India has officially published the list of African countries eligible for its e-Visa program in 2026, granting citizens of 35 nations the ability to apply for travel authorization online without visiting an Indian embassy. The announcement, made on the Indian government's official website, includes major economies such as South Africa and Ghana, along with other nations across the continent.
List of Eligible African Countries
The 35 African countries eligible for the India e-Visa are: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, 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, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, and Zambia.
How the e-Visa Works
According to the Indian government, the e-Visa allows eligible travelers to complete their entire visa application process online. Once approved, applicants receive an electronic visa that permits entry into India without needing to visit an embassy or consulate. The system is designed to streamline travel and reduce processing times.
Muhammed Hammed Olayinka, Human Interest Editor at Legit.ng, reported that “the India eVisa has given citizens of a total of 35 African countries the opportunity to travel to India more easily by allowing them to complete their visa application process online.”
Countries Not Eligible
Not all African nations are included. Some countries are absent from the list, and travelers from those nations must still apply through traditional visa channels. The full list of all 173 eligible countries worldwide is available on the Indian government's e-Visa website.
Visa-Free Entry and Visa-on-Arrival
In related updates, India confirmed that only Bhutan and Nepal enjoy full visa-free entry into the country in 2026, allowing citizens of those nations to enter, live, and work without any time limit. Japan remains the sole country whose citizens are eligible for India's visa-on-arrival scheme.
The e-Visa expansion is part of India's broader effort to boost tourism and business travel from Africa, with the continent representing a growing market for travel to India.
