Issue date
When the authority created or approved the visa.
Africa visa date guide
Africa Visa Validity, Permitted Stay and Entry Rules
Understand the difference between a visa’s validity window, the last day to enter, the stay granted at the border, and the date by which you must leave or extend.
Browse all countries
Four dates travelers often confuse
Entry deadline
The final date on which the permission may be used to seek entry.
Permitted stay
The number of days or end date authorized after arrival.
Permit expiry
The end of a work, study, residence or visitor permission.
Validity versus permitted stay
| Term | What it controls | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Visa validity | When the visa may be used or remains valid | Visa label or approval letter |
| Entry count | How many entries are allowed | Single, double or multiple-entry notation |
| Permitted stay | How long the traveler may remain after entry | Entry stamp, visitor permit or landing record |
| Extension | Additional stay granted by immigration | Written approval, updated permit or official record |
Do not calculate the departure deadline from the visa expiry date alone. The entry stamp, permit or immigration record may control the lawful stay.
Single and multiple-entry permissions
A single-entry permission is normally used when the traveler enters. A multiple-entry permission may allow return travel during its validity, but it does not remove limits on the duration or purpose of each stay. Regional travel plans should account for every border crossing.
Validity versus stay
Separate the use-by date from the authorized period after arrival.
Single versus multiple entry
Understand how departure and re-entry affect an immigration permission.
How to read a visa
Locate issue dates, expiry dates, entries and duration fields.
Visa validity by African destination
Algeria
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad
North AfricaAngola
Migration and Foreigners Service
Southern AfricaBenin
Benin eVisa
West AfricaBotswana
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Southern AfricaBurkina Faso
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
West AfricaBurundi
Migration Authority
East AfricaCabo Verde
EASE Cabo Verde
Island NationsCameroon
Cameroon Consular Services Portal
Central AfricaCentral African Republic
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Central AfricaChad
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Central AfricaComoros
National immigration authority
Island NationsRepublic of the Congo
Directorate-General of Territorial Surveillance
Central AfricaDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Directorate General of Migration
Central AfricaCote d'Ivoire
SNEDAI
West AfricaDjibouti
Djibouti eVisa
East AfricaEgypt
Egypt eVisa Portal
North AfricaEquatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea eVisa
Central AfricaEritrea
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
East AfricaEswatini
Government of Eswatini
Southern AfricaEthiopia
Ethiopia eVisa
East AfricaGabon
DGDI Gabon eVisa
Central AfricaGambia
Gambia Immigration Department
West AfricaGhana
Ghana Immigration Service
West AfricaGuinea
Guinea eVisa
West AfricaGuinea-Bissau
Immigration authority
West AfricaKenya
Kenya ETA
East AfricaLesotho
Lesotho eVisa
Southern AfricaLiberia
Liberia Immigration Service
West AfricaLibya
Libyan immigration authority
North AfricaMadagascar
Madagascar eVisa
Island NationsMalawi
Malawi eVisa
Southern AfricaMali
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
West AfricaMauritania
Mauritania eVisa
West AfricaMauritius
Passport and Immigration Office
Island NationsMorocco
Acces Maroc
North AfricaMozambique
Mozambique eVisa
Southern AfricaNamibia
Ministry of Home Affairs eServices
Southern AfricaNiger
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
West AfricaNigeria
Nigeria Immigration Service
West AfricaRwanda
Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration
East AfricaSao Tome and Principe
Migration and Borders Service
Island NationsSenegal
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
West AfricaSeychelles
Seychelles Electronic Border System
Island NationsSierra Leone
Sierra Leone eVisa
West AfricaSomalia
Somalia Immigration and Citizenship Agency
East AfricaSouth Africa
Department of Home Affairs
Southern AfricaSouth Sudan
South Sudan eVisa
East AfricaSudan
Ministry of Interior / immigration authority
North AfricaTanzania
Tanzania Immigration Services
East AfricaTogo
Togo Voyage
West AfricaTunisia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
North AfricaUganda
Uganda Electronic Visa/Permit System
East AfricaZambia
Zambia Department of Immigration
Southern AfricaZimbabwe
Zimbabwe eVisa
Southern AfricaExtensions and overstay prevention
Apply for an extension or renewal before the authorized stay or permit expires. A submitted application may not protect legal status unless the authority issues a receipt or written confirmation with that effect.
Use the Africa visa extension directory
Need a local immigration office?
The separate Visa-from-City directory covers airports, immigration offices, embassy hubs and local application routes. These local details are not duplicated in this validity directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between visa validity and permitted stay?
Visa validity is the window in which a visa may be used or remains active. Permitted stay is the time immigration authorizes after entry.
Does a multiple-entry visa allow unlimited time in a country?
No. Multiple entry usually allows repeated entries during the validity window, but each visit or cumulative period may still be limited.
Which date controls my departure?
Check the entry stamp, visitor permit, landing record or other immigration endorsement, not only the visa expiry date.
Prepared by the AfricaTourVisa Visa Research Team. Last reviewed 3 August 2026.
AfricaTourVisa is an independent travel and visa-support agency, not a government authority.