Travel · Visa
Visa Requirements for Visiting Africa
For diaspora members travelling on a US, UK, Canadian or Australian passport. Pick a country to see what you need and where to apply officially.
Nigeria
eVisaTourism visaBusiness visa
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders need a visa and must apply online through the Nigeria Immigration Service portal before travel; visa on arrival is no longer generally available (the NIS page limits it to specific business and official categories). Nigerian citizens travel on a Nigerian passport and do not need a visa.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months with at least 2 blank pages
- Two recent passport-sized photographs (35x40mm)
- Return ticket
- Evidence of sufficient funds
- Hotel reservation or host address in Nigeria
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate (per UK government travel advice; infants 8 months and under and adults 61+ exempt)
- Online application and payment via the NIS portal
An additional USD 170 may be charged for biometric capture, per the NIS tourist visa page; check the portal for current fees.
Ghana
eVisaEmbassy/High Commission visaPre-approved visa on arrival
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders need a visa before travelling to Ghana; apply through the Ghana Immigration Service eVisa portal or via the nearest Ghana embassy/high commission. Visa on arrival is only for pre-approved applicants (not a walk-up option).
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months with blank visa pages
- One passport-size photo with white background
- Completed visa application form (online) and fee
- Hotel reservation or address and itinerary in Ghana
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate (per UK government travel advice)
- Proof of residence status if applying from a country other than your passport country
UK government advice states standard embassy processing takes 10 to 15 days; the GIS says to secure a pre-approved visa before flying as airlines may refuse boarding.
Kenya
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Kenya has replaced visas for most visitors with a mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA); US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders must apply online before travel.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months with at least one blank page (UK advice says 2)
- Selfie or passport-style photo
- Email address and phone number
- Arrival and departure itinerary
- Accommodation booking confirmation
- Online payment (card)
- Kenyan Government travel health insurance bought during the application, for most stays under 12 months from 5 October 2026 (per UK advice)
Usually processed within 3 business days; standard fee starts at USD 30, with USD 100 extra for expedited service.
South Africa
Visa-free entryElectronic Travel Authorisation
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders can visit South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days. South Africa launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on 12 August 2026; visa-exempt travellers may apply voluntarily (faster arrival queue, stay extensions), and it is being made compulsory progressively for visa-requiring countries.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 30 days after departure from South Africa
- At least 2 blank passport pages
- Yellow fever certificate if arriving from a transmission-risk country
- For the optional ETA: scan of passport, selfie, verified mobile number and email, online payment
- Check DHA/High Commission for any change before travel (the exemption list is subject to change)
ETA approvals are stated to be issued within 24 hours; initial airports are OR Tambo, Cape Town, King Shaka and Lanseria.
Ethiopia
eVisaVisa on arrivalEmbassy tourist visa
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders need a visa to enter Ethiopia; the recommended route is the official eVisa portal run by the Immigration and Citizenship Service. The Ethiopian Embassy in Washington also states visa on arrival is processed for travellers from the US, and visas can be obtained at the embassy.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months from entry date (machine-readable)
- Scanned colour copy of passport
- Recent passport-size photo
- Online application and payment
- Yellow fever certificate if arriving from a transmission-risk country
- Non-US citizens applying at the Washington embassy need proof of US permanent residence
UK advice lists a 30-day single-entry tourist eVisa; the Washington embassy visa takes 1 to 3 business days and costs USD 60 (single) or USD 150 (multiple).
Zimbabwe
Visa on arrivaleVisaEntry declaration
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders are in Zimbabwe's Category B: no visa is needed before travel, and a visa is paid for and issued on arrival, or you can apply for an eVisa in advance. A six-month multiple-entry visa on arrival is listed for UK, US and Canadian passports only.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid for at least six months
- Two recent colour passport-size photos (per a Zimbabwe embassy page)
- Copy of passport bio-data page
- Itinerary, hotel booking or invitation letter from a host
- Visa fee paid at the port of entry or online
- Printed or saved copy of the eVisa or entry declaration QR code
The eVisa portal says an eVisa takes an average of seven working days, so apply at least three weeks before travel; fees differ between official pages, so confirm on the portal.
Cameroon
eVisa - TransiteVisa - Short stayeVisa - Short stay express
Visitors, including US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders, are expected to apply for an eVisa on Cameroon's official portal before travel; the sources checked list no visa-free or on-arrival option for these passports. The eVisa is approved online, then biometrics and the sticker are completed in person on arrival or at an embassy.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months beyond travel (longer for long stay)
- Return flight reservation
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate (medical exemption letter if unable to be vaccinated)
- Proof of financial support, e.g. recent bank statement
- Proof of residency status if applying outside your country of citizenship
- Hotel booking or legalized invitation letter
- Approval notice/QR code and printed documents for in-person biometric enrolment
Per the Cameroon Embassy in Washington, short stay processing is 3 business days (24 hours for express); do not travel without an approved eVisa QR code or visa sticker.
Uganda
eVisaEast African Tourist Visa
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders need a visa for Uganda, applied for online through the official eVisa system before travel. A regional East African Tourist Visa (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda) is also available.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months from application
- Passport photo
- Copy of passport bio-data page
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate
- Supporting letters (e.g. recommendation, police clearance) depending on category
- Printed eVisa approval letter shown at the port of entry
- Online payment of the visa fee
Uganda's embassy in Washington says most applications are approved in 2-3 working days; apply at least 5 working days before travel and within 3 months of departure.
Senegal
Visa-free up to 90 daysVisa on arrival at Dakar airport
According to the Senegalese Embassy in London, US, UK and Canadian passport holders need no visa for stays of up to 90 days (Category A). Australian passport holders are in Category B and can get a visa on arrival at Dakar Blaise Diagne International Airport only.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Return air ticket
- Proof of accommodation or invitation
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate (listed for visa on arrival)
Visa applications go through Senegalese embassies and consulates and are free of charge per the London embassy; confirm your status with the nearest mission before travel.
Egypt
eVisaVisa on arrivalVisa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders can apply for an eVisa on Egypt's official portal before travel. Visa on arrival at Egyptian airports is also available to many nationalities (Egypt restored it for Canadians from December 2024); confirm eligibility with your airline.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid more than 6 months from arrival, with a blank page
- Printout of the eVisa
- Travel itinerary
- Hotel booking or places to visit (tourists)
- Supporting or invitation letter for business or family visits
- Payment by card on the portal
The portal FAQ lists tourist eVisa fees of USD 30 (single) and USD 65 (multiple) and does not state a processing time.
Sierra Leone
eVisaVisa on arrivalVisa from an embassy/High Commission
UK citizens need a visa, which can be obtained on arrival (US$80 cash, per UK FCDO guidance) or via the official eVisa portal before travel. The official Sierra Leone Immigration Department site points all travellers to the eVisa portal; the US Embassy lists separate mail-in visa fees for US, Canadian and British applicants.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months with blank pages
- Completed visa application form (eVisa online or embassy form)
- One passport-size photograph
- Evidence of yellow fever vaccination
- Payment of visa fee (embassy: money order or cashier's check)
- Prepaid self-addressed envelope (embassy mail-in applications)
Embassy consular section in Washington, DC lists fees by nationality and an optional US$50 expedited service (2-3 business days); check evisa.sl for current eVisa fees.
Liberia
Visa from embassye-Visa on Arrival
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders need a visa for Liberia (Liberian-born who became US citizens must also obtain one per the Washington embassy). Where a Liberian embassy exists in your country of residence (e.g. US, UK) you apply through that embassy; the e-Visa on Arrival portal is for residents of countries without a Liberian embassy.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Completed visa application form
- One 2x2 inch photo, white background
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate (Yellow Book)
- Prepaid tracked return envelope (embassy mail-in)
- Notarized parent/guardian letter for minors
Washington embassy regular processing is 12 working days; same-day (+$75) and next-day (+$50) options exist.
Rwanda
Visa on arrivalOnline visaVisa from a Rwandan mission
Per the Rwanda immigration directorate, citizens of all countries can get a visa on arrival; citizens of Commonwealth, African Union and Francophonie member countries (which includes the UK, Canada and Australia) receive it with fees waived for visits up to 30 days. US citizens pay US$50 (30 days single entry) or US$70 (multiple entry) per the Rwandan embassy.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months
- Return flight confirmation or itinerary
- Hotel booking confirmation or invitation letter
- One white-background passport photo (online application)
- Scan of passport bio page (online application)
- Fee payment where applicable (USD or RWF)
Online visa applications are processed in about 4 days per Irembo support; no single agent is authorised to apply on your behalf.
Tanzania
eVisaVisa on arrival
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders need a visa (UK, Canada and Australia are expressly excluded from the visa-free list). Apply online for an eVisa, or obtain a visa on arrival at an official entry point; US tourists must apply for the multiple-entry type.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months with one unused page
- Copy of passport biographic page
- Return ticket
- Completed online application and declaration
- Colour photo, plain background (JPG, max 500KB)
- Visa fee paid by Visa/Mastercard (ordinary single entry US$50; multiple entry US$100)
Official guidelines say applications are generally processed within ten days and should be submitted at least two months before travel; the eVisa system has had outages, and the Ottawa High Commission notes visa on arrival remains available.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
eVisaVisa from an embassy
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passport holders need a visa. Apply on the official eVisa portal or through a DRC embassy. People of Congolese origin may have other options, so check with the embassy before you travel.
What you’ll typically need
- Passport valid at least 6 months with two blank visa pages
- Completed application form (eVisa online or embassy form)
- 2x2 inch photo taken within last 6 months
- Yellow fever vaccination card copy
- Flight itinerary
- Invitation letter or hotel reservation (not needed for people of Congolese descent per US embassy)
- Visa fee paid on the portal or to the embassy (confirm the current amount)
Confirm fees and processing times on the official portal; the Washington embassy shows 1-2 business day processing for embassy visas.
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Information gathered from official government and embassy websites in October 2026. Rules, fees and processing times change often, so always confirm on the official site before you book or apply. Tokunbo Central is not a visa or passport agent.