Congo-Brazzaville to require ETA for Africans by January 2027
Congo-Brazzaville will require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for Africans starting January 1, 2027, after approving changes to its immigration law in October 2026.
Travelers from Africa who are exempted from entry visas will need to present an electronic travel authorization (ETA) form. The draft law still awaits parliamentary review.
The legislation amends and supplements Law No. 23-96 of June 6, 1996, which sets entry, stay, and exit conditions for foreigners in Congo-Brazzaville (capital: Brazzaville), already revised by Law No. 29-2017 of August 7, 2017, and was presented in parliament by the Minister of National Defense, Raymond Zéphirin Mboulou.
The official memo explains the origin of the reform. On May 25, 2026, during Africa Day, President Denis Sassou N'Guesso announced the abolition of the entry visa requirement for citizens of African states starting January 1, 2027. The draft law now seeks to formalize this exemption in existing legislation, while also addressing measures to prevent irregular immigration, cross-border crime, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling.
Electronic authorization requirements for Africans in Congo-Brazzaville
The most concrete detail from the memo is that Africans exempted from the visa requirement will now need to present an electronic travel authorization (ETA). The exemption does not mean entry without any prior formalities; it replaces visa applications with electronic authorization.
The law refers broadly to 'African citizens' without listing specific countries nor distinguishing between regions of the continent.
Missing details for travelers
The official memo does not mention several key points essential for travel preparation: the portal where the ETA will be applied for and the opening date for submissions, the price or if it is free of charge, its validity period and the length of stay permitted, the required documents, and the processing time.
Until the law is adopted by parliament and the ETA's operational guidelines are published by Congolese authorities, the current visa regime remains in effect. No ETA applications can be submitted today based solely on the memo.
Congo-Brazzaville is not the only Central African country planning to lift visa requirements for Africans on January 1, 2027. We previously reported on Chad's decision to remove entry visa requirements for African travelers on January 25, 2026.
A specialist in regulatory monitoring and a content destination expert, she analyzes daily changes in entry formalities to turn complex administrative processes into practical guides. Her role blends ground-level expertise with technical precision to ensure the reliability of the information provided to travelers.
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