A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a country to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain within, or to leave that country. Uganda e-Visas may include limits on the duration of the foreigner’s stay, areas within the country they may enter, the dates they may enter, the number of permitted visits or an individual’s right to work in the country in question.

The Uganda e-Visa is an electronic visa that grants the holder entry into the country. The e-Visa system was introduced on July 1, 2016 and has been used together with the visa on arrival arrangement.

The electronic pre-approval system is a simple online application that must be completed by all travelers prior to arrival in Uganda. And recently, due to the pandemic and other travel and facility constraints, the government of Uganda is moving on to phase out the visa on arrival arrangement for all travelers. This means unlike before, Visas will no longer be issued on arrival at the airport in Uganda.

The majority of travelers are eligible to apply for a Ugandan e-Visa, since it is available to all nationalities that cannot visit the country visa-free. Once the e-Visa application steps have been fully taken and approved, travelers will have the visa digitally issued via e mail and printed at the Immigration Office Headquarters at the point of entry.

The Ugandan e-Visa is a requirement to enter Uganda for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting relatives, studying, or medical treatment.

Types of e-visas

However, there are several types of e-Visa for Uganda.

The ordinary online Uganda tourist visa permits the traveler to enter the country a single time. It is valid for a period of 3 months starting from the moment it is issued.

There are also multiple-entry Uganda e-Visas available. Applicants can select validities of 6, 12, or 24 months.

The Uganda transit e-Visa is a requirement for travelers passing through the country on the way to another destination for a period not exceeding 72 hours. Those connecting flights directly without leaving the airport don’t need to apply for Transit visas.

The East Africa Tourist Visa is a multiple entry visa and shall be valid for 90 days. The holder of East African Tourist Visa shall also have the privilege of traveling to any of the three countries (Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda) and return without having to pay for another visa.

Eligible travelers must complete the simple online Uganda visa application form, in which they must enter some basic personal data, passport details, and travel information. The streamlined online Uganda e-Visa system facilitates the application process and eliminates the need to go to an embassy to obtain a Uganda visa. This saves time too and can easily be done in the comfort of any space.

Uganda e-visa; What you need to apply

While applying for the Ugandan e-visa, you must possess the following:

1. Valid passport.
2. Active email address to receive the approved e-Visa
3. Credit or debit card to pay the application fee

Copies of the following documents must be attached to support your application: 

1. Copy of the passport bio-data page. A clear scan of the information page of your valid, signed passport.
2. Recent passport-size photograph. Include a passport style photo, with a white background, taken within the last 6 months. You may also choose to upload a photo to your order to print. There is a surcharge associated with this service though.
3. Vaccination certificate for yellow fever.

Additionally, you are advised to have your Daily Travel Plan with destinations to be visited at specified times together with a reservation of the flight itinerary under the traveler’s name as these could be useful at any time during your visit. This must show flights entering and exiting Uganda.

Individuals applying for multiple-entry e-Visas must submit several additional items, such as:

• A cover letter stating reasons for multiple entries.
• Valid police clearance from home country or Interpol.
• Letter of recommendation from a referee in Uganda.
• Proof of entries and exits from the country within the past year.

Applicants for Uganda transit visas must submit a letter stating their final destination and the reason why they must transit through Uganda.

Once approved, it is a requirement to print confirmation of the e-Visa and present it at the Ugandan border along with the passport used in the application. Once checked and approved by a border control officer, the visitor will be able to enter the country.

Please note that it is mandatory that all documents and items listed above are to be presented at the airport in Uganda.

Visa on Arrival

Though the Uganda eVisa was introduced to eventually phase out the visa on arrival arrangement, this visa type is still available at Ugandan border checkpoints for the mean time. There are roughly 10 nationalities who are required to obtain a visa on arrival, as they are not currently eligible to apply for a Ugandan eVisa. These are:

Benin, Chad, Congo, Haiti, Indonesia, Palestinian Territory, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and, Principe, Senegal and South Sudan.

Ugandan immigration laws state that visa on arrival required citizens must go directly to a border checkpoint upon arrival in the country and wait to be handed an application by an immigration officer.

At the point, a traveler will complete a form and pay the Uganda visa on arrival fee before the travel document can be issued. It may also be necessary to supply supporting documentation, such as a yellow fever vaccination certificate, depending on the applicant’s country of origin.

No matter the nationality of the applicant, it is necessary to hold a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry to Uganda for a visa on arrival to be issued.

However, visa on arrival nationalities who are also eligible for the eVisa are advised to apply for the latter instead, because applying online saves time as it by passes the need to stand in border lines awaiting comfirmation.

Here is a list of countries whose travelers do not require to obtain a visa (Visa free) to Uganda

Angola, Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Singapore and Tanzania

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