Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger: ECOWAS Withdrawal to Eventually Change Business and Tourist Visa Entry Requirements
January 30, 2024
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their withdrawal from The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 27, 2024. However, ECOWAS has not yet received the official withdrawal notification from these countries. A year from the date that ECOWAS receives the official withdrawal notification, nationals of these three countries will be required to apply for a business or tourist visa when traveling to ECOWAS member countries, whereas currently, as members of ECOWAS, they are visa-exempt when traveling to other ECOWAS countries for business or tourism. Further, at that time, nationals of other ECOWAS countries will also be required to obtain a visa to enter Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Until a year from the date that ECOWAS receives the official withdrawal notice, all three nations will remain parties to the treaty and its obligations. We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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