Member states: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Visa openness within SADC
SADC’s average score declined in 2025 (to 0.491), and the region now ranks 5th amongst the eight RECs. While the current average score is on a par with 2019, this year’s lower score is driven primarily by the lower rating attributed to Seychelles (see discussion on Seychelles and the section on ETAs). Several other Member States improved their national score, implementing policy changes that impact 23 travel scenarios, 20 of which resulted in improved visa openness (mostly a combination of new visa-on-arrival and visa-free scenarios).
Within SADC, three countries stand out. Mozambique now offers visa-free access to citizens of seven countries that previously required a visa on arrival. As a result, it becomes the 7th most open country on the index and the highest SADC-ranked country. Tanzania has made seven policy changes with citizens from three countries now requiring a visa to enter, while those of another four countries now qualify for visa-free entry, resulting in a small overall improvement in Tanzania’s ranking (17th). Zambia has gained five places and is now a top-20 country, with citizens from six countries gaining visa-free status (from both visa-on-arrival and visa-required countries previously). Botswana (29th) now offers citizens of Algeria visa-free entry, while entry to DRC (46th) becomes visa-free for travellers from Senegal.
Reciprocity within SADC
Notwithstanding the lower regional average, SADC continues to demonstrate significant levels of policy harmonisation with respect to intra-regional visa openness. With a score of 52% (2024: 60%), it sits in 3rd place. Considering the negative impact of the Seychelles ETA on the overall regional visa-free reciprocity score, this masks the fact that several incremental changes increase regional reciprocity on a bilateral basis. Mozambique now offers citizens of fellow SADC Member States Lesotho, Namibia and Seychelles visa-free access, but only Namibia offers the same in return. Zambia has now advanced to visa-free status for citizens of Comoros and Madagascar, even though both countries still require a visa on arrival for Zambians.
The SADC Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons (2005), which sets out a phased approach to entry, residence and right of establishment, is yet to achieve the ratification threshold required for entry into force. But SADC members collaborate politically and bilaterally. For example, an agreement exists between Botswana and Namibia recognising their respective national identity documents for border crossings. These enhance real-world openness and set examples for wider easing of cross-border formalities.
Collaboration on a common regional visa (the ‘KAZA univisa’, covering Zambia and Zimbabwe, including limited access to Botswana1) aims to ease cross-border movement for tourists but also reflects a growing realisation of the value of facilitating cross-border travel.