Visa is one of the most crucial travel documents for travellers into Uganda, Rwanda or Africa in general. However, visa requirements vary from country to country and individual to individual, because Citizens of some country are exempted from the different visa fees.
Uganda Visa
Exploring Uganda-the beautiful Pearl of Uganda for tourism, business or visiting friends and family has never been easier with the provision of simpler and straightforward visa booking platforms. This amazing East African country is haven to the source of River Nile (the World’s second longest River), about half the World’s only surviving population of Mountain gorillas), immense and biologically diverse Protected Areas, warm and beautiful weather throughout the year, melting pot with unique cultures and traditions of more than 56 local tribes, the jaw-dropping snow-capped peaks of Rwenzori Mountains (dubbed the Mountains of the Moon), some of the most vibrant nightlife’s you will ever experience in your life, numerous adventure spots that will challenge your adrenaline levels, to mention but a few. There are more than a million reasons to choose Uganda as your next safari destination and uncover the reasons why Winston Churchill described it as the “Pearl of Africa”
If you have Uganda on your mind for creating unforgettable African safari experiences, then you should start processing your visa for hassle-free entry into this beautiful and small East African country. With effect from 1st July 2016, the Government of Uganda began implementing the online visa application system known as the “Uganda Electronic Visa Application System”, with the aim of undertaking checks against the Bureaucratic Law Enforcement Databases. For this reason, all visitors longing to enter Uganda are expected to first acquire visas through the system before even boarding the Plane.
Whether your plan for travelling into Uganda is to visit friends and family, tourism related, for Holiday, medical purposes, study and business/investment, it is important to first apply and acquire a Ugandan visa online. The process is easy, stress-free and straight forward and to avoid being duped, avoid middlemen. Instead, visit https://visas.immigration.go.ug/
Any traveller planning to access Uganda should do it for only lawful purposes and should be in accordance with the National Immigration Laws, guidelines and formalities, while those planning to get into the country for employment are required to abide by the requirements for “Expatriate Employment in Uganda”.
Ugandan Visa exemptions
Citizens of some countries don’t necessarily need Visas to access this beautiful East African Country and these include;
East African Community (EAC) Member States like Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and soon the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Countries in the COMESA Block such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola and Malawi among others.
Other Nationals who are exempt to Uganda Visa requirements are Belize, Sierra Leone, Cyprus, Barbados, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Lesotho, Gambia, Grenadines, Vanuatu, Bahamas, Jamaica, Grenada, Antigua, and St. Vincent, to mention but a few.
Booking process for Ugandan Visas
The first thing in booking Ugandan Visas is checking out the portal on https://visas.immigration.go.ug/. From here, you will be introduced to the application process that comes in four stages/steps.
The First step is where you will be required to choose the application type (whether you are applying for Visa or permit), the category (East African tourist Visa, ordinary, multiple entry, transit and Diplomatic visa.
The second step is filling the online form and the third step is adding relevant Travel documents especially a copy of your passport bio data page, a recent colored passport-size photograph, yellow fever inoculation certificate and so much more).
The fourth step is where you finally submit your online visa application form, after which the Immigration Officer will go through it. You will then be issued with an application number (via email indicated during application), which you will use to track the progress of your application. Once your application is approved, a letter of approval will also be sent by the same email and this serves as the authorization to travel. Go ahead to print it out and this should be attached with your valid passport, then submitted in less than half a year at the point of entry.
Usually, approval takes 2-3 working days, with the exception of situations when more documents are involved. For this reason, you can apply for the Visa 5-10 days before the planned travel date.
Visa fees for Uganda
- Single entry Visas cost $50 per person.
- The Multiple entry visas valid for 6-12 months cost $100 per person.
- Multiple entry visas valid for two years cost $150 per person.
- The Multiple entry visas valid for 3 years cost only $200 per person.
- The East African Tourist Visas that allow multiple entries into Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda for 90 days cost $100 per person. This makes it possible to access each of these three countries with the same visa.
Rwanda Visas
From 1st January 2018, Rwanda has been issuing Visas to travellers on arrival at Kigali International Airport as well as other land borders. However, applications have to be sent in before departure by filling and submitting online application forms, offering two fantastic payment options- payment on arrival as well as online payment. However, travellers can also send in their applications at the Rwanda Diplomatic Missions within your country of origin.
Nationals of countries that are members of Common Wealth, African Union and La Francophonie are presented visas on arrival into beautiful Rwanda and valid for one month. Interestingly, they are also waived visa fees.
Citizens of the East African Member States (Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan and Tanzania) are exempted from visa fees for a period of 6 months. Other countries are offered 90-day free-of-charge visas on arrival and they include Singapore, Federation of Saint Christopher, Benin, State of Qatar, Guinea, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, Chad, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, to mention but a few. Rwanda visas are in form of Entry visas, transit visas and tourist visas.
Requirements for Rwanda Visa application
For Rwanda visa applications, travellers are required to present valid passports or any other relevant Travel document (like National Identity Card). These passports should have validity of at least half a year on the day of travelling into Rwanda.
A vaccination certificate against yellow fever as well as Covid-19 negative PCR test, given the prevalence of the virus at the time of writing. These have to be presented at the officials points of entry and in case of any other disease outbreak, you will be informed of any specific health requirements.
Payment of visa fees and in case your application is rejected, there will be a refund for the money paid.
Applicants of Rwanda visas are required to have enough funds to cater for the days of stay in the country. Proof is presented online, at the Foreign Missions and at the Airport on arrival.
Rwanda Visa costs
- Single entry Rwanda tourist visas cost only $50 per person and are valid for one month.
- The single entry conference visas go for only $30 per person and are also valid for one month.
- Multiple entry business visas cost $50 per person and are surprisingly valid for one year.
- The East African tourist visas are valued at $100 per person and valid for a total of 3 months.
Visa extensions are possible, but have to be processed in advance by submitting applications to the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration. Each of the Visa classes/categories have different requirements to be fulfilled by applicants. Don’t wait for last minute application but instead do it while your visa is still valid.
Application process of Rwanda visas
Nationals of countries that are not visa exempt on arrival have to apply through two ways- the different Rwanda Diplomatic Missions in your country of origin/residence prior to travelling into the country as well as online application, payments made online or on the day of arrival.
The East African Tourist Visa
Instead of applying for independent visas to explore Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya, you can actually use a single visa for all the three countries, thus the “East African Tourist Visa”. This visa guarantees multiple entries in any or all the mentioned countries for a period of 3 months.
Requirements for applying for the East African Tourist Visa
There are a number of things you will be required to present when applying for the East African Tourist Visa and they include;
- Colored passport size photograph with white background. Also, remove eye glasses, surfs, caps and should be attached with glue stick on the application form.
- A fully-filled application form.
- Your travel itinerary or flight bookings.
- Proof of finances to sustain you during your stay in Uganda, Rwanda and/or Kenya.
- A recommendation letter from an issuing Authority of your country of origin.
- Travel documents such as passport or any other identification document, yellow fever inoculation certificate, to mention but a few.
East African Tourist Visa fees
East African tourist Visas are valid for 3 months for multiple entries into any of the countries and costs $100 per person.