What is required to travel to Uganda?

 

UGANDA ENTRY REQUIREMENTS, WHAT IS REQUIRED TO TRAVEL TO UGANDA? UGANDA VISA/EAST AFRICAN TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS.

To guide our Uganda safari travelers, we have put together ALL the major Uganda entry requirements or what is required to travel to Uganda using a Uganda Visa or the East African Tourist Visa for stipulated periods of time and COVID-19 travel Standard Operating Procedures.

1. What do I need to travel to Uganda during this period of COVID-19?

• Entebbe International Airport re-opened on 1 October 2020. Land borders have also re-opened. New Coronavirus travel standard operating procedures (SOPs) are in place for all arriving and departing passengers.

• On arrival at Entebbe International Airport and at land border crossings, visitors will need to provide valid a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test certificate issued no more than 72 hours before boarding the aircraft.
• Airlines have been directed not to permit passengers without an authentic negative COVID-19 test certificate.
• Foreign national passengers who arrive without a valid negative test certificate will be denied entry.
• The certificate must be from an accredited laboratory in their country of Origin.
• SMS and digital certificates will not be accepted, so travelers must carry along an official printed certificate.
• All arriving passengers will be subject to temperature checks and will be screened for infectious diseases by the Port Health Authorities.
• If a traveler shows signs or symptoms of any infectious disease they will be taken by ambulance to a local isolation center to undergo a coronavirus test at their own cost.
• Test results will be returned within 24 to 48 hours; passenger will be expected to remain at the isolation centre until the test results are returned.
• Visitors are required to wear quality N95 masks, surgical masks, or cloth masks with filters at all time while at the airport or any other point of entry to Uganda.

2. Regular entry requirements for Uganda

    
3. Uganda Gorilla safari trekking Permits

• Do I need a passport to travel to Uganda?

Yes, at the time you book your safari tour to Uganda, be certain to obtain a passport or check your current passport and make sure the expiration date is at least 6 months beyond your travel date.

Should your passport be stolen, it will be easier to get a replacement if you have a photocopy or scan of the important pages.

• Uganda Visa: Uganda Visa application

• Do I need a visa to visit Uganda? Uganda like any other sovereign country requires one to have her visa if he/she is to enter into her boundaries except the nationals of the Visa-exempt countries.

• Which countries are visa−free to Uganda? Uganda visa-exempt countries/Uganda visa-free countries include; Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Angola, Eritrea, Malawi, Madagascar, Seychelles, Swaziland, Lesotho Sierra Leone, Gambia, Comoros, Mauritius, Antigua, Barbados, Fiji, Grenada, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Cyprus, Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Malta, Singapore, and St. Vincent-Tonga.

• How do I get a Visa for Uganda? An e-visa can be applied for online through the official Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control website: https://visas.immigration.go.ug/  at least 5 working days before the intended dates of travel, and will usually be approved within 3 working days of application.
• Can I get a visa on arrival in Uganda? However, when the e-visa system was implemented in 2016, a statement was issued to the effect that it would completely replace the Visa on arrival system,  but this has yet to happen.

So as things stand, you can still buy a Uganda visa on arrival at any overland border or Entebbe International Airport, a straightforward procedure that usually takes no more than a few minutes, except maybe when a couple of major airlines arrive within an hour of each other.

• Uganda Visa categories

Uganda has several types of visas where a visitor can choose the one that works for him/her depending on the reason of the visit. Below are the different types of Uganda visa;

• Uganda Single Entry/ Ordinary/Tourist Visa

This is Issued for single entry to persons whose nationalities require a visa to enter Uganda either for business, tourism or medical reasons. It is valid for 90 days.

Note: Don’t overstay your Visa or the date of the immigration stamp in your passport, or you will be liable for a hefty fine. And note that even though you hold a three-months Visa, immigration authorities may only stamp for a period of one month or less.

This can be extended to 90 days at any immigration office in Kampala or upcountry. Irrespective of what they might tell you, there is no charge for this.

In Kampala, you may be asked to provide an official letter from a sponsor or the hotel where you are staying.

Uganda Single Entry Visa requirements.

• Passport copy (bio-data page)
• Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
• Recent Passport-size Photograph

 

Uganda Multiple-Entry Visa.

Multiple-Entry visas to Uganda are applied and paid for online. First-time applicants are only granted a 6 months Multiple-Entry Visa and must have proof of having travelled to Uganda, at least 5 times within a period of one year immediately preceding their application.

First-time applicants should always ensure to apply for a 6 months Multiple-Entry Visa. They will be able to apply for more time upon expiration of the 6 months.

However, applicants who have continually visited Uganda over a period of more than 1 year can apply for a period exceeding 6 months ( that is 12 and 24 months). And they must also have proof of continuous legal travel in and out of the country to that effect.

For any of the applications, whether 6 months or more, one must have proof of continuous travel into the country in the stated period of time if their application to be considered.

Any person who applies for a period beyond which they do not qualify, will if approved, only be granted a visa commensurate to the time they qualify for.

N:B: The 6-month restriction does not apply to Canadian and American citizens due to a reciprocal arrangement.

Uganda Multiple-Entry Visa requirements.

For 6 Months:-

• Passport (Bio-data page) with at least 6 months validity
• Recent Passport size Photograph
• Valid Police clearance from Interpol or home country
• Proof entries and exits into Uganda in the last one year
• Recommendation letter from referee one (1) in Uganda
• Cover Letter stating reasons for Multiple Entry
• Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)

For 1 Year (12 Months):-

• Recent Passport size Photograph (not older than 6 months)
• Police clearance from Interpol or home country
• Vaccination certificate (Yellow Fever)
• Recommendation letters from referee Two (2) in Uganda
• The passport (Bio-data page)
• Cover Letter stating reasons for Multiple Entry
• Proof entries and exits into Uganda in the last one year
• Recommendation letters from referee one (1) in Uganda

24 Months:-

• The passport (Bio-data page)
• Recent Passport size Photograph (Not older than 6 months)
• Police clearance from Interpol or home country
• Proof entries and exits into Uganda in the last one year
• Recommendation letters from referee one (1) in Uganda
• Cover Letter stating reasons for Multiple Entry
• Recommendation letters from referee Two (2) in Uganda
• Vaccination certificate (Yellow Fever)

 

Uganda Transit Visa Requirements:-

A Uganda transit visa is a temporary visa issued to a traveler for a short period of time, for example, if the traveler wants to tour Uganda and visit some attractions without staying there and also connect to other Africa safari destination like Tanzania. It usually expires after 24 hours.

Uganda Transit Visa requirements

• Passport (Bio-data page) with at least 6 months validity
• A letter stating the reason for transit and country of destination
• Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
• Recent Passport size Photograph
• East Africa Tourist Visa

What is the East Africa Tourist Visa? 

The East Africa Travel Visa is a single entry visa for travelers visiting Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya simultaneously. It is valid for 90 days and cannot be extended.

It is multi-entry within the three countries; however, it expires automatically if a traveler goes outside of the three (3) countries.

This visa is a result of a joint initiative made by the Heads of States of the respective partner countries to boost regional tourism and create opportunities for tourists to explore the diversity of East Africa. A tourist who gets the East Africa Tourist Visa must start travel from the country that has issued the Visa.

How to Apply for an East African Tourist Visa?  An application for an East Africa Tourist Visa may be made manually or online. The application may be made prior to the intended date of travel or on arrival at the first point of entry into Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda where applicable.

Applications can also be lodged at any of the diplomatic representation of the Republic of Uganda, the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and, at the Immigration Offices of the respective countries or online where applicable.

Uganda: For those beginning their trip in Uganda, you can find information on the official Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control website: https://visas.immigration.go.ug/ -

Rwanda: For those beginning their trip in Rwanda, the East African Visa is issued upon arrival at the border post, online, at the office of a diplomatic mission of Rwanda in the applicant’s country of residence.

Kenya: For those beginning their trip in Kenya, you can find information on the visa application process on the consular section of your local Kenya embassy’s website

East Africa Tourist Visa requirements.

• Travel itinerary

• Return Ticket

• Vaccination Certificate (Yellow fever)

• Copy of recent Passport size Photograph

• Copy of the passport (Bio-data page)

Uganda Visa Fees: How much is a visa to Uganda?

 

Uganda Visa category	Uganda Visa fees
Uganda Single Entry Visa  (valid for 90 days)	US$  50
East African Tourist Visa (Valid for 90 days)	US$ 100
Uganda Multiple entry visa  (6months)	US$  100
Uganda Multiple entry visa  (12months)	US$ 100
Uganda Multiple entry visa  (24months)	US$ 200
Uganda Transit Visa  (not more than 2 days)	US$ 50

• Is Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate required for Uganda?

The situation with yellow fever shot changes regularly, but as things stand you must produce an international health certificate showing you have has a vaccination for Yellow Fever when you visit Uganda or upload it when you apply for an e-visa.

Note that in 2016, the WHO extended the period of validity for an international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever from ten years to life.

Note: For security purposes, its recommended to detail all your important information in one document, which you can then print out and distribute in your luggage, and/store on a smartphone, and /or email to your webmail address and a reliable contact at home. The sort of things you want to include in are;

• Travel insurance  details
• 24-hour emergency contact number
• Passport number
• Details of relative or friends to be contacted in an emergency
• Bank and credit card details
• Camera and lens serial number, etc