Rwanda has retained its position as the most visa-open country in Africa, according to the 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI). The country has held the top spot since 2023 due to its visa-free regime. ALSO READ: Rwanda retains top place in visa openness in Africa The top position was claimed jointly by Rwanda and…
Washington, December 3, 2025 — The United States government has temporarily suspended all visa applications from 19 countries, according to a statement released Wednesday. The move comes a week after an attack in Washington that killed two National Guard soldiers. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had already halted all asylum procedures last Friday….
The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development, Odrek Rwabwogo, has questioned the continued use of restrictive visa requirements across African states, arguing that such barriers undermine the continent’s integration and economic growth goals. Speaking during the International Business Week at Speke Resort Munyonyo, Rwabwogo asked why a Ugandan still needs…
US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a staggering US$100 000 fee on new H-1B visas is a spectacular own goal for America and its technology industry. It is a hammer blow to the very sector that built Silicon Valley’s dominance. For South Africa, though, the move opens a small but potentially meaningful window: an…
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he sits next to a “Trump Gold Card” sign, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Sept. 19, 2025. Ken Cedeno | Reuters Major technology companies and foreign governments are rushing to respond after President Donald Trump late Friday announced plans to impose a…
IN SHORT: A Facebook post claims that at a high-profile forum on African development in August 2025, Japan announced a plan to resettle migrants from Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana and Mozambique. This is false – what was announced was a plan to promote cultural exchange and partnerships. A post circulating on Facebook claims that at the…
Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber South Africa is moving to scrap paper-based visa applications with the launch of a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, revealed on Thursday by home affairs minister Leon Schreiber at a tourism industry conference. The online platform will allow travellers to apply for visas, submit biometrics and receive approvals in…
Department of Home Affairs minister Dr Leon Schreiber. (Photograph by DHA) Home affairs minister Dr Leon Schreiber will tomorrow demonstrate the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, as he continues his fight against corruption by deploying artificial intelligence (AI). The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is prioritising anti-corruption efforts through digitisation and AI, which are…
All 55 million foreigners who hold visas for the United States are subject to continuous review, the State Department warned Thursday as President Donald Trump ramps up his crackdown on visas and immigration. “The Department’s continuous vetting includes all of the more than 55 million foreigners who currently hold valid US visas,” a State Department…
Visa has selected 22 startups for the fourth cohort of its Africa Fintech Accelerator, a 12-week virtual programme aimed at scaling fintech solutions The programme is part of Visa’s $1 billion commitment to Africa’s digital and financial inclusion, pledged through 2027 Launched in 2023, the accelerator has supported 64 startups to date and facilitated nearly…
