The government of the Republic of the Congo approved on Wednesday 14 October in Brazzaville a bill aimed at removing the visa requirement for nationals of African states, a reform announced for 1 January 2027. The text must be sent to Parliament for review and adoption, according to the Council of Ministers' report released on Thursday.
The bill amends the legislation governing the entry, stay and exit of foreigners. It aims to incorporate the exemption into the law of 6 June 1996, already amended in August 2017. The government's approval therefore constitutes a legislative step preceding the announced implementation.
The removal of the visa would come with another formality. The report published by the Congolese Information Agency states that the African nationals concerned will have to present a form serving as an electronic travel authorisation, known by the acronym ETA.
The principle of the exemption had been announced by the President of the Republic on 25 May 2026, on the occasion of Africa Day. The meeting of 14 October concerns its translation into the legal framework applicable to travel to the Congo.
The same bill includes provisions aimed at preventing irregular immigration and cross-border crime, notably human trafficking and migrant smuggling, as well as at regulating the management of migration flows.