Citizens from first world countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany do not require visas to enter the majority of African countries. However, Africans seeking to travel to these countries are mandated to apply for visas to visit these countries.

The largest percentage of these visa applications are often denied because Africans are perceived by these nations as having a high risk of not returning once their visit or visa expires. Africans are also generally perceived as more likely to seek asylum in the West.

For instance, in 2023, the United Kingdom imposed a visa requirement for Namibians traveling to UK over high asylum cases.

“The UK unfortunately imposed a visa regime on Namibia last year due to the number of asylum seekers we were receiving. That was impacting on our relationship with Namibia,” the British High Commissioner to Namibia, Charles Moore, told the BBC.

In retaliation, the Southern African country has announced that starting April 2025, citizens from the US, Canada, UK, Germany and other 29 countries will need to apply and get visas to enter Namibia.

“Namibia has extended gestures of goodwill and favourable treatment to nationals of various countries. However, despite these efforts, certain nations have not reciprocated. In light of this disparity, the government has deemed it necessary to implement a visa requirement to ensure parity and fairness in diplomatic interactions,” the BBC quoted Namibia’s immigration minister.

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The BBC reported that visa applications by Africans looking to visit Europe has become a big business for Schengen countries. Quoting a report by the Lago Collective, the BBC reported that the European Union made more than €53m ($58m; £45m) on rejected visa applications from African countries in 2023.

“In June 2024, the price of Schengen short-term visas went up from €80 to €90 for adults, and in October 2023, the UK visa fee rose from £100 to £115,” the BBC reported. “Nearly a third of Africans applying for a visa to the Schengen area were rejected, higher than the global average.”