Last updated: 9 September 2026. This is an unofficial informational guide for UK travellers. For current official requirements, refer to the government immigration portals listed below.
To apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa online, visit the immigration portal of your first-entry country: Uganda (immigration.go.ug), Rwanda (irembo.gov.rw), or Kenya (etakenya.go.ke). Complete the online application form, upload required documents, and pay the non-refundable USD 100 fee by card. Processing takes 3-10 working days, with the approval letter delivered by email. The East Africa Tourist Visa is a 90-day, multiple-entry joint visa covering Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda for tourism purposes only. The issuing country must be the country of first physical entry.
At a glance: Create an account on the portal of your first-entry country, select the East Africa Tourist Visa option, fill in personal and passport details, upload a passport scan, photo, yellow fever certificate, and travel itinerary in JPG format, then pay USD 100 by Visa or Mastercard. Processing takes 3-10 working days. Bring the printed approval letter and hard copies of all documents to the border for biometric capture and visa stamping.
What Is the East Africa Tourist Visa?
The East Africa Tourist Visa functions as a single joint tourist visa permitting 90 days of multiple-entry travel across Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda for tourism purposes only.
- Permitted countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda ONLY. Crossing into any non-member country (e.g. Tanzania) invalidates the East Africa Tourist Visa.
- Validity: 90 days from the date of issue, not from arrival.
- Entry type: Multiple entries within the EAC tripartite zone. The issuing country must be the country of first physical entry.
- Purpose: Tourism only. Employment (paid or unpaid) is strictly prohibited.
- Non-renewable: The East Africa Tourist Visa cannot be extended or renewed within any of the three countries.
- Entry guarantee: The approval letter does not grant final authority to enter. An immigration officer at the port of entry makes the final decision.
Do You Need an East Africa eVisa or a Kenya eTA?
Apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa only when visiting two or more of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda; single-country travellers need a separate eVisa or eTA.
Kenya replaced its eVisa with the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system, managed via etakenya.go.ke. If your itinerary covers only Kenya, the East Africa Tourist Visa does not apply; it is reserved for travel to 2+ of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Decision flowchart:
Visiting only Kenya? → Apply for Kenya eTA (etakenya.go.ke)
Visiting only Uganda or Rwanda? → Apply for that country’s individual eVisa
Visiting 2+ EAC countries? → Apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa
↓
Which country will you enter FIRST? → Apply through THAT country’s portal
Worked example: Flying London → Nairobi → Kampala → Kigali means Kenya is your first entry point, so you apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa through Kenya’s eTA portal at etakenya.go.ke.
Documents You Need for the East Africa Tourist Visa
The East Africa Tourist Visa application requires a passport scan with at least 6 months validity from date of entry, a compliant passport photo, a yellow fever vaccination certificate, a return ticket, and a travel itinerary. All attachments must be uploaded in JPG format. Keep each file under 1 MB to avoid upload errors. All documents must be in English.
| Document | Format | Max Size | Specifications | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport bio-data page | JPG | <1 MB | Clear scan; valid, signed passport; 6+ months validity | Blurry or low-resolution scan |
| Passport photograph | JPG | <1 MB | 4 x 6 cm, colour, front view, neutral expression, plain white or off-white background, taken within last 6 months; normal street attire, no uniforms (except daily religious attire); no hat or headgear; prescription glasses permitted if normally worn | Scanning the passport photo instead of submitting a fresh photo |
| Yellow fever certificate | JPG | <1 MB | International Certificate of Vaccination copy; children under 1 year exempt from vaccination | Missing or expired certificate |
| Return ticket | JPG | <1 MB | Confirmed return flight | One-way ticket only |
| Travel itinerary | JPG | <1 MB | Detailed schedule of travel across permitted countries | Vague or incomplete itinerary |
| Hotel bookings / invitation letters | JPG | <1 MB | Accommodation proof for full stay | Bookings not covering entire trip |
| Bank statement | JPG | <1 MB | Last 3 months | Statement older than 3 months |
The East Africa Tourist Visa portal may request additional documents during processing. Prepare every file before starting the online application form.
Photo Specifications for the East Africa Tourist Visa
The East Africa Tourist Visa requires a passport-sized photograph meeting these exact specifications:
- Dimensions: 4 × 6 cm
- Format: Colour, front view, neutral expression
- Background: Plain white or off-white
- Clothing: Normal street attire; uniforms prohibited (except daily religious attire)
- Headwear: No hat or headgear obscuring hair or hairline
- Eyewear: Prescription glasses permitted if normally worn; dark glasses or non-prescription tinted lenses not acceptable without medical certificate
- Recency: Taken within the last 6 months
- Source restriction: Do NOT photograph or scan the photo from your passport; submit a fresh photo
- File format: JPG, under 1 MB
UK applicants should note that high-street passport photo booths typically produce 35 × 45 mm prints, which do not meet the 4 × 6 cm requirement for the East Africa Tourist Visa. Ask the photographer for a 4 × 6 cm print or use a dedicated passport photo app that allows custom dimensions. The most common photo rejection cause is scanning the existing passport photo instead of taking a fresh photograph.
Travelling with Children – East Africa Tourist Visa Requirements
Children require separate passports, individual photos, an unabridged birth certificate, and a parental consent affidavit when travelling with only one parent.
Every minor is a standalone applicant on the East Africa Tourist Visa portal. Prepare the following for each traveller under 18:
- Separate passport per child, valid for at least 6 months from date of entry.
- Separate passport-sized photo per child (4 × 6 cm, colour, white background).
- Unabridged birth certificate identifying both parents.
- Parental consent affidavit if the child travels with only one parent or a guardian.
- Yellow fever vaccination: children under 1 year of age are exempt from the vaccination itself, though the certificate may still be requested.
Each minor’s East Africa Tourist Visa submission requires its own USD 100 fee and individual document uploads.
How Much Does the East Africa eVisa Cost in 2026?
The East Africa Tourist Visa costs a non-refundable USD 100 per applicant, with additional 2-3% bank surcharges on UK-issued international card payments.
The East Africa Tourist Visa fee is charged in US dollars; your UK bank converts the transaction to GBP at the live exchange rate. As of September 2026, USD 100 equals approximately £78-80. International card transactions from the UK typically incur a 2-3% bank surcharge, bringing the total realistic cost to roughly £80-83.
Official government portals accept standard Visa and Mastercard credit/debit cards. PayPal is not accepted. Third-party agencies charge significantly more; for example, Green Apple Travel quotes AED 900 (~£190+), a substantial markup over the direct portal fee.
Official Fee: USD 100 ≈ £78-80
Bank Surcharge: ~£2-3 (2-3%)
Total Realistic Cost: ~£80-83
Agency Markup Example: £190+ (Green Apple Travel, AED 900)
Which Portal Should You Use for the East Africa Tourist Visa?
Uganda’s immigration.go.ug, Rwanda’s irembo.gov.rw, and Kenya’s etakenya.go.ke each handle East Africa Tourist Visa applications. Choose the portal matching your country of first physical entry.
| Uganda | Rwanda | Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| immigration.go.ug | irembo.gov.rw | etakenya.go.ke |
| East Africa Tourist Visa | V11 East Africa Visa | eTA system (issues EATV for multi-country travel) |
| 9 steps | 4 steps | eTA application channel |
| USD | USD | USD |
| 3-10 working days | 3-10 working days | 3-10 working days |
The first-entry rule is mandatory: the issuing portal must match the country where your plane first lands in East Africa. For assistance with your East Africa Tourist Visa application, contact NCIC Uganda at +256 417 102 600, Plot 65/67 Old Port Bell Road, Kampala, Uganda; Kenya eTA support at +254 717 436 070 or [email protected]; or Rwanda immigration at +250 722 17 29 74.
How to Apply for eVisa East Africa Online: Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Apply through the immigration portal of your first-entry country: create an account, select the East Africa Tourist Visa type, fill in details, upload documents, and pay USD 100.
Uganda Portal (immigration.go.ug)
Start New Application
Log into the portal and select “Start New Application”.
Accept terms and conditions
Accept the terms and conditions in the Disclaimer.
Select visa type, category, and sub-category
Choose the appropriate visa type, category, and sub-category.
Complete the application form
Fill in personal and passport details.
Upload required documents
Upload all required documents. An auto-generated application ID appears – screenshot it immediately.
Pay the USD 100 fee
Pay the USD 100 fee by card (Visa/Mastercard expected).
Receive approval letter by email
The approval letter is emailed upon approval (if no top-up payment is required).
Complete top-up payment if applicable
Complete top-up payment if applicable; the approval letter is emailed after payment.
Report for biometric capture
Report to the immigration office or border for biometric capture with all documents and receipts.
Rwanda Portal (irembo.gov.rw)
Go to irembo.gov.rw
Visit the Rwanda immigration portal.
Select visa application
Under Request Type, select “Visa application”.
Click Apply
Click “Apply” to begin the form.
Select V11 East Africa Visa
Fill in the form and select V11 East Africa Visa as the visa type.
Draft-save capability is unconfirmed on either portal. Prepare all documents beforehand and complete the East Africa Tourist Visa application in one sitting.
After You Submit: Tracking, Rejection, and Border Arrival
The East Africa Tourist Visa application takes 3-10 working days after payment; the approval letter arrives by email and must be printed for border biometric capture.
- Track manually: Log back into the portal with your application ID and check your email, including the spam folder. No automated notifications are confirmed.
- Top 5 rejection causes: incomplete documentation, blurry passport scans, non-compliant photo, passport validity under 6 months, and mismatched personal information.
- No appeal mechanism: A rejected East Africa Tourist Visa application must be restarted from scratch, and the non-refundable USD 100 fee paid again.
- Border requirements: Bring the printed approval letter, hard copies of all uploaded documents, payment receipts, and the passport used in your application. Biometric capture (fingerprints and photograph) is mandatory at the immigration office or border. Carry spare physical passport photos as a precaution for border procedures.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for eVisa East Africa
The most frequent East Africa Tourist Visa application errors are wrong photo dimensions, spelling mismatches with the passport, and applying through the wrong country’s portal. Avoid these 10 mistakes:
- Wrong photo size or background colour. Fix: 4 × 6 cm, colour, white/off-white background, front view, taken within 6 months.
- Scanning the passport photo instead of submitting a fresh photo. Fix: Take a new photo; do not scan the existing passport photo.
- Spelling errors in name/passport fields. Fix: Copy names exactly as they appear in the passport’s machine-readable zone.
- Uploading blurry or low-resolution passport bio-data page scans. Fix: Use a scanner app at high resolution; ensure all text is legible.
- Passport validity under 6 months. Fix: Check expiry date against your travel date, not today’s date.
- Applying through the wrong country’s portal. Fix: Your portal must match the country you physically enter first in the EAC.
- Selecting wrong visa type. Fix: Choose “East Africa Tourist Visa” (or V11 on Rwanda’s portal); do not select a single-country visa.
- Not saving the application ID. Fix: Screenshot or write down the auto-generated ID immediately after document upload.
- UK bank flagging international payment as fraud. Fix: Notify your bank before making the USD 100 payment to avoid transaction blocks.
- Not completing the form in one sitting. Fix: Portal draft-save capability is unconfirmed; prepare all documents before starting.
FAQ: East Africa Tourist Visa Application (2026)
How long does it take to get an East Africa eVisa from the UK?
Processing takes 3-10 working days from successful payment; peak seasons may extend to 15 days. The approval letter for the East Africa Tourist Visa is delivered by email.
Can I apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa if I’m only visiting Kenya?
No. If visiting only Kenya, apply for Kenya’s eTA at etakenya.go.ke. The East Africa Tourist Visa is for travel across 2+ of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.
What payment methods are accepted for the East Africa eVisa fee?
Visa/Mastercard credit and debit cards only; PayPal is not accepted. See the cost section above for the 2-3% UK bank surcharge and fraud-flagging tip.
How do I check the status of my East Africa eVisa application?
Log back into the portal using your account credentials and auto-generated application ID. The approval letter is also sent by email, so check your spam folder.
Can I apply as a family or group?
Most portals require a separate application and payment per traveller, including children. Each family member needs their own passport, photo, and supporting documents.
What happens if my application is rejected?
You must re-apply from scratch and pay the USD 100 fee again. There is no appeal mechanism. Common causes: incomplete documentation, blurry scans, non-compliant photos, passport validity under 6 months, and mismatched information.
Is the East Africa Tourist Visa the same as the Kenya eTA?
No. The East Africa Tourist Visa is a joint visa for Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda with multiple entries for 90 days. Kenya’s eTA is a separate authorisation for Kenya-only visits.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination certificate?
Yes. Upload a scanned copy of your International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever. Children under 1 year of age are exempt from the vaccination itself.
Can I enter Uganda first if my EATV was issued through Kenya’s portal?
No. The first-entry rule requires you to enter through the country whose portal issued your visa. Applying through Kenya’s portal means Kenya must be your first entry point. Crossing into a non-member country invalidates the East Africa Tourist Visa.
How much is the East Africa eVisa in British pounds?
The official fee is USD 100, approximately £78-80 at the current exchange rate (September 2026). Expect an additional 2-3% bank surcharge on UK-issued cards, bringing the total to approximately £80-83. The fee is non-refundable.
