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Introduction
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is moving ahead with the implementation of the ECOVISA, designed to facilitate the free movement of people within the ECOWAS region.
Impact
High
What has changed?
ECOWAS is pushing forward with this single visa project, which will work in a similar way to the Schengen visa, to simplify the entry of travellers into the ECOWAS community. The project is advancing after recently holding a technical workshop of experts in Lagos, Nigeria on the 10th and 11th March. The workshop was attended by IT specialists, immigration officials and visa management experts from the ECOWAS member states in order to evaluate the new ECOVISA digital portal, which will host the visa application process for foreign nationals wishing to travel between multiple countries in the ECOWAS region. The focus of the evaluation is to ensure the system can deliver a smooth and efficient functionality, with interoperability with existing national systems. Key to this is data security, ease of use and transparency of the process to create confidence with the users and relevant authorities.
Who is affected?
Foreigners obtaining the ECOVISA will be permitted to travel throughout the 12 ECOWAS member states: Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.
What to expect /impact?
ECOVISA is being created as part of a larger focus on facilitating mobility and economic growth in West Africa. A common visa enabling foreign nationals to move freely within member states aims to stimulate trade, tourism and foreign investment. The ECOVISA will help develop a more integrated, open and dynamic West African region.
What you need to do
For further information on immigration into ECOWAS member states, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team at [email protected]
