ECOWAS prepares ECOVISA, a single visa for foreign visitors
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Bénin Web TV
ECOWAS has reviewed the prototype of the ECOVISA portal in Dakar, which aims to provide a single visa for visitors from countries outside the Community area. Based on a supplementary act adopted in 2011, the project targets tourists, business travellers and investors, and its administrations are now preparing tests ahead of a pilot phase, according to Bénin Web TV.
In Dakar, from 10 to 12 November 2026, representatives of immigration services, ministries of foreign affairs and IT teams reviewed how applications are filed, officials' access rights, payment arrangements and the languages of the ECOVISA portal, the future regional visa of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). They also studied possible exchanges with national identity and border control systems, as well as data protection requirements. The prototype was developed with the support of Trademark Africa.
The scheme is aimed at tourists, business travellers, investors and conference participants, who currently have to go through multiple procedures when visiting several countries in the region. It does not apply to nationals of ECOWAS member states, who already enter other states of the organisation without a visa under the 1979 protocol on free movement. The principle of a regional visa was adopted through a supplementary act in 2011.
In a statement dated 13 November, ECOWAS specifies that the delegations defined the scenarios to be submitted to users, the minimum operating conditions and the adjustments expected from each country. The work ended with a list of priority actions, responsibilities and deadlines to prepare the trials and then the pilot rollout.
