The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) disclosed that the commission is working on the implementation of ECOVISA, a single visa system similar to the Schengen model, for migrants from third countries.

In a statement issued on the website of the ECOWAS Commission, the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration organised the Seventh Heads of Immigration Meeting in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, May 25.

According to ECOWAS, “In an effort to enhance foreign investments and tourism and provide easier access to abundant opportunities within the region, the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government adopted the introduction of ECOVISA in 2011,”

The ECOWAS Commission has been tasked with working towards the realisation of this visa for migrants from third countries.

The meeting’s purpose was to discuss the implementation of ECOVISA, related costs, design as recommended by experts in charge of visa issuance, and control drawn from member states.

The Heads of Immigration Meeting serves as a platform for representatives from national immigration services in ECOWAS Member States to foster cooperation and coordination on matters relating to border and migration management in the region.

The commission noted that its primary objective is to enable a unified voice in addressing mobility and migration challenges within the region.

During the meeting in Accra, it was suggested that a comprehensive comparative analysis of visa regimes on other continents be conducted to ensure that the implementation of ECOVISA is in line with global best practices.

Furthermore, the immigration heads recognised the importance of regular engagement to discuss modalities and assess the progress of ECOVISA implementation at various stages.

These recommendations and decisions were made in response to the report provided by the ECOVISA Experts, who met in Accra, Ghana on May 22 and 23, 2023.

The experts concentrated on visa design, visa regime, visa costs, and other technical considerations required for ECOVISA’s smooth implementation.