The East African Tourist Visa lets you visit Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda on a single entry, treating all three countries as one combined destination rather than requiring three separate visas. It was launched in Kampala in January 2014 by the heads of state of the three countries, aimed at making regional travel and tourism easier and encouraging visitors to explore more than one country per trip.
How the East African Tourist Visa Works
This visa covers a single entry into Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, valid for 90 days with no option to renew or extend. You can move between the three countries freely during that period without needing to apply for a fresh visa at each border, but once you leave the zone entirely, the visa becomes invalid and you would need a new one to return. This makes it well suited to trips that combine, for example, a Rwanda gorilla trek with a Kenya safari and a stop in Uganda, since you only need to handle visa paperwork once.
Requirements and Cost
To apply, you’ll need a visa application letter, one passport photo, a passport valid for at least six months, a yellow fever vaccination certificate, and a fee of $100 per person. You can apply online in advance by submitting the East African Tourist Visa form along with your documents, or apply on arrival at any of the three countries’ border points. Applying online ahead of time is generally the smoother option, since it lets you sort out any issues with your documents before you travel rather than at the border.
It’s worth noting that $100 for all three countries works out cheaper than buying three separate ordinary tourist visas at $50 each, which would total $150. For travelers planning to visit more than one of the three countries, the East African Tourist Visa is almost always the better value, on top of being more convenient.
Who Doesn’t Need This Visa
East African residents and nationals don’t need to buy this visa when visiting individual countries in the region, since a valid work permit or national ID is enough. If you’d rather have unrestricted access to each country on its own terms instead of a shared visa, perhaps because your trip only covers one of the three countries, you can still buy an ordinary tourist visa separately for $50 per person.
Plan Your East Africa Safari
The East African Tourist Visa makes it straightforward to combine a Kenya safari, a Uganda gorilla trek, and a Rwanda gorilla trek into one trip without extra visa costs at each border. Book your East Africa safari with our team today, and we’ll help you plan an itinerary that makes the most of your visa across all three countries.
