African visas
Do I need a visa to go to Africa?
Each of the countries in Africa have different rules for entry. For UK citizens, some African countries require you to get a visa, and some don’t. Some African visas are difficult to obtain, and some countries may refuse you entry.
The table below shows whether African visas are required for short term visits via vehicle (not via airport), to all of the countries in Africa.
How do I obtain an African visa?
Some countries in Africa will issue you a visa when you arrive at the border, whereas others require you to obtain a visa in advance. There are even some countries that may require you to obtain the visa in your country of residence.
Some countries also require you to provide a letter of invitation from within the country, which may be difficult to obtain.
When overlanding through Africa, you should plan in advance where you will need a visa for, and where you can obtain one from. You may not be able to obtain a visa for your country of interest in every country that you’re travelling through.
The table below provides an indication of where you can obtain one from and some of the preferred countries.
Can I get an African visa online?
You can obtain visas for some African countries online, whereas for other countries you may have obtain the visa in person.
The method for obtaining the visa, the cost and the time to get one are shown in the table below.
The information in the table below is relevant for UK citizens.
You may also find it useful to refer to our other information on driving abroad.
Visa requirements, methods of obtaining the visa, cost and time to obtain the visa by African country
| Country | Visa Required | Cost | Time to obtain visa |
| Algeria | Yes, in person/post OR from diplomatic mission. | £85 | 10 – 15 days |
| Angola | You do not need a visa to visit Angola for up to 30 days. | ||
| Benin | Yes, online OR from diplomatic mission. You cannot get entry visas for Nigeria, Ghana or Togo in Benin. For onward travel you must apply for visas before travelling to Benin. | US€54 | 4 days |
| Botswana | You do not need a visa to visit Botswana for up to 90 days. | ||
| Burkina Faso | Yes, on arrival OR online from Belgium OR from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana or Mali. You cannot get a visa for Burkina Faso in the UK. | 33,000 CFA (£42) | 7 days |
| Burundi | Yes, online or on arrival OR from diplomatic mission. | US$90 | |
| Cabo Verde | You do not need a visa to visit Cabo Verde for up to 30 days. | ||
| Cameroon | Yes, online OR from diplomatic mission. You cannot get an e-visa at land or sea borders. If travelling North-South try Nigeria. | €153 | 15 days |
| Central African Republic | Yes, from Paris OR from diplomatic mission. | €80 for 30 days | 10 days |
| Chad | Yes, from Belgium OR from diplomatic mission. | €70 for one month | 3 days |
| Comoros | Yes, on arrival. | €30 | |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | Yes, obtain from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Cameroon or Republic of the Congo. | £135 for one month | 21 days |
| Republic of the Congo | Yes, from UK OR from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Benin, Togo. | £85 for 15 days £130 for one month | 7 days |
| Cote d’Ivoire | Yes, online AND from diplomatic mission. If online: select the embassy where you will be, NOT your home embassy. If travelling North-South, try Senegal, Guinea or Liberia. | €73 | 3 days |
| Djibouti | Yes, on arrival OR online OR from diplomatic mission. | US$12 for 14 days US$23 for 90 days | 3 days |
| Egypt | Yes, although visa-free to Sinai OR visa on arrival OR online. | US$25 | |
| Equatorial Guinea | Yes, online. If travelling North-South try Côte d’Ivoire. | US$75 | 3 days |
| Eritrea | Yes, from UK or diplomatic mission. | £50 | 3 – 4 weeks |
| Eswatini | You do not need a visa to visit Eswatini for up to 30 days. | ||
| Ethiopia | Yes, online OR from diplomatic mission. | US$62 for 30 days | 3 days |
| Gabon | Yes, from UK OR from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Togo. | £80 for 3 months | 3 days |
| Gambia | You do not need a visa to visit Gambia for up to 28 days. | ||
| Ghana | Yes, must obtain both in person in UK AND online. If impossible, try Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone or at border. | £60 | 10 – 15 days |
| Guinea | Yes, online OR from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Guinea-Bissau. | £80 | 3 days |
| Guinea-Bissau | Yes, from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Senegal. | €61.45 | 3 days |
| Kenya | Yes, online. | US$30 plus payment and other fees | 2 days |
| Lesotho | You do not need a visa to visit Lesotho for up to 90 days. | ||
| Liberia | Yes, from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Sierra Leone, Senegal or Guinea. | £60 | 10 days |
| Libya | Only business visas are allowed. Letter of invitation required. Only the Tunisian border is open currently. | ~ £500 | 5 days |
| Madagascar | You do not need a visa to visit Madagascar for up to 15 days. | €10 arrival fee | |
| Malawi | You do not need a visa to visit Malawi for up to 30 days. | ||
| Mali | Yes, from UK OR from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Mauritania, Senegal or Guinea. | €70 | 6 days |
| Mauritania | Yes, online only. Visas are no longer issued on arrival. | €55 / $70 for 30 days | |
| Mauritius | You do not need a visa to visit Mauritius for up to 60 days. | ||
| Morocco | You do not need a visa to visit Morocco for up to 90 days. | ||
| Mozambique | You do not need a visa to visit Mozambique for up to 30 days. | 650 Mozambican meticais (£8) arrival fee | |
| Namibia | You do not need a visa to visit Namibia for up to 90 days. | ||
| Niger | Yes, from UK OR from diplomatic mission. If travelling North-South try Burkina Faso, Senegal, Benin. | £100 for one month | 5 days |
| Nigeria | Yes, online. If travelling North-South try Sierra Leone or Benin [get Cameroon visa first]. | US$144 | 7 days |
| Rwanda | You do not need a visa to visit Rwanda for up to 30 days. | ||
| Sao Tome and Principe | You do not need a visa to visit São Tomé and Príncipe for up to 15 days. | US$20 arrival fee | |
| Senegal | You do not need a visa to visit Senegal for up to three months. | ||
| Seychelles | You do not need a visa to visit Seychelles for up to three months. You must get an online travel authorisation. | €10 | 1 day |
| Sierra Leone | Yes, on arrival OR online. | US$80 for 30 days | |
| Somalia | Yes, on arrival. | US$60 for one month | |
| South Africa | You do not need a visa to visit South Africa for up to 90 days. | ||
| South Sudan | Yes, online or from UK embassy. | US$100 for one month | 1 week |
| Sudan | Yes from diplomatic mission. | £100 | 3 – 4 weeks |
| Tanzania | Yes, on arrival OR online. | US$50 | 10 days |
| Togo | Yes, online. If travelling North-South try Ghana or Benin. | £33 | 7 days |
| Tunisia | You do not need a visa to visit Tunisia for up to 90 days. | ||
| Uganda | Yes, on arrival OR online. | US$50 | 3 days |
| Zambia | You do not need a visa to visit Zambia for up to 90 days. | ||
| Zimbabwe | Yes, on arrival OR online. | US$55 for one month | 7 days |