last edited Dec 11, 2019
Visas for Africa and the Middle East
Location Map of Destinations
Destinations
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Overview
Quite a few visas required, and they’re generally quite expensive (averaging 30 € to 40 €). Additionally, some regions remain off-limits, regulated, or risky.
North Africa
Visas for Algeria and Mauritania. Egypt issues its visa on arrival.
West and Central Africa
West Africa
A visa is mandatory everywhere except for Senegal. The single "Entente" visa allowing travel between Benin, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Niger never really worked due to... disagreements between those countries.
Central Africa
Same requirement for all countries (São Tomé and, in principle, Cameroon allow visas on arrival). In Gabon, no visa is theoretically required for business or if invited.
East and Southern Africa
East Africa
Visas are required everywhere here too (including Kenya, though it can be obtained on arrival), along with restrictions (off-limits or permit-only zones) like in Sudan and Ethiopia. Travel can be risky in various regions of several of these countries.
Southern Africa
Fewer requirements than the rest of the continent. No visa needed for Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, or Eswatini (Swaziland). Visas are required elsewhere (available on arrival in Lesotho, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).
Indian Ocean
Visas only for Madagascar (can be obtained on arrival) and the Comoros (on arrival).
Middle East (and the Caucasus)
Visas are required for nearly all countries, often with additional constraints (registration, regulated travel, etc.).
Note that Qatar has introduced an e-visa, while Georgia and the United Arab Emirates have lifted visa requirements for Europeans to boost tourism (other Gulf countries may follow suit).
For Israel, no visa is needed, but ALWAYS ask for entry and exit stamps to be placed outside your passport—same goes for border crossings in neighboring countries.
As for Saudi Arabia, tourism isn’t really permitted, though the country has recently started issuing a few visas to non-Muslims (other visa types include "pilgrimage," "business," or "family visit").