Full List of African Countries Whose Citizens Can Visit Italy Without Visa in 2026
- Italy published its official visa exemption list for 2026, with only Mauritius and Seychelles making the cut from Africa's 54 nations
- Citizens from exempt countries can enter for up to 90 days within any 180 days for tourism, business, study, and other purposes
- Nationals from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt must still apply for a Schengen region visa before travelling to Italy
Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released its official visa exemption list for 2026, confirming that only two African countries qualify for short-stay visa-free entry into the country.
Source: Getty Images
Of the 54 nations on the African continent, only Mauritius and Seychelles appear on Italy's visa waiver list.
Citizens from all other African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt, are required to obtain a Schengen visa through an Italian embassy or consulate before travelling.
Which African countries made Italy's visa-free list
The full exemption list compiled by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs covers more than 60 countries and territories worldwide, with the majority drawn from the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean.
Africa's representation on the list is notably limited, with just the two island nations making the cut.
The visa waiver covers a wide range of travel purposes, including tourism, business, study, religious visits, sports competitions, official missions, and transit.
Similarly, Portugal's 2026 visa-free travel list also included only the same two nations, Mauritius and Seychelles, as the countries from Africa.
How Italy's short-stay exemption works
The waiver applies exclusively to short stays and does not confer any right to work or take up residence in Italy.
Travellers from eligible countries must carry a valid passport throughout their stay, and the permitted 90-day window is calculated on a rolling basis across any 180 days rather than by fixed calendar months.
Italy also attaches specific conditions to certain countries on the list: nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, and Ukraine qualify for the exemption only if they hold biometric passports.
For Taiwan, the waiver is limited to passport holders whose travel documents carry an identity card number, while citizens of San Marino and the Holy See face no additional requirements and are exempt under all circumstances.
For African travellers planning a visit to Italy in 2026, the practical implication is straightforward: unless you hold a Mauritian or Seychellois passport, a Schengen visa application is a compulsory step before any travel to Italian destinations such as Rome or Milan.
Seychelles publishes visa-free entry rules for travellers
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Seychelles had released a visa-free entry policy allowing citizens of almost every recognised country in the world to visit the Indian Ocean island nation without obtaining a visa before departure.
According to the country's immigration authorities, eligible travellers are issued a visitor's permit upon arrival rather than being required to secure a visa in advance, with the only exception being for passport holders from Kosovo.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
