Angola has joined the expanding list of African countries that allow visa-free immigration. The new policy, enacted in a resolution last week, will grant visa-free access to nationals of more than 90 countries for 90-day stays.
Presidential Decree Number 189/23, dated September 29, 2023, contains the resolution. President Joao Lourenco also asked the foreign affairs ministry to inform the recipient countries about the visa exemption.However, visitors visiting the country just for tourism are given a 90-day visa-free stay.
It comes as the southern African country opens its borders to travelers from a variety of countries in an effort to promote its tourism industry.
Since December 2017, South Africans have not needed visas to visit Angola when an abolition agreement was signed between both nations.
🇦🇴 His Excellency Mr Rui Orlando Ferreira de Ceita da Silva, Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Angola, presents his Letter of Credence to His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane. #LettersofCredence 🇿🇦… pic.twitter.com/fcMAILvR0K
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) October 4, 2023
Only five African countries (Seychelles, Mozambique, Rwanda, Comoros and Madagascar) offer visa-free access or visas on arrival to citizens of all African countries. Europe has 35 countries on the list while Asia has 11 countries.
Wheels down in 🇦🇴 Luanda, Angola.
The United States and Angola will continue to strengthen our partnership to promote peace, security, and rules-based governance. pic.twitter.com/VuDpN7pZQU
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) September 26, 2023
The United States, Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Russia and China were listed as the country’s priority foreign countries.
Angola is the second largest oil producer in Africa. Some of its famous tourist attractions include the National Museum of Slavery, tropical Atlantic beaches, the Sub-Saharan Namib desert and several rivers.