• Admin

Key takeaways

• Rwanda and Uganda both publish the visa at USD 100, valid for 90 days, for tourism only.
• Your first entry must be to the country that issued the visa.
• It cannot be extended, and Uganda states it is not renewable once you leave the three-country block.
• Tanzania is not covered and needs its own visa.
• At the time of writing (November 2026), Kenya’s eTA website does not explain how the joint visa and the eTA work together. Ask before you travel.

What is the East Africa Tourist Visa?

The East Africa Tourist Visa is a joint visa that lets a visitor travel between Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda for tourism on one document. The three governments introduced it in 2014 so that travellers on multi-country trips would not need a separate visa at each border.

It is for tourism only. Both Rwanda’s and Uganda’s immigration authorities state that it cannot be used for employment. Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other neighbours are outside the scheme.

How much does it cost and how long is it valid?

It costs USD 100 and is valid for 90 days, according to both official sources that publish it. Rwanda’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration describes it as multiple entry “if staying within the three countries”. Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control gives the same fee and period.

Limits to know about

• No extension: Uganda states the visa is not extendable within the country.
• Leaving the block: Uganda states it is not renewable on expiry or on exit from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Plan on needing a new visa if you leave for another country, Tanzania included, and then come back.
• Non-refundable: Uganda lists the fee as non-refundable, and bank or card charges may be added.

Fees and conditions can change. Check both official pages shortly before you apply.

Where do you apply, and which country must you enter first?

You apply to the country you will enter first, and you must enter that country first. Uganda’s wording is that the issuing country “should be your first entry point”. Rwanda says the same of visas obtained before travel.

Starting in Rwanda

Rwanda accepts applications online through its Irembo portal, at its diplomatic missions, or on arrival.

Starting in Uganda

Uganda takes applications online through its immigration portal. Its published requirements are:

• a copy of the passport bio-data page, with at least six months’ validity
• a recent passport-size photograph
• a return ticket and travel itinerary
• a yellow fever vaccination certificate

The same Ugandan site carries a separate notice that the yellow fever certificate is no longer mandatory for entry. The two statements conflict, so carry your certificate if you have one and check the latest health requirements.

Starting in Kenya

This is where the position is least clear. See the next section.

How does the East Africa Tourist Visa work with Kenya’s eTA?

We could not find a clear official answer. Kenya replaced its visas with an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) in January 2024, and the official eTA website says all travellers must submit their information before departure unless exempt.

At the time of writing (November 2026), the public pages of that website that we could read do not mention the East Africa Tourist Visa. The exemption lists published by the Kenyan government in 2025 do not name holders of the joint visa either. Rwanda and Uganda, for their part, continue to state that their visa covers Kenya.

That leaves two open questions:

1. Does a traveller who holds a joint visa issued by Rwanda or Uganda still need a Kenyan eTA to enter Kenya?
2. Can a traveller who starts in Kenya still obtain the joint visa from Kenya?

Travel forums and blogs give confident answers to both, and they do not all agree. We would not rely on them. Put the question in writing to the Kenyan eTA support team or your nearest Kenyan embassy, and check with your airline, which decides whether to board you. Keep the reply with your travel documents.

If your trip starts in Kenya and you cannot get a firm answer, the cautious route is a Kenyan eTA plus separate visas for Uganda and Rwanda. Our Kenya eTA requirements guide covers the Kenyan application.

Is one Kenya Uganda Rwanda visa cheaper than separate visas?

Not always. A single Kenya Uganda Rwanda visa saves money mainly for travellers who would otherwise pay for a visa in every country. For some nationalities, separate documents cost about the same or less.

• Uganda: the immigration directorate lists its single-entry tourist visa at USD 50, applied for online.
• Rwanda: immigration states that nationals of all countries can get a visa on arrival, and that the fee is waived for a 30-day visit for citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie member states. Other nationalities pay a fee.
• Kenya: the eTA carries its own fee, shown on the official website during application. Kenya widened its exemptions for many African nationalities in 2025, so check the current list.

So a Commonwealth citizen visiting only Uganda and Rwanda may spend less on a single Ugandan visa than on the joint one. A traveller who pays in all three countries, or who needs to re-enter one of them, is more likely to benefit. Citizens of East African Community states do not need the visa at all.

Is it a good East Africa visa for safari and gorilla trekking trips?

It can be, particularly for routes that cross the Rwanda and Uganda border more than once. As an East Africa visa for safari travel it fits itineraries such as flying into Kigali, trekking in Volcanoes National Park, crossing to Bwindi in Uganda and returning to Kigali to fly home.

Two points are often misunderstood:

• It is not a gorilla trekking visa. No such document exists. The visa lets you enter the country; gorilla and chimpanzee permits are bought separately from the wildlife authorities. Our comparison of gorilla trekking in Rwanda vs Uganda explains the permits.
• It does not cover Tanzania. A Serengeti or Ngorongoro extension needs a Tanzanian visa.

For route ideas, see our Uganda safaris, Rwanda tours and the 8-day Rwanda and Uganda great apes safari.

How Ramja Safaris can help

Ramja Safaris plans single-country and cross-border trips in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, and we can help you match a route to the published entry rules. We cannot issue visas or guarantee an immigration decision, so we always ask travellers to confirm with the official sources above. Request a quote and tell us your nationality and intended route.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the East Africa Tourist Visa?

Rwanda’s and Uganda’s immigration authorities both list it at USD 100. The fee is non-refundable, and bank or card charges may be added. Confirm the current fee on the official website of the country you will enter first before you apply.

Which countries does the East Africa Tourist Visa cover?

It covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only. Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan are not part of the scheme, so a trip that includes any of them needs separate entry documents.

Can I get the East Africa Tourist Visa on arrival?

Rwanda states that it can be obtained online, at its diplomatic missions or on arrival. Uganda directs applicants to its online visa portal. If your first entry is to Uganda, apply online in advance. For Kenya, check with the Kenyan authorities.

Do I need a Kenya eTA if I have an East Africa Tourist Visa?

The official position is unclear at the time of writing. Kenya’s eTA website does not mention the joint visa on the pages we could read, and the published exemption lists do not name its holders. Ask the Kenyan eTA support team or a Kenyan embassy in writing, and check with your airline.

Can I visit Tanzania and come back on the same visa?

Do not plan on it. Uganda’s immigration directorate states that the visa is not renewable on exit from the block of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. If your route leaves the three countries and returns, expect to need a new visa or entry authorisation.