Visa Requirements for Tourists in Uganda.
Visa Requirements for Tourists in Uganda.

Visa Requirements for Tourists in Uganda.

A guide on how to apply, renew or replace any immigration facility.

Uganda Tourist Visa – Single Entry

Visa Requirements for Tourists in Uganda. A visa is an official government Document provided by the government to travelers coming to Uganda for tourism, medical treatment, family visit, and any other reason. Tourists are offered a single-entry visa and can be granted up to 3 months.

The tourist Visa allows the holder to visit for holidays, sightseeing or even to spend time with friends and family who may be Ugandan citizens or permanent residents. This visa is strictly for tourism and other non-economic social engagements, so you are not allowed to seek employment in Uganda with it. It is available online and applicants don’t have to visit the Ugandan embassy or consulate in their country to apply for one. To apply, one simply needs to fill out the online application form on the Uganda immigration website and attach their passport, a recent photograph, a yellow fever vaccination certificate, and a host of other documents as directed by the website.

Once it is approved the electronic visa will be mailed to their email and they must print out the e-visa confirmation and travel with it to Uganda as evidence.

The Uganda Government has introduced an electronic pre-approval system to ease the Tourist Visa application process. All travelers must complete an online application before arrival in Uganda. Once the application has been approved, travelers will have the visa issued and printed at the Immigration Office Headquarters at the point of entry.

Tourist Visa Validity

The Ugandan tourist visa is valid for 90 days which is three months starting from the day it is issued. This means that you must use it as soon as you get it since it is only a single-entry travel document and is not renewable. If it expires you must apply for a new one and pay a fresh application fee to make the trip again.

Who Needs This Uganda Tourist Visa?

This visa is required for foreign nationals from non-visa-exempt countries who wish to visit as tourists.

Tourist Visa Processing Time

This Uganda online visa processing time is 3 days after submitting the online application and required documents. However, in special circumstances, it may take a while longer. Hence it is advisable to apply at least 5-7 days before the day you intend to travel. Applicants should also consider submitting their applications within three months of their trip, so the visa does not expire early.

 Uganda Visa-Free Countries:

Not all visitors require visas to enter Uganda unless they wish to stay for more than the approved 90 days. If you are from any of the following countries, you don’t need a visa for a short-term visit to the country.

Angola, South Sudan, Ireland, Eritrea, Botswana, Swaziland, Madagascar, Malawi,  Malaysia, Seychelles, Tanzania,  Comoros, Zimbabwe,  Rwanda,  Kenya, Mauritius, Ghana, Zambia, Grenada, Barbados, Antigua,  Sierra Leone, Fiji,  Lesotho,  Solomon Islands & The Grenadines,  Burundi, Vanuatu,  Bahamas, Cyprus, United Nations laissez-passer,  Malta, Belize, Jamaica, Gambia, St Vincent Tonga, and Singapore

Diplomatic and Service passport holders from Italy, Namibia, India, and South Africa do not need visas for 3 months visits.

Requirements when applying for the Uganda Tourist Visa.

  • Passport copy (bio-data page) with at least 6 months validity
  • Tour Plan or Travel itinerary/booking
  • Recent Passport-size Photograph
  • Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
  • Hotel booking or reservation (if any other accommodation, provide an address)

Tourist Visa Application Steps.

A guide on how to apply, renew or replace any immigration facility.

  • Step 1: Log into the Immigration Portal and select Start a New application
  • Step 2: Accept the terms and conditions displayed in the Disclaimer.
  • Step 3: Select the visa or permit type, category, and sub-category
  • Step 4: Complete the application form
  • Step 5: Upload the required documents; a six-digit application ID eg. (234790123) is automatically generated as the reference number
  • Step 6: Make payment for applications that require prepayment.
  • Step 7: Upon approval, for applications that don’t require top-up payment, an approval letter will be generated and emailed to the applicant on the home page
  • Step 8: Upon approval, make a top-up payment for applications that require a top-up payment. After payment, an approval letter is generated and emailed to the client
  • Step 9: Report to the immigration office/ border for biometric capture with all documents uploaded, payment receipts, approval letter, and passport

Visa Policy of Uganda

Uganda’s visa policy is regulated by Chapter 66 of the Citizenship and Immigration Control Act, Part VI of Immigration Control. This law guides the citizenship and immigration regulations of the country. Chapter 66 regulates the entry and residency of foreign nationals in Uganda who visit the country briefly or settle temporarily or permanently. The law establishes the identity and rights of Ugandan citizens and residents who are allowed to freely enter and exit the country.

Furthermore, the law states that while residents enjoy the same entry and exit rights as citizens do, others who are not from visa-free countries must apply for an entry permit (which is called an entry visa for tourists). A tourist visa is the only legal document that allows a foreign national to enter Uganda as a tourist.

For countries with established reciprocity agreements with Uganda, their citizens can enjoy visa-free entry but can only stay for a limited time (for not more than 30-90 days in most cases).

Chapter 66 also clearly spells out what is allowed and prohibited for tourists in the country. For instance, the law prohibits tourists from working or schooling in Uganda on a tourist visa. It also empowers the immigration officers at the airport and border crossings to inspect visitors and to turn back persons who do not have valid travel documents or have suspicious reasons for visiting. Visitors who have been issued visas but cannot justify their intentions or are found to have obtained the visa under a false pretext can be denied entry in line with Uganda’s visa laws.

The law also empowers the immigration authorities to sanction tourists who flout the law during their time in the country. With predetermined sanctions listed for erring visitors.

Visa Requirements for Tourists in Uganda. Contact us with any inquiries about acquiring a visa to take a safari  through Uganda 

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