India has released the official list of 32 African countries whose nationals are eligible to apply for its electronic visa (e-Visa) programme in 2026, streamlining entry for travellers across the continent. The e-Visa scheme allows eligible applicants to complete the entire visa process online, eliminating the need for an in-person visit to an Indian diplomatic mission. The programme covers multiple visa categories, including tourism, business, and medical travel.
Full List of Eligible African Countries
According to the Indian government, the 32 African nations confirmed as eligible are: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon (listed as Cameroon Union Republic), Cape Verde, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger (listed as Niger Republic), Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, and Sierra Leone.
Notable African countries absent from the list include Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, meaning citizens of those nations would need to apply for a traditional visa through an Indian embassy or consulate.
What the e-Visa Means for Eligible Travellers
Citizens of the 32 countries can submit their visa applications through India's official e-Visa portal before travelling, with approvals typically granted electronically. This removes the logistical burden of embassy visits that many African travellers have historically faced when planning trips to India. The e-Visa is valid for entry through designated airports and seaports in India. Applicants are generally required to hold a valid passport, provide a recent photograph, and pay the applicable processing fee at the time of application. Travel dates and entry details must be confirmed before the visa is used.
Visa on Arrival for Three Countries
Legit.ng earlier reported that India has confirmed that citizens of only three countries are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival, with one of them subject to additional conditions. According to India's immigration authorities, the visa-on-arrival scheme is available to nationals of Japan and South Korea, as well as eligible citizens of the United Arab Emirates who have previously travelled to India using an e-visa or a regular paper visa. India stated that the visa-on-arrival facility is not available to anyone whose parents or grandparents, whether paternal or maternal, were born in or were permanent residents of Pakistan.
