Burkina Faso/Mali/Niger: ECOWAS Withdrawal to Eventually Change Business and Tourist Visa Entry Requirements

Updated July 29, 2025: Although the six-month grace period ends on July 29, 2025, ECOWAS has not announced any specific immigration measures it intends to implement for the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—namely Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali—after this date. As a result, nationals of AES countries may continue to enter ECOWAS member states without a visa or residence permit, and nationals of other ECOWAS countries can still travel to all three AES countries visa-free until further notice.  

January 31, 2025: Even though the official withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali is effective January 29, 2025, ECOWAS is giving Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali a grace period of six months from January 29, 2025 to reconsider their decision to leave ECOWAS. During this six-month grace period, nationals of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger can still use their ECOWAS national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo to travel within the ECOWAS region; they will remain eligible to enter ECOWAS member states without requiring a visa or residence permit; and nationals of other ECOWAS countries can still enter all three countries without a visa. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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.