Travel guide
Passports & Visas (incl. East African Tourist Visa)
Passport validity, Tanzania e-visas, Kenya's eTA, Uganda e-visas and how the East Africa Tourist Visa works (and why it does not cover Tanzania).
Most visitors need a visa or electronic travel authorisation for Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Apply online before you fly, and only through the official government websites listed here: unofficial sites charge more and some are scams.
Visa rules and fees change. The details below were correct when this guide was last updated; we always confirm the latest rules for your nationality when you book.
Your passport
- Valid for at least six months after the date you leave East Africa.
- At least two blank pages for entry stamps.
- The name on your passport must match your flight tickets and the names you give us for park permits.
Keeping your passport, visas and documents valid is your responsibility. We cannot be held liable for delays or missed services caused by missing or expired documents.
Tanzania
- Apply for an e-visa on the official website, visa.immigration.go.tz, a few weeks before travel.
- A single-entry tourist visa costs US$50 for most nationalities. Citizens of the United States receive a multiple-entry visa, which costs US$100.
- Visas can also be bought on arrival at the international airports (Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar) and the main land borders such as Namanga, Holili, Sirari and Lunga Lunga, but queues can be long.
- Citizens of some countries, including many Commonwealth and East African countries, do not need a visa. Check your nationality on the official website.
- A Tanzania visa also covers Zanzibar.
Kenya
- Most visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), applied for online at etakenya.go.ke before travel.
- Apply at least a week ahead; approval usually takes about three working days.
- Citizens of East African Community countries, including Tanzania and Uganda, do not need an eTA.
Uganda
- Apply for an e-visa on the official website, visas.immigration.go.ug. A single-entry tourist visa costs US$50.
- You will need your yellow fever vaccination certificate, which Uganda checks for all travellers.
The East Africa Tourist Visa
The East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) is one multiple-entry visa for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. It costs US$100 and is valid for 90 days, as long as you stay within those three countries.
- Apply through the immigration website of the country you will enter first.
- Tanzania is not part of the EATV. If your trip includes Tanzania, you need a separate Tanzanian visa.
- Leaving the three-country area (for example, to visit Tanzania) ends the EATV, so plan the order of your trip carefully.
The EATV is ideal for a gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda combined with a Kenya safari. For a Tanzania and Kenya combination, you will usually need a Tanzanian visa and a Kenyan eTA.
Yellow fever certificate
Tanzania asks for a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from, or have spent more than 12 hours in transit through, a country with a risk of yellow fever, which includes Kenya and Uganda. Uganda asks every traveller for one. Carry your certificate with your passport. See our health guide.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Still wondering about something? Our team in Arusha answers every message personally.
Can I get a Tanzania visa on arrival?
Yes, at the main airports and borders, paid in US dollars cash. We still recommend the e-visa, which saves time in the arrival queue.
Does the East Africa Tourist Visa include Tanzania or Zanzibar?
No. It covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only. Tanzania and Zanzibar need a Tanzanian visa.
How long before my trip should I apply?
Apply two to four weeks before you travel, once your flights are booked, and print a copy of every approval to carry with your passport.
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