Uganda visa and entry requirements
Current Uganda tourist visa guidance, online application steps, passport validity, East Africa Tourist Visa and what to verify before travel.
Straightforward guidance for your journey.
Uganda’s immigration requirements depend on nationality and the type of trip. Visa-prone travellers should use the official Uganda electronic immigration system rather than third-party visa websites that charge extra fees or publish outdated rules.
The information below reflects Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control guidance checked in August 2026. Recheck it close to travel because entry rules can change.
Uganda tourist visa
The official immigration service lists the single-entry tourist visa at USD 50. It can be granted for tourism and is available through the online immigration portal.
The tourist visa page lists a passport bio-data page with at least six months validity, a tour plan, travel itinerary or booking, a recent passport photograph and accommodation details among the tourism application requirements.
The approval authorisation is valid for 90 days from approval, so do not apply so early that the authorisation expires before travel.
Apply online
Uganda’s immigration authority directs visa applicants to the electronic application system. Complete the application, upload the required documents, pay through the official process and carry the approval letter when travelling.
Avoid websites that look official but use a different domain and charge “processing” fees.
Visa-exempt travellers
Uganda maintains a list of nationalities that do not require a visa under visa-abolition agreements. The list can change, so we do not reproduce the full list here.
Check your passport nationality against the current official immigration list before assuming you are exempt.
East Africa Tourist Visa
The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda for tourism. Uganda’s immigration authority lists the fee at USD 100 and validity at 90 days. The issuing country should be your first entry point.
This can be useful when your trip combines Uganda gorilla trekking with Rwanda or Kenya.
If you leave the three-country visa block, the visa conditions should be checked before expecting to re-enter on the same document.
Yellow fever documentation
Uganda immigration’s East Africa Tourist Visa requirements include a yellow fever vaccination certificate, and the immigration FAQ also lists it among documents that may be required for visa applications.
Health requirements can change and individual medical suitability is personal. Check current official health guidance and speak with an appropriate travel-health professional before travel.
Passport details must match
Use the same passport details across visa, gorilla permit and flight bookings. If you renew or replace a passport after permits have been purchased, tell the operator early so the documentation can be checked.
Before you travel
Recheck:
- Visa requirement for your nationality
- Passport validity
- Approval letter status
- Yellow fever documentation
- Transit requirements for countries on your flight route
- Entry rules for any Rwanda or Kenya extension
Entry requirements are one of the parts of a safari that should never be copied from an old itinerary without verification.
