A guide to East African Visas and Processing to Visit Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya

A guide to East African Visas and Processing to Visit Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. The East African Tourist Visa allows international tourists/foreign nationals to travel to three countries, which are Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, using the same visa. The East African Tourist Visa is a multiple-entry visa which is valid for 90 days, and this can be obtained either online, at the immigration offices or at Diplomatic missions. This type of visa is not renewable, cannot be used outside the three countries, and cannot be extended beyond the validity of 90 days.

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What is the eligibility for the East African Tourist Visa?

For one to be eligible for the East African Tourist Visa, you need to be a foreign national/international tourist visiting Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya for tourism purposes only. This type of Visa is for citizens from any country that meets the following requirements.

• Have a valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the entry date.
• A return or onward ticket when exiting the region
• You need to provide proof of sufficient funds that will support your stay in the country.
• You should not be a resident in any of the three countries that are covered by the Visa.

NB: It is important to note that the East African Visa is only available for tourism purposes, and this means that you cannot use it for any other purposes, like business or any other work-related things.

How to get the East African Tourist Visa?

Getting the East African Tourist Visa is easy and you need to follow a few steps which include the following:

• First, you need to identify and determine your entry point, which is the country which you will visit and enter first. This will determine where you are to apply for the visa because the country where you are applying for the visa is your entry point.
• Gather all the required and necessary documents needed to apply for the visa and these include a passport with a validity of 6 months from the date of applying, a return or onward ticket, and proof of funds to support your entire stay within the region.
• Then apply for the visa online using their official website or through one of the embassies in either of the three countries.
• Pay the visa fees immediately to avoid delays
• Wait for the processing period and keep on checking for any feedback. The processing period for the visa usually depends on the country you are applying to.
• Once the visa has been approved, you will be sent a copy which must be printed out. Or you can collect upon arrival in the country or at the embassy. Contact us for more information.

How to get the East African Tourist Visa

In Kenya: Getting the East African Tourist Visa in Kenya is possible both online and on arrival, but the best and fastest option is by applying online before getting to Kenya. Below are the steps that have to be followed when applying for the visa in Kenya.

• Click on the online application site and register using the website www.ecitizen.go.ke
• Register as a visitor and once you have logged in, select the Department of Immigration Services.
• The next step is to select the submit application and the Kenyan Visa option.
• Select the EAT Visa and read carefully the instructions and the documentation that is needed.
• Fill in the application form accurately and upload all the necessary documents.
• Pay for the visa fees using the Visa card, master card or any other debit cards that are acceptable.
• Wait for the visa approval and download the e-Visa on your eCitizen account.
• The downloaded visa has to be shown at the point of entry to the immigration officer.

NB: The visa processing fees are non-refundable, all incomplete applications will not be approved, the eVisa should be presented at your point of entry, possessing the eVisa is not a final Authority entry into the country, and it can take 2 working days or more to get the visa.

When applying for the visa in Kenya, authorities will still ask for more information about whether you have applied online or not, and you should be ready for the questions from the immigration officers.

In Rwanda: As part of the countries where the East African Tourist Visa is used, there are steps that are taken when applying for the visa and below are the instructions that need to be followed for a successful visa application.

• Visit the website http://irembo.gov.rw/user/citizen/service/dgie/request_a_visa
• Click on the visa application option to make the right selection and then click on apply.
• The next step is to fill in the visa application form and follow all the instructions.
• Make sure that you read and understand all the requirements needed for the specific type of visa.
• Prepare all the necessary documents and make sure that they are all uploaded in English and on time.
• Pay the visa fees using credit or debit cards and note that all the payments made are subject to bank fees.
• Submit the application and wait for approval.
• Once the visa has been approved, you need to download it and come with a copy which will be presented at the border entry point.

In Uganda: In case Uganda is your first point of entry, you should apply online before coming to Uganda because no visa application is done at any of the entry border points in the country. The easiest way is to apply via the visa application system in Uganda. After filling in the application form correctly and uploading the necessary documents, submit the application form and wait for the approval message. The different steps that you have to follow when applying for this type of visa in Uganda include the following.

• Log in to the immigration portal  and start a new application
• There is a disclaimer and you have to accept the terms and conditions.
• Select the visa type, category, and opt for the sub-category.
• Make sure that you complete the application form
• Upload all the documents and make the online appointment.
• When approved, you have to download the visa and bring it.
• It will be shown at the border entry where biometrics will be taken.

NB: All the documents uploaded should be in English and in a format that is in PDF, Word or JPG. The documents that are needed include a copy of a valid passport with biodata, a recent passport-sized photo, a yellow fever certification, a return ticket, a detailed travel itinerary, a $100 non-refundable fee and any other documents that might be needed.

Why the East Africa Tourist Visa when travelling for your safari?

The EAT Visa simplifies the visa process of visiting the three countries since you only need to apply for one visa. It saves time and money making it easy to plan the entire trip. Visas to individual countries cost around $55, whereas the East Africa Tourist Visa costs $100 for all three countries.

There is more flexibility in travel plans when it comes to the East Africa Tourist Visa since it is valid for 90 days with multiple entries from the date of issuance. This means that you can travel between the three countries as many times as you like during the 90 days.

The East African Tourist Visa also allows you to explore the different safari destinations in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. The landscapes, cultural trips, wildlife safaris and many more safari activities you can take on.

When not to get the East Africa Tourist Visa

There are so many reasons or instances where you should not get the East Africa Tourist Visa and these include the following:

When visiting one country in the region: If your plan it to visit only one of the three countries, it doesn’t make sense for you to get this type of Visa. In such cases, you just need to apply for a single-entry visa for the specific country that you wish to visit.

When visiting countries outside the region, note that the East Africa Tourist Visa only works in three countries, and once you step out of this jurisdiction, it becomes invalid. This type of visa will not be convenient if you are planning on visiting other countries outside Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. You should apply for separate visas for those specific countries.

When you plan to stay in one country for a longer period: If you plan on staying in one of the countries for a longer or extended periods, especially more than 90 days, the East Africa Tourist Visa is not the best option for you because it expires once the 90 days are up and cannot be renewed. In this option, it is better to apply for long-term visas or different types of visas in the country you plan on visiting.

Extra and more information when applying for the East African Tourist Visa

• The East African Tourist Visa can take between a week and be ready and issued. It also depends on the country you are applying from and once it has been approved, you have to print it out and come with it.
• The East African Tourist Visa can be paid for online using Visa cards, credit cards and master cards. The cost of the visa is $100 but this can change from time to time.
• You cannot and will not be allowed apply for the East African Visa on behalf of someone else. Every applicant has to do this on their own for it to be approved.
• This type of visa is valid for 90 days and cannot be extended.
• The East African Tourist Visa is invalid if you move out of the three stated countries.
• The visa doesn’t give you the right to work in any of the three countries.
• Note that nationals/citizens of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya only need a valid National ID to travel to any of the three countries.
• A colored passport-sized photo is needed when applying for the East African Tourist Visa, and it should be taken without a cap, glasses and a head scarf. It should also be taken with a white background. This photo is attached to the form using glue and we recommend that you don’t stamp the photo used in the form.
• Students from the three countries who are nationals can use their student IDs to visit the three countries.

When applying for the East African Tourist Visa, be aware of the scammers and fishy websites that claim to be of help when obtaining the visa. Avoid sending money to these sites and make sure that you are vigilant throughout the visa application process. Get intouch for more information.

FAQs about the East African Tourist Visa

Will I need a yellow fever vaccination?

Yes, all tourists need a yellow fever vaccination to be able to apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa and enter Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. You need to show proof of the vaccination at any of the entry points in each of the three countries so make sure that you get vaccinated in advance before your trip.

How do I pay for the East Africa Tourist Visa?

You can use credit cards or Debit cards to pay for the East African Tourist Visa, especially when you are applying online. Note that the accepted methods usually depend on the country you are planning to apply to or the embassy from which you are applying.

Can I extend the East African Tourist Visa?

Unfortunately, the East African Tourist Visa cannot be extended after the expiry of 90 days. If you plan on staying longer than 90 days, you will be required to apply for a different type of visa or leave the region and re-enter with a new East African Tourist Visa.

Travel with Encounter Africa Safaris

Getting around the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya is simpler when you have the East African Tourist Visa. Are you planning your trip and trying to figure out the right country combination? Contact our expert travel planning team at Encounter Africa Safaris to help and ease your travel safari.