Full List of African Countries Whose Citizens Have Visa-Free Entry to Israel in 2026 Emerges
- Israel published its official tourist visa exemption list, comprising more than 50 eligible countries
- Of the many countries, only citizens of seven African nations made the cut out of 54 on the continent
- The Israeli government confirmed the exemption applies strictly to national and official passports
Israel has released its tourist exemption table for 2026, confirming that citizens of seven African nations can travel to the country without obtaining a visa in advance.
The Israeli government's published visa requirements for foreign nationals list more than 50 countries worldwide as eligible for the waiver.
Source: Getty Images
On the African continent, only seven nations made Israel's visa-free list, as listed below:
- Botswana
- Central African Republic
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mauritius
- South Africa
- Swaziland
Key conditions for visa-free travel to Israel
The exemption does not apply automatically to all types of travel documents, with Israeli authorities specifying that only holders of national and official passports qualify.
Anyone travelling on a different type of travel document falls outside the arrangement and must go through the standard visa application process.
Travellers from the seven exempted countries are also advised to confirm before booking their flights whether they need a Tourist Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation, known as the ETA-IL.
Where the ETA-IL is required, applicants must complete an online form and pay the associated fee at least a few days before departure.
What Africans outside Israel's list must do
For the vast majority of African citizens who do not appear on the exemption list, a separate tourist visa application route exists.
Under this arrangement, an Israeli citizen or resident must apply on behalf of the person they wish to invite into the country.
The supporting documents typically required include a copy of the visitor's passport, a liability statement outlining the purpose and duration of the stay, and evidence of the relationship between the host and the guest.
A service fee of 100 NIS would apply to each application.
For citizens of the seven listed nations, the exemption removes a significant bureaucratic hurdle.
Instead of visiting a consulate or assembling a full visa application file, eligible travellers holding a valid national passport can plan their trips with far less administrative strain.
The remaining 47 African countries continue to fall outside the exemption and must follow the standard visa route for tourism purposes.
Similarly, Belgium's 2026 visa-free travel list also included only the two nations, Mauritius and Seychelles, as the countries from Africa.
Spain names 8 African countries on visa-free
YEN.com.gh also reported that Spain had published its 2026 entry requirements, confirming that only eight African nations will qualify for visa-free access.
Citizens from Botswana, Namibia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Rwanda, Cape Verde, Eswatini, and Lesotho can enter its borders without a prior visa application.
Nationals from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and most other African countries must apply for a Schengen visa, which costs €90, before they can travel to Spain.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
