Africa
Key trends shaping Africa's labor and immigration landscape
Digitization of visa / permit systems accelerated
Nigeria fully transitioned to a digital CERPAC (residence + permit) platform from August 1, ending acceptance of paper forms. Meanwhile, South Africa launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system to replace or integrate with current e-Visa processes, including AI‑powered adjudication and QR-coded approvals.
Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival regime was slated for discontinuation in favor of pre-arrival screening via e-Visa.
Stricter overstay penalties and enforcement measures
Nigeria introduced a daily fine of USD 15 for visa overstays beginning August 1, plus multi‑year bans (5‑year ban for 6 months overstay, 10-year for one year) after moratorium. Nigeria also tightened expatriate administration: employers will bear repatriation costs for violations; stricter oversight of quotas and compliance. The approach signals a tougher stance on immigration controls and accountability for foreign nationals and their sponsors.
Targeted visa pathways and reciprocal measures
To facilitate travel aligned with policy goals, specialized visa categories have emerged. South Africa introduced the STAGES and MEETS visa classes under ETA targeting film production, sports, exhibitions, and events, aimed at reducing friction for those industries. The move reflects a more granular approach to immigration aligned with specific sectors.
US nationals traveling to Mali for business or tourism purposes will now be required to post a visa bond of up to USD 10,000, a reciprocal measure introduced in response to the US policy requiring Malian nationals applying for business or tourist visas to pay similarly large bonds.
Transitional relief and legal continuity
Authorities in some jurisdictions offered temporary relief to foreign nationals amid administrative backlogs.
South Africa extended concessions permitting foreign nationals with pending appeals or waivers to continue activities on expired visas until March 31, 2026, protecting them during adjudication delays. More broadly, new overseas service centers were established to speed up passport and ID processing for citizens abroad, reducing turnaround times from 12‒18 months to about 5 weeks. In addition, the current concession for holders of expired Zimbabwean Exemption Permits has been extended for a further period until May 28, 2027 while the Immigration Department engages relevant stakeholders on a more permanent solution.
Passport standardization and border entry tightening
Some countries altered accepted travel documents and tightened border rules. Niger enforced a requirement for valid international passports instead of ECOWAS-only passports, thereby narrowing entry flexibility. Meanwhile, Nigeria phased out paper CERPAC forms and centered all applications on digital channels, ensuring stricter compliance and document control.
South Africa
South Africa launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, first for delegates from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico, with plans to expand to all visa-required nationals and entry points. Under ETA, new visa classes (STAGES for film, MEETS for events) were introduced to streamline access for film, sports, and global conferences. The government also opened overseas service centres (e.g., in Australia, New Zealand) to reduce passport/ID processing times for diaspora communities.
Nigeria
Nigeria rolled out a new e‑Visa regime (short-stay visas) with processing times reduced to 24–48 hours, replacing visa-on-arrival. It fully digitized its CERPAC system: from August 1, 2025, only the online portal is accepted for residence/permit applications, and paper CERPAC forms were deprecated. Overstay penalties were intensified: a daily fine of USD 15 was instituted, 5‑ and 10‑year bans were introduced for extended overstays, and employers became liable for repatriation costs of expatriates.
Niger
Niger, following its withdrawal from ECOWAS (Economic Community of Western African States), began enforcing that travelers formerly using ECOWAS passports must now present a valid international passport, tightening border entry for certain corridors.
Kenya
A new administrative directive impacts assignees moving from one company to another within the life of a valid work permit. Such assignees will now be required to leave Kenya during the processing of the new work permit application as the Immigration Department will now require proof of exit (in the form of an exit stamp and a ticket). Failing to submit such proof will delay the processing time for the issuance of the new work permit in the name of the new employer.
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Senior Manager