Table of Contents
- What is the East Africa Tourist Visa?
- Who Can Apply for this Visa?
- What You Need to Apply
- East Africa Tourist Visa Application Process (Step-by-Step)
- East Africa Tourist Visa Cost
- Analysis: Is the East Africa Tourist Visa Still Worth it in 2025?
- Recap: Applying for the Uganda East Africa Tourist Visa in 2025
- East Africa Tourist Visa FAQs
- How long does it take to get the East Africa Tourist visa?
- How do I know which country to apply to?
- Can I still get an East Africa Tourist Visa for Kenya?
- Is this a multiple-entry visa?
- How long is the East Africa Tourist Visa valid for?
- Can I renew the East Africa Tourist Visa?
- Can I apply for this visa online?
- What happens if my application is rejected?
2025 Update: I updated this guide in May 2025 to reflect the changes to the East Africa Tourist Visa. Crucially, this visa is no longer valid for travellers to Kenya – read on below for more information.
Before I moved to Uganda permanently, I applied for the East Africa Tourist Visa several times. I found the process to be exceptionally straightforward and hassle-free.
However, if you’re relatively new to this part of the world, knowing how the visa application process works ahead of time is helpful.
I’ve put together this article as a guide to the East Africa tourist visa application process, running through the steps you must take to kick things off before leaving home.
What is the East Africa Tourist Visa?
The East Africa Tourist (EAT) Visa is designed for tourists wishing to enter Uganda and Rwanda during the same trip. The visa allows multiple entries between the countries for up to three months.
Crucial Update from the Kenyan Government (January 2024)
From January 2024, the East African Tourist Visa (eTA in Kenya) will not be operational. This was a direct result of Kenya’s new eTA, which replaced its long-standing tourist visa.
The official statement from the Kenyan online immigration hub reads as follows:
“As of January 2024, the East African Tourist eTA is currently not enabled. Kenya has discontinued the East African Tourist eTA, and it is not available for use at the moment. Travellers should be aware of this change and make alternative arrangements for their entry into Kenya and other East African countries.”
So, at the time of writing, the EAT Visa is only viable for people planning to visit Uganda and Rwanda.
Who Can Apply for this Visa?
Citizens of more than 100 countries can apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa online, making it super accessible. If you’re visiting Uganda or Rwanda from the UK or other parts of Europe and the US, you can easily apply for the visa online.
Crucially, you must apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa from the country you plan to visit first. So, for instance, if you’re flying into Entebbe Airport in Uganda, you need to apply for the visa from Ugandan immigration.
This guide is specifically for people travelling to Uganda, although the application requirements are similar for both. Below are the respective online portals for each country, depending on where you fly into:
What You Need to Apply
The visa is available to anyone (from specific countries) who wishes to visit Uganda or Rwanda for tourism purposes only for a period of no more than three months. As a result, you need the following details before completing the application process:
- Copy of the bio-page of your passport. Your passport should be valid for a period of at least six months.
- A recent passport-sized photograph.
- Proof of yellow fever vaccination.
- A return airline ticket showing that you won’t exceed a stay of ninety days.
- Your travel itinerary. This can be directly from a tour company or you can put one together yourself in a Word doc. Just include things like your flight details, any internal transport, where you’re staying, what activities you’re doing, etc.
- A debit or credit card to pay the visa fee, which is currently $100.
East Africa Tourist Visa Application Process (Step-by-Step)
The Uganda East Africa Tourist Visa is as simple as visa applications go. Here are the straightforward steps that you need to follow to get this visa ahead of your trip to Uganda or Rwanda:
- Step 1: Prepare your documentation as listed above. You will need to upload these to your computer to submit them as part of your application.
- Step 2: Go directly to Uganda’s immigration portal here. Please be careful – you don’t need to go through a third party website! (My Mum and Dad accidentally did this when applying to come and visit me last year – it cost them an extra $50!).
- Step 3: Select the visa type that you’re applying for. In your case, it is the East African Tourist Visa.
- Step 4: Complete the application form accurately and carefully.
- Step 5: Upload your documents.
- Step 6: Submit the application. Please note – a six-digit number will be generated at this stage. Write this down as you might need it to access your application!
- Step 7: Continue to the payment portal and make the non-refundable payment of $100 via debit or credit card.
- Step 8: Await your approval. Once processed the invitation letter will be sent directly to the email address that you have provided.
East Africa Tourist Visa Cost
The current cost of the EAT Visa is $100, payable online via debit or credit card. You cannot buy this visa on arrival; it must be obtained online.
Analysis: Is the East Africa Tourist Visa Still Worth it in 2025?
When this multi-country visa was launched in 2014, I was excited. Uganda had temporarily raised its visa on arrival from $50 to $100, Rwanda required UK citizens to apply for a visa for travel in advance, and Kenya charged $50 on arrival.
As such, paying a one-off fee of $100 for the EAT visa and travelling as much as you like between the three countries for a three-month spell made sense.
But, given that Kenya is no longer part of this little ensemble, is it really worth it in 2025? Well, it will be for some people, but it won’t be for others.
For instance, if you, like me, are a UK citizen and are planning a trip to Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, you don’t need to buy the EAT visa.
Let’s say you start your trip in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2024, Kenya announced that it would no longer process visitor visas, switching to an eTA scheme that costs $30 per entrant. This is extremely easy to apply for and can be done on Kenya’s eTA Portal.
Then, after visiting Diani Beach, you might fly to Entebbe, the gateway to Uganda. You can apply for your Ugandan tourist visa in advance for $50.
Then, you might cross the border from Uganda into Rwanda at Gatuna. Currently, UK citizens can get a free tourist visa on arrival in Rwanda.
So, for a UK citizen planning to visit Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya on the same trip, you don’t need to pay $100 for the EAT visa. Kenya isn’t even part of the scheme any more, and Rwanda no longer charges British citizens to enter the country.
So, you can actually save money by not applying for the EAT!
When is the EAT Visa a Good Idea?
There are two scenarios in which I see the EAT Visa as a viable option:
- You’re a citizen of a country that requires a paid visa to Rwanda: If you’re a resident of a country that requires a visa to enter Rwanda, it makes sense to apply for the EAT visa if you’re also travelling to Uganda. Both visas cost $50, equalling the $100 fee for the EAT. So, it makes your life much easier just applying for one visa, rather than going through the process twice.
- You’re planning to enter Uganda multiple times: Given that Uganda requires visitors to buy a $50 tourist visa per entry, the EAT visa makes sense if you’re planning to enter Uganda more than once during your trip. For instance, if you fly into Uganda, then head across the Rwanda border for gorilla trekking, before returning to Uganda to fly home, you should apply for the EAT visa, as it allows you to go in and out of the country as many times as you like in a three-month period.
Bottom line?
The EAT visa is a good option if you’re planning to enter Uganda and Rwanda during your trip and are required to pay for a Rwanda visa. It’s also a hassle-free alternative to buying multiple entry visas for Uganda if you need to go into Uganda more than once (perhaps for a return flight).
Recap: Applying for the Uganda East Africa Tourist Visa in 2025
The EAT Visa is straightforward to apply for and could be useful if you plan to visit Uganda and Rwanda during the same vacation.
I hope you have found the step-by-step guide above helpful. I’ve also included some FAQs below that you can refer to for more information about this visa.
East Africa Tourist Visa FAQs
How long does it take to get the East Africa Tourist visa?
Approval depends on how busy the immigration office is. In my experience, receiving your approval letter takes 2-3 working days. However, give yourself as much time as possible before departing on your vacation.
How do I know which country to apply to?
You must apply for an EAT visa from the country you visit first: Uganda or Rwanda. You can then move in and out of the other country during a three-month period.
Can I still get an East Africa Tourist Visa for Kenya?
No, Kenya left the EAT Visa scheme in January 2024. Today, this multiple-country & multiple-entry visa is only for Uganda and Rwanda. More countries may join the ensemble in the coming years – I will update you if they do.
Is this a multiple-entry visa?
Yes, you can travel through Uganda and Rwanda as often as you like for the duration of the visa.
How long is the East Africa Tourist Visa valid for?
The EAT visa is valid for a period of three months.
Can I renew the East Africa Tourist Visa?
When your current EAT visa expires, you can apply for another. For more information about visa extensions, contact the immigration office in Uganda or Rwanda.
Can I apply for this visa online?
Yes, you can only apply for the EAT visa online. Follow the link I shared to go directly to the Ugandan immigration website.
What happens if my application is rejected?
There are several reasons why your visa application might be rejected. Before submitting a second application, you should email the immigration office directly to ask for feedback.
