Liberia has opened its borders to Rwandan citizens under a new visa-waiver regime that officials say will strengthen cooperation and promote freer movement between the two countries.
The decision follows the signing of a Reciprocal Visa Waiver and the establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation on September 10, 2025, at Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In an internal circular dated November 11, 2025, Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) Commissioner-General Elijah F. Rufus directed all immigration officers to begin issuing entry stamps to Rwandan citizens arriving through any air, land, or sea port.
“I present my compliments and [am] pleased to inform you that the Government of Liberia… signed… Agreements for the Establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation and a Reciprocal Visa Waiver with the East African Republic of Rwanda,” Rufus wrote.
He added that the new “Visa Reciprocity Regime will qualify citizens of the Republic of Rwanda to travel in and out of Liberia without the previous visa requirements.”
Rufus instructed all ports of entry to immediately comply, noting: “You are therefore required to issue all citizens of the Republic of Rwanda entry stamps to facilitate their travel at all Air, Land and Sea Borders of the Republic of Liberia.”
Rwanda’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration welcomed the development, saying: “This move is expected to boost bilateral relations and create new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
"By waiving visa requirements, Liberia and Rwanda are sending a strong signal about their commitment to regional integration and cooperation.”
The agreement aligns with broader continental trends toward easing travel restrictions.
Rwanda remains one of Africa’s most open countries, having scrapped visa requirements for all African nationals in 2018 and extending visa-on-arrival access to citizens of every country in the world in 2023.
The African Union’s Free Movement Protocol—though ratified by only a handful of states—has encouraged member countries to adopt progressive visa policies that support trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.
Liberia’s decision places it among the growing number of African states adopting reciprocal or liberalised visa regimes to enhance diplomatic ties and spur economic integration.
Officials in both countries say the new arrangement is expected to boost tourism, business travel, and institutional cooperation under the newly established bilateral commission.