Uganda Tourist Visa. Step by step online Application process [with screenshots]

A Ugandan Tourist Visa is a requirement before you can be allowed into the country as a visitor.

If you are planning your trip with us, your point of contact has probably already shared this information with you. If you are still pondering your choices about visiting Uganda, we hope this helps you reach a conclusive decision.

Whatever stage of deciding you are on, we hope this article is helpful for you.

Now that you have finally decided to visit Africa, more specifically the pearl of Africa — Uganda. This is going to be your best trip yet; with so much to discover, lots of first moments, and the moving connections with nature.

Here is what to expect from this process.

Uganda launched e-Visa in 2016. The e-Visa is a system that allows you to apply for a Ugandan Visa online — before entering the country. This was to help make the process of entering the country as smooth as possible.

You are required to pay a fee online and the visa is forwarded through email after filling out their application forms and the electronic payment is approved, or confirmation of approval is displayed on the website after the process is done.

Here are a few things you need to know before you get started applying for a Ugandan tourist visa;

• The tourist visa is only valid for one Single entry and you can stay for as long as 45 days.
• Your passport should be valid for a period of 6 months after entry in the country. (Date of entry + 6 months)
• You should not have any other running Ugandan visa. You cannot be on a tourist visa and concurrently on a work visa or student visa.
• You cannot change this tourist visa into a work visa once you are inside the country. Application for the work visa will be an entirely different process with different requirements.
• Please remember to pack the passport that you used to register for e-Visa. This is for ensuring the uniformity of all your documents.
• The visa is valid for 90 days after arrival, this must be well within the time frame you intend to tour the country.
• You must be out of Uganda to apply for this specific Visa. Pretty obvious, right?
• It is a requirement to print the e-Visa and present it before given authority at the point of entry.

Uganda Tourist Visa Requirements

• Visa payment fee. Tourist visa fee is a non-refundable fee. Single-entry $50 per person.
• Yellow fever vaccine certification and if not, you can get the fever shot once you arrive.
• 6 months valid passport with enough blank pages and copies of the biodata print out.
• Two of your most recent passport-sized photos. Passport-sized photos must clearly show your face in a manner that can be used for identification.

How to Apply for Uganda e-Visa

Applying for a tourist visa is a simple process that you should be able to complete within 10 minutes. We recommend you do it yourself, to ensure no mistakes but you can also have someone fill it out for you. The information presented must be true and correct to avoid any legal action due to impersonation.

You can visit the official visa application webpage (in a new tab) and follow the following steps.

1. Choosing the Visa type

You are already aware of the reason you travelling to Uganda. But we are mostly interested in the tourist visa. the process is as easy as clicking a button. Step one is to determine what kind of visa or entry permit you want.

There are three categories of visas in Uganda that are available for you to choose from. Single-entry is valid for a period of 3 months and mostly for the first time and one-time visitors. Multiple-entry which is given for six months at $100 or 12 months at $150. East African Community (EAC) Visas which allows you to visit Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda at $100. More is explained about the East African visa below.

You can choose your permit type as visa (or any other if your reasons are different). You will then be required to choose between an Ordinary/Tourist Visa and an East African Visa.

After making your choice, you will be shown the cost as well as which requirements are needed for each visa type. Make sure those indicated documents are properly checked and scanned. You can now proceed to the next step of providing your personal information.

2. Your Personal Info

This section of the application is where you provide your personal information. Here, you provide your names, address, contact information, how long you plan to stay, your passport information, and any such details. This information is used to ensure that you are legally allowed to enter into Uganda under rightful means.

You will have to fill a form that looks like the screenshot below. All the information must be truthful and correct.

3. Attaching relevant documents

Remember the required documents you were shown in step 1? Yes, the ones we said you should check and scan. Now is when you upload them to accompany your application.

For persons under 18 years of age, a written letter from the biological or legal parents must be included. This letter gives them the authority to travel on their own.

4. Submitting Your Application

After completing the whole process, all you have to do is submit your application. The response is usually within 72 hours. You can check the website to confirm that your application has been approved.

And that is all you have to do.

East African Community (EAC) Visa.

The East African Community Visa can be applied for following the same steps as above. The good thing about the EAC Visa is that it allows you to move through the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda using a single visa.

The East African Visa costs 100 USD and can be obtained from any of the countries. To apply for the EAC visa, you must include extra requirements such as your travel itinerary and return ticket. By following the above steps, you will very easily go through the application process.

When everything is approved, you should print out your e-visa to present with you passport at the airport when you arrive. Your Print out should look like the picture below.

Visa on Arrival.

While the online application is great for helping you plan in advance and settle your plans, you can still get your Visa on arrival at Entebbe International Airport or any other entry points into Uganda. If you cannot process the visa before you start your travel, do not panic.

Just put aside the required Visa payment fees and yours will be processed when you reach here. Your physical visa will look something like the picture below.

Visa Extension.

It is easy to get a visa extension in Uganda. All you have to do is visit the closest internal affairs /immigration office and submit your documents and current visa. A Ugandan Tourist visa extension is free of charge, and you don’t need to pay any money for it. You will need the following items.

• A copy of your passport & tourist visa.
• A copy of your departure flight.
• A cover letter describing the reason for the visa extension.
• A Visa extension application.
• A Letter of your host.
• A Citizen ID of your host

Here is a great piece we found on lonelyPlanet.com that explains the whole process of extending your visa very well.

Uganda Visa Exempt Countries

Before you apply for your Visa to Uganda, we advise you first check whether you need a visa to come to Uganda. Some nationalities can travel to Uganda without any requirement for a visa.

Uganda Visa Exempt countries — Wikipedia Photo

Citizens of the following countries can visit Uganda for up to 90 days, without the need for a visa.

Countries with visa exception to Uganda.

Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Burundi, Comoros, Cyprus, Eritrea, Eswatini, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Rwanda, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, The Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe

All the other countries may get their visa through the online portal or on arrival.

Conclusion

Was this article able to answer all your questions?

If you still want to know more about Uganda tourist visas, reach out to us and we shall answer your specific questions. Use the contact us page on this website to send us an email of your query.

This article was originally published for our website Uganda Safari Experts under this link, https://www.ugandasafariexperts.com/blog/uganda-tourist-visa. Future updates and minor changes will appear there first.