Visa Requirements for East Africa: What You Need Before You Fly
Visa rules for East Africa are more traveller-friendly than many people expect, and one regional pass in particular can save you real money if your trip spans more than one country. Here’s what to arrange before you fly; always double-check against your own passport’s specific requirements, since rules and fees do change.
The East Africa Tourist Visa
Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya participate in a single joint tourist visa that allows multiple entries across all three countries within its validity period. For travellers doing a circuit like the one in our 10-day itinerary guide, this single visa is usually far cheaper and simpler than buying three separate single-country visas. It’s applied for online before departure, tied to the country you enter first.
Uganda
Rwanda
Kenya
Kenya requires an online electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to be applied for in advance for almost all visitors; there is no visa-on-arrival option anymore. Apply well before your flight, as approval isn’t always instant.
Tanzania & Burundi
Tanzania issues visas on arrival to many nationalities alongside an e-visa option, and is not currently part of the joint East Africa visa. Burundi generally requires a visa in advance or on arrival, depending on nationality; check current requirements closer to travel since this is the least standardised of the routes we run.
Other Documents to Have Ready
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, with blank visa pages
- Proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate required for entry into several East African countries, including if you're transiting through a country where it's endemic
- Your accommodation and onward travel details, sometimes requested at immigration
- Travel insurance details, recommended for every trip we arrange
Requirements change with little notice, so we always confirm the current rules for your specific nationality and route when we build your travel plan; don’t rely solely on this guide for your final booking.
Not Sure What You Need?
Tell us your nationality and route and we’ll confirm exactly which visas and documents you need.