The thought of a single regional East Africa Vacationer Visa is to make it simpler – and extra financially enticing – for vacationers to go to the entire area.
You need to be capable of go to the three international locations of Uganda + Rwanda + Kenya on a single visa – or so the idea goes. If you happen to take pleasure in cross-border journey suggestions and tales, you would possibly take pleasure in No hurry in Africa – the bus from Kigali to Kampala and The true ‘boda boda’ – Nagawa travels sidesaddle into Kenya.
On this weblog publish you will see that particulars concerning the totally different East Africa Vacationer Visa utility processes for Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Though the three international locations share a vacationer visa, the applying differs, in keeping with the nation the place you begin your East African travels.
With out an East Africa Vacationer Visa, you could spend a minimal of $130 to go to the three international locations: Kenya ($50) + Rwanda ($30) + Uganda ($50). These charges are ‘single entry’ solely, that means {that a} return go to to any of those international locations means paying the visa charge once more. The East Africa Tourism Visa is usually accessible, though a number of challenges stay.
“The holder of the East Africa Vacationer Visa shall enter from the nation that issued the visa and transfer inside the two different international locations with out making use of for one more visa or paying for one more visa charge.”
Doesn’t that sound good?
- Which international locations does the East Africa Vacationer Visa cowl?
- How a lot is the East Africa Vacationer Visa?
- How lengthy is the East Africa Vacationer Visa legitimate for?
- Is there a restrict to the variety of instances you may go to every nation?
- Can I prolong my East Africa Vacationer Visa?
- Can I work on an East Africa Vacationer Visa?
- How do I apply for the East Africa Vacationer Visa? Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda
- What’s an Interstate Cross and the way do I apply for it?
- Which different international locations will be a part of the East Africa Vacationer Visa?
- Do you’ve any questions concerning the East Africa Vacationer Visa?
I begin by sharing the official data. Scroll additional down the web page for some sensible journey suggestions. In case you have any extra visa or journey data to share, please add feedback under this text or message me straight I’ll then replace this web page.
- Which international locations does the East Africa Vacationer Visa cowl?
Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – with extra international locations becoming a member of sooner or later.
- How a lot is the East Africa Vacationer Visa?
100 USD for internationals.
The EATV is freed from cost to international residents / expats (with legitimate work permits) within the three international locations: Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. For these sorts of travellers the EATV is issued within the type of an “interstate cross.”
Overseas residents and residents of the three international locations have to journey with a legitimate passport or Nationwide ID or Scholar ID and request an Interstate Cross on the border. (NOTE to East Africans: should you don’t have a passport, you could be requested to purchase a Momentary Journey Doc. In Uganda, this prices 10k UGX and might be purchased on the border or at Uganda Immigration in Port Bell, Kampala).
- How lengthy is the East Africa Vacationer Visa legitimate for?
90 days
- Is there a restrict to the variety of instances you may go to every nation?
No. The East Africa Vacationer Visa is a a number of entry visa.
In keeping with Carmen Nibigira, Regional Coordinator, East Africa Tourism Platform, the East Africa Vacationer Visa entitles the traveller to 90 days uninterrupted journey out and in of the three taking part international locations. NOTE: the East Africa Vacationer Visa is barely a number of entry solely inside the EATV zone. As soon as you permit the zone (e.g. go to Tanzania, which isn’t a part of the EATV, though it’s an EAC nation), you will want to use for a brand new East Africa Vacationer Visa.
- Can I prolong my East Africa Vacationer Visa?
No. You can not prolong the East Africa Vacationer Visa. To get a brand new EATV, it’s essential to exit the EATV zone and apply for a brand new one, as detailed under. (June 2018: suggestions from a number of vacationers is that you’re now capable of buy an East Africa Vacationer Visa when already within the zone e.g. on the street border between Uganda and Rwanda. This has not been publicised however appears pretty frequent observe).
- Can I work on an East Africa Vacationer Visa?
Official line: “Work is prohibited.”
- apply for the East Africa Vacationer Visa
It’s essential to notice that the method for buying the East Africa Vacationer Visa differs in keeping with the nation you journey to first. October 2022: it’s simple to get an East Africa Vacationer Visa in all three international locations. Nonetheless: for Uganda and Kenya, you will need to apply on-line upfront for all visasa; for Rwanda, apply on-line in advnace or get visa on arrival.
The system has been computerised (hooray! no extra varieties to fill in). If you arrive on the airport / border, you may be requested how lengthy you need to keep. You hand over your passport, they print a type together with your particulars and also you pay $100. You need to get an East Africa Vacationer Visa sticker in your passport. That is signed and stamped.
“For any questions, contact the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda earlier than you journey.”
- How do I apply for the East Africa Vacationer Visa if I’m getting into Kenya first?
If Kenya is your first level of entry, contact your native Kenyan embassy for particulars on how you can buy your East Africa Vacationer Visa earlier than you begin your journey. Alternatively, purchase your East Africa Vacationer Visa upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Worldwide Airport (JKIA) or Mombasa.
eCitizen is Kenya’s Division of Immigration Providers on-line portal for visa purposes. At present that is for single entry visas and transit visas solely (NOT the EATV). (Checked once more October 2022).
For additional clarification earlier than you journey to Kenya, contact eVISA Buyer Care.
Basic queries: +254 202 222 022, +254 110 922 063, +254 110 922 064.
Cost queries: +254 110 922 062. E-mail: evisa@immigration.go.ke
The Muzungu’s advice: apply for an East Africa Vacationer Visa at your nearest Kenyan Embassy, earlier than you journey. (Notice: that is an exterior web site so I can’t affirm all the information is updated).
- How do I apply for the East Africa Vacationer Visa if I’m getting into Rwanda first?
Since January 2018, Rwanda points visas on arrival to all nationals. This contains East Africa Vacationer Visas. Nonetheless, you too can apply on-line upfront should you favor.
If Rwanda is your first level of entry to the EATV zone, use the Rwanda On-line Visa Software System to use for the Class T12 East Africa Vacationer Visa. Below “Sort of Visa” choose “East Africa Vacationer Visa.” Right here you will see that a web-based utility type and all of the steerage needed to use for an East Africa Vacationer Visa.
The Muzungu’s advice: in case you have any flexibility in your itinerary, enter the East Africa Vacationer Visa zone through Rwanda. They’ve the only utility course of with one of the best tips.
- How do I apply for the East Africa Vacationer Visa if I’m getting into Uganda first?
If Uganda is your first level of entry, you may request your East Africa Vacationer Visa at your native Ugandan embassy. (Notice: that is an exterior web site so I can’t affirm all the information is uptodate).
October 2022 In idea, you should purchase your East Africa Vacationer Visa in money (US {dollars}/GBP/Euros) on arrival at Entebbe Worldwide Airport, however you might not be allowed to board the airplane with out your visa approval letter). Due to this fact, use the Uganda Digital Visa/Allow Software System to buy your East Africa Vacationer Visa. Please learn my weblog NOW LIVE: apply for Ugandan vacationer visas on-line, which I evaluation steadily. (This contains data on Ugandan single entry vacationer visas, East Africa Vacationer Visas, enterprise visas, transit visas, work permits, dependent’s cross and extra).
The Muzungu’s advice: At Entebbe Worldwide Airport, immigration might insist you present a replica of ‘an itinerary proving onward journey in East Africa.’ Strictly talking, this isn’t a requirement of the East Africa Vacationer Visa. Nonetheless, don’t argue with immigration (like I’ve earlier than, to my price); they aways have the final phrase. You’re suggested to carry an itinerary with you, in case you have one, or they could deny you an EATV (and easily challenge you with a single entry Uganda vacationer visa).
- What’s an Interstate Cross and the way do I apply for it?
Residents of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda can now journey between the three international locations with ID playing cards as a substitute of passports. No visas are wanted and there’s no cost for the Interstate Cross (a small slip of paper that’s issued on the border / airport).
Expatriates with legitimate work permits may also journey with the ‘Interstate Cross,’ without having to get a visa. Woop, woop! Ensure you hold the Interstate Cross protected together with your passport as you could be requested to return it once you go away the nation.
In each circumstances, nationals and expats are merely given an Interstate Cross doc once they present their ID/passport and exit one of many three international locations. This is freed from cost and issued on the border.
March 2018: I travelled by street to Kenya with a Ugandan good friend. She was travelling on her Ugandan ID card. Immigration insisted she buy a Momentary Journey Doc at Busia (price 10k UGX) though the East Africa Vacationer Visa / Interstate Cross permits nationals to journey on their ID. At Busia, Interpol needed to interview my good friend. They have been suspicious of a younger Ugandan travelling on her ID card and defined that folks traffickers are identified to carry the younger folks’s passports for them on the different finish of their journey. On our return bus journey, one vulnerable-looking younger lady was intercepted by Interpol. It was clear she was being trafficked. The expertise was sobering.
- Which different international locations will be a part of the East Africa Vacationer Visa?
Tanzania
It was introduced in 2014 that Tanzania would be a part of the East Africa Vacationer Visa however there isn’t a data accessible on-line. [Checked again October 2022].
Burundi
Sadly, few individuals are travelling to Burundi at present due to the political scenario. We hope life in Burundi improves shortly and that we are able to welcome them to the EATV get together earlier than too lengthy.
South Sudan
In the future, we hope…
DR Congo
In 2022, the Democratic Republic of Congo grew to become the seventh member of the EAC however there isn’t a information about it becoming a member of the East Africa Vacationer Visa.
- The East Africa Vacationer Visa. What’s the scenario on the bottom?
(What the tour operators might not inform you)
Formally, you possibly can solely get the EATV once you first entered the EATV zone, both upfront on-line or at an embassy / diplomatic mission / on arrival on the airport (Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda).
These are the 4 (official) factors of entry for the East Africa Vacationer Visa however cross-country borders appear to challenge the EATV now as nicely:
- Uganda – Entebbe Worldwide Airport
- Rwanda – Kigali Worldwide Airport
- Kenya – Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta Worldwide Airport (JKIA)
- Kenya – Mombasa, Moi Worldwide Airport and the Port of Mombasa.
The truth that you possibly can solely get an East Africa Vacationer Visa once you first entered the EATV international locations was a little bit of a downside for some individuals who might arrive in a single nation, with out having made agency journey plans. It’s fairly frequent for travellers to reach with out an itinerary. Somebody might come to Uganda to trace the gorillas, for instance, and determine they need to journey to the Kenyan coast subsequent.
Visas issued for particular international locations can solely be used for that specific nation.
Notes from family and friends relating to the East Africa Vacationer Visa
In its preliminary type, the EATV was not as versatile because it might be, significantly for backpackers and price range vacationers who make up their journey plans as they go. I do know individuals who arrived in Uganda on a single nation vacationer visa however who then determined to journey inside East Africa. My mates’ expertise was that if you end up travelling by street, the scenario was even much less clear:
Keep in mind: At Entebbe Worldwide Airport, immigration might ask you to supply a replica of ‘an itinerary proving onward journey in East Africa.’ Strictly talking, this isn’t a requirement of the East Africa Vacationer Visa. Nonetheless, you might be suggested to carry one with you, in case you have one. Resort bookings serve the identical objective.
Do you’ve any recommendation to share? If that’s the case, please add your feedback under or be happy to contact the Muzungu. If you happen to’re searching for extra East Africa visa recommendation, learn NOW LIVE: apply for Ugandan vacationer visas on-line and Rwanda broadcasts: all vacationers can get #VisaOnArrival.