean notes, and your passport photo and return ticket. |
| Visa before travel | You apply at an embassy or consulate, sometimes in person, with supporting documents. | Allow several weeks and do not book non-refundable flights first. |
Beware of copycat websitesMany unofficial sites copy government visa pages and charge extra fees. Type the address of the government site yourself, or ask your tour operator for the correct link. Official visa websites usually end in a government domain.
Visiting more than one country
Each border is a separate entry. Check the rules for every country, the border post you will use and whether you need a multiple-entry visa. Regional visas have existed in East Africa and between Zambia and Zimbabwe, but they are changed or suspended from time to time, so do not assume one is available.
Transit and layovers
Some airports require a transit visa, even if you stay inside the terminal, depending on your nationality. Check for every connection, including those in the Middle East and Europe.
Staying longer, working or volunteering
Tourist visas do not allow paid work or, in many countries, volunteering. If you plan either, ask the embassy which permit you need.
Health certificates and vaccinations
Yellow fever
Many African countries ask for an international yellow fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from a country where the disease occurs, or have passed through one. Some ask all arrivals. The certificate is valid for life from ten days after the vaccine. Keep the original yellow card with your passport, because airlines and border officers may check it.
Vaccines for your own health
Entry rules are different from health advice. Your doctor or a travel clinic will recommend vaccines based on where you are going, what you will do and your medical history, for example hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and rabies. See a clinic six to eight weeks before you go, because some vaccines need several doses. Read Safety & Security for malaria and other health advice.
Other health rules
In an outbreak, countries can add health checks, forms or certificates at short notice. Check again a week before you fly.
What to have ready at the border
- Your passport and visa or approval, printed or saved offline.
- A return or onward ticket. Airlines and officers may ask for it.
- The address of your first night’s accommodation and your tour operator’s contact details.
- Proof that you can pay for your stay, such as a card or cash.
- Your yellow fever certificate, if needed.
- Your travel insurance details. See Travel Insurance.
Customs and restricted items
- Medicines: carry them in their original packaging, with a doctor’s letter and a copy of the prescription. Some strong painkillers and sleeping tablets are controlled drugs in some countries.
- Drones: many countries require a permit or ban drones outright, and flying them in national parks is usually forbidden. They can be confiscated at the airport.
- Camouflage clothing: civilians cannot wear or carry it in a number of African countries, including Tanzania and Kenya.
- Plastic bags: single-use plastic carrier bags are banned in many countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda. Pack your things in cloth, paper or reusable bags.
- Satellite phones, GPS devices and binoculars: a few countries restrict them. Ask your operator before you bring specialist equipment.
- Animal and plant products: ivory, shells, corals and some wood carvings cannot be exported and may be seized at home. Buy from reputable shops and ask for a receipt.
- Cash: you may need to declare large amounts of currency when you enter or leave.
Travelling with children
Some countries ask for extra paperwork when a child travels with one parent, with grandparents or with other adults, such as a full birth certificate and a signed consent letter. South Africa has asked for these at its borders, and its rules have changed more than once. Check the rules for every country you will pass through and for your airline.
When to apply
| Time before you travel | What to do |
|---|---|
| 3 to 6 months | Check passport validity and renew if needed. Book your trip. |
| 6 to 8 weeks | See a travel clinic. Start visa applications that need an embassy. |
| 3 to 4 weeks | Apply for online visas or authorisations. |
| 1 week | Check entry rules again. Save copies of every document on your phone. |
Checklist
- Passport valid for six months, with blank pages and in good condition.
- Visa or authorisation for every country, from the official website.
- Yellow fever certificate, if required.
- Return or onward ticket and accommodation details.
- Travel insurance details and an emergency number.
- Children’s paperwork, if needed.
- Digital and paper copies of everything, in separate bags.
This is general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so confirm them with the official government website or embassy of each country.