The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has proposed the introduction of a unified digital visa system for its member states and third-country nationals to simplify travel, boost tourism, and attract investment across the region.
Known as the IGAD Regional Visa, the proposal seeks to create a harmonized, digital platform that will allow non-IGAD citizens, such as tourists, business visitors, and investors, to move more freely within the bloc.
According to IGAD, the initiative is part of broader efforts to deepen regional integration in line with the organization’s Vision 2050 and Regional Strategy 2021–2025, which prioritize integration as a pathway to peace, prosperity, and resilience.
Speaking during the opening of the Experts Meeting of the 3rd IGAD Ministerial Conference on Labour, Employment, and Labour Migration in Nairobi, IGAD Director of Health and Social Development, Ambassador Moussa Ali Meigague, emphasized that migration can drive economic integration across the region.
“Labour migration is a lifeline for millions of households. With strong governance frameworks, migration can become a driver of decent work, peace, and economic integration in our region,” he said.
The regional body has already made progress toward free movement through the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, adopted in 2020.
The protocol provides a phased framework for the right of entry and eventual abolishment of visa requirements among IGAD citizens. However, it does not extend to third-country nationals.
Souleimon Meïmin Robleh, Secretary General at Djibouti’s Ministry of Interior and Chair of the IGAD Free Movement Cluster, said the organization is committed to building a future where borders unite rather than divide.
“Regional mobility is not a threat—it is an engine for shared development,” he stated.
At present, visitors from outside the IGAD region must apply separately for visas to each member state, a process IGAD says discourages investment and tourism.
Nihan Erdogan, Deputy Regional Director for IOM East, Horn, and Southern Africa, added that fair migration depends on protecting workers’ rights and ensuring ethical recruitment and social protection.
The fragmented visa regime has contributed to IGAD’s low regional reciprocity score of 14 percent, the lowest among Africa’s eight Regional Economic Communities, according to the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Report.
The proposed single visa aims to address these challenges through a digital, harmonized system to facilitate travel, enhance trade, and strengthen regional cooperation.
