East Africa tourist visa: Visa requirements, processing time and fees

Can US nationals apply for an East Africa Tourist Visa?

Yes. US nationals can apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa.

An East Africa Tourist Visa is a joint visa issued to travellers visiting Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda for tourism. It is a multiple-entry visa that allows you to travel within these three countries on a single visa without applying for another visa or paying an additional visa fee.

US citizens can easily apply for an East Africa visa on the e-visa portals of any of the three countries. This blog will discuss the easiest process of getting an East Africa e-visa which is through the Uganda immigration portal.

Note that the visa-issuing country should be your first entry point. For example, if you apply for an East Africa e-visa through the Uganda portal, you must visit Uganda first.

Do US Green Card holders need an East Africa e-visa?

Yes. US Green Card holders must apply for an East Africa e-visa to enter Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. They must apply for an e-visa prior to their travel.

East Africa e-visa requirements for US citizens

To apply for an East Africa visa through the Uganda e-visa portal, you will need the following documents to meet the East Africa visa requirements:

• Valid passport: A copy of the passport's bio-data page. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months.

• Passport-size photograph: A digital passport-size photograph taken recently on a white background, looking directly at the camera.

• Vaccination certificate: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is a must when travelling to the East Africa circuit.

• Travel itinerary: The East Africa visa is issued only for the purpose of tourism. You must provide a detailed day-to-day itinerary.

• Travel ticket: This is required to prove you will not overstay your visa.

All the documents must be in JPEG, PNG, BMP or PDF format with a minimum size of 5 KB and a maximum file size of 250 KB.

East Africa e-visa fee for US citizens

The East Africa visa fee for US citizens is USD 100. Note that the visa fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

East Africa visa application process for Indians

When applying for the East Africa visa for US citizens through the Uganda e-visa portal, here’s how the process will look like:

1. 1

   Visit the official website: Visit the Uganda E-Immigration System and click the "Start Application" tab on the homepage.

2. 2

   Accept terms and conditions: Read and accept the terms and conditions displayed in the Disclaimer. Confirm your understanding by accepting.

3. 3

   Type of application: Select the visa type and category, and click "Next Step."

4. 4

   Fill out the application form: Enter the requested personal, passport and travel details (including a temporary address in Uganda).

5. 5

   Upload required documents: Ensure you upload a copy of your passport, photograph, yellow fever certificate and return ticket in supported formats.

6. 6

   Submit your application: Review and submit your application. You will receive a notification with an application number for tracking purposes upon submission.

7. 7

   Pay the visa fee: Visit the "Manage Application" under the Applications tab on the home page. Enter your application ID, passport number, and date of birth to pay the visa fee.

8. 8

   Download and print your e-visa: After approval, visit the portal to download your e-visa. Ensure you print a copy of the visa to show the Immigration Officer when you arrive at the designated entry point in Uganda.

You can also apply for an East Africa visa from the US through the e-visa portals of the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Rwanda. Note that the documents required to complete the East Africa visa application may vary from country to country.

Receive your approved East Africa visa for US citizens

When your East Africa visa application is approved, you will receive a letter as an attachment to the provided email address. You can download it by clicking on the link received in the email.

You can also download it from the "Manage Application" section under the "Applications" tab on the homepage of the official e-visa website.

East Africa visa information for US citizens

How to check East Africa e-visa status

When applying through the Uganda e-visa portal, any change in the status of your application will be sent to the email specified during the application process.

You can also check the status by yourself. Here's how:

1. 1

   Visit the Uganda e-visa portal.

2. 2

   Click on the "Manage Application" under the "Applications" tab on the homepage.

3. 3

   Enter your application ID, passport number and date of birth to see the status.

Uganda e-visa processing time

The Uganda e-visa processing through the government website can take up to 7 business days. Note that the processing time may be extended in case of incomplete applications or requests to submit additional documents.

Uganda e-visa validity & length of stay

The multiple-entry Uganda e-visa is valid for 90 days. It allows you to stay in Uganda for a maximum of 3 months.

When applying through the Uganda e-visa portal, you must enter 3 months under the length of stay section; otherwise, you will not be able to proceed with the East Africa visa application. You may stay for fewer days if you wish.