Jamaica announces visa-free entry for citizens of 18 African countries

Jamaica has announced visa-free entry for citizens of 18 African countries, a move expected to strengthen tourism, trade, cultural exchange, and business ties between the Caribbean nation and the African continent.

The countries benefiting from the visa exemption are South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The new policy means eligible travelers and passport holders from these 18 African nations will no longer need to obtain a visa before traveling to Jamaica.

The new policy is expected to make travel more accessible between the Caribbean and the continent of Africa.

Jamaica has increasingly pushed to deepen its ties with African given the hundreds of years of history shared between them.

The Government of Jamaica says it wants to maintain a healthy relationship with Africa through cultural diplomacy, tourism, education, and economic cooperation.