Planning a trip that crosses Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda usually means three separate visa applications and three separate fees. The East Africa Tourist Visa replaces all of that with one $100 application that works across all three countries. Touring Insights breaks down what it actually covers, who qualifies, and where the scheme stops short. It does not include Tanzania or Burundi.
What the East Africa Tourist Visa Actually Covers
The East Africa Tourist Visa is a joint scheme run by Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. It operates under their Northern Corridor Integration Projects agreement. One application, one $100 fee, and one approval cover all three countries. You can enter and re-enter as many times as you like within the visa’s validity window. The scheme suits trips that mix a Masai Mara safari with mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. It also suits a Nile source visit in Uganda’s Jinja.
Think of it as a single-entry-style approval into the shared zone but a multiple-entry pass once you are inside it. You can fly into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, drive overland into Uganda, and fly to Kigali for gorilla trekking. Then cross back into Kenya, all on the same visa. This works as long as you stay within the three-country zone and the validity period.
Who Can Apply and Who Should Skip It
Most non-resident travelers eligible for a standard tourist visa in Kenya, Uganda, or Rwanda qualify. They can apply for the joint visa instead. It suits travelers building a genuine multi-country itinerary. A safari and gorilla-trekking combination trip is the most common route readers plan when they hit this decision.
This is the wrong choice for single-country trips. If you are visiting only Kenya, a standard Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization costs less and is faster to process. Unsure whether you need one? See our Kenya eTA exemption rules for 2026 guide. Travelers heading only to Rwanda for gorilla permits, without a Kenya or Uganda leg, have another option worth checking first. Rwanda already waives visas for many African Union nationals and offers visa-free entry to a growing list of countries.
Cost, Validity, and Multiple-Entry Rules
The headline number is simple, but the details around it catch travelers out. Here is what actually applies once you are approved.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | USD 100, single joint fee for all three countries |
| Countries covered | Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda |
| Validity | 90 days from date of entry into the first of the three countries |
| Entries allowed | Multiple entries within the three-country zone during validity |
| Countries NOT covered | Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, DR Congo |
| Typical processing time | A few business days online; apply 2-3 weeks before departure |
| Where to apply | Online through the immigration portal of the country you enter first |
The 90-day window starts the day you physically enter the first of the three countries. It does not start the day your application is approved. Book your first flight or border crossing with that in mind, since an early approval does not extend the clock.
How to Apply: Portals and Documents for Each Country
You apply online through the official immigration portal of whichever of the three countries you plan to enter first. There is no shared central site. Kenya’s applications run through the national eTA and eVisa system. Uganda’s run through its Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control portal, and Rwanda’s run through Irembo, its government services platform. Applying through the wrong country’s portal for your actual entry point is a common rejection reason agents report.
Standard documents apply across all three. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, plus a passport-style photo. A return or onward flight itinerary and proof of accommodation for the first few nights round out the list. Some applications also ask for a yellow fever vaccination certificate. All three countries sit in a yellow fever risk zone under World Health Organization guidance. Carry a printed copy of your approval alongside your passport. Immigration officers at land borders do not always have reliable system access to look it up on the spot.
Where You Can Enter and Exit
The joint visa works at any official port of entry in the three countries, whether by air or by land. That flexibility is part of the appeal for travelers doing an overland safari-to-gorilla-trekking route rather than flying between capitals.
| Entry Point | Country | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi) | Kenya | Air |
| Entebbe International Airport | Uganda | Air |
| Kigali International Airport | Rwanda | Air |
| Busia border crossing | Kenya-Uganda | Land |
| Malaba border crossing | Kenya-Uganda | Land |
| Katuna/Gatuna border crossing | Uganda-Rwanda | Land |
Overland crossings at Busia, Malaba, and Katuna carry the same visa validity as flying. Border posts there can be slower and less predictable than airport immigration. Build extra time into a driving itinerary, particularly around a public holiday on either side of the border.
East Africa Tourist Visa vs Country-by-Country Visas
Whether the joint visa saves money depends on how many of the three countries you are visiting. It also depends on what your nationality’s individual visa fees look like.
| Scenario | Joint Visa | Separate Visas |
|---|---|---|
| Kenya + Uganda + Rwanda trip | USD 100 total | Often USD 150-200 combined, varies by nationality |
| Kenya only | Not worth it; use Kenya eTA instead | Kenya eTA typically cheaper and faster |
| Uganda + Rwanda only (no Kenya) | Still valid, USD 100 covers both | Two separate visa fees, often close to USD 100 combined |
| Add Tanzania to the route | Joint visa does not cover Tanzania | Separate Tanzania visa required regardless |
For a genuine three-country trip, the joint visa is close to always the cheaper and simpler option. When planning a two-country Uganda-Rwanda gorilla trip, run the math on current fees before assuming the joint visa wins. Pricing changes and country-specific promotions do appear from time to time.
What the Visa Does Not Cover
The East Africa Tourist Visa only covers Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Tanzania is not part of the scheme despite sharing an East African Community membership with the other three. A Serengeti or Zanzibar add-on needs its own Tanzania visa, applied for separately. Burundi, South Sudan, and DR Congo are also outside the scheme entirely.
The joint visa also does not replace country-specific permits. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda still requires a separate gorilla permit booked through each country’s wildlife authority. That permit process runs independently of visa status. A traveler pairing a Kenya safari with Rwanda gorilla trekking has extra planning to do. See our Kenya vs Rwanda safari guide for that route. Budget and book the gorilla permit months ahead, since permits sell out well before visa applications become relevant.
Explorer Notes
Apply for the joint visa through the portal of whichever country your international flight actually lands in first. That can be different from the country where your trip’s main activity happens. A traveler flying into Nairobi for gorilla trekking in Rwanda still applies through Kenya’s system, not Rwanda’s. Keep a digital and a printed copy of your approval letter. Overland border posts at Busia and Malaba see enough traffic that officers appreciate not having to search a shared database. If your itinerary is genuinely uncertain about entry order, apply through the country you are most confident about first. Amending an approved application after the fact is rarely straightforward. Double-check your passport’s expiry date against the full length of your trip plus six months well before you apply. An expiring passport is a more common rejection reason than anything about the visa itself.
What to Read Next
- Only visiting Kenya on this trip? Compare your options in our Kenya eTA exemption countries 2026 guide.
- Weighing a gorilla-trekking add-on against more migration time? Read our Kenya vs Rwanda safari guide.
- Curious how visa policy is shaping travel patterns this year? See our piece on Kenya’s visa-free tourism boom.
FAQ
Does the East Africa Tourist Visa cover Tanzania? No. It covers only Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. A Tanzania leg, including Zanzibar or the Serengeti, needs a separate Tanzania visa.
How long is the East Africa Tourist Visa valid? 90 days from the date you first enter one of the three participating countries. Multiple entries are allowed across all three during that window.
Can I apply for the joint visa after I arrive in East Africa? No. Apply online before you travel, through the immigration portal of whichever of the three countries you will enter first.
Does the visa include gorilla trekking permits? No. Gorilla permits in Rwanda or Uganda are booked separately through each country’s wildlife authority. They are not part of the visa fee or application.
Is the East Africa Tourist Visa cheaper than applying for each country separately? Usually, if you are genuinely visiting all three countries. For a single-country trip, a country-specific visa or eTA is typically faster and can be cheaper.
A multi-country East Africa trip involves more moving pieces than the visa alone, from gorilla permits to internal flight timing. Visit Touring Insights’ Tour Packages page to see how a Kenya-Uganda-Rwanda route can be structured around the visa’s 90-day window.
Further reading
More safari planning resources
- Kenya safari packages from SafariPure
- Kenya tour packages from Valley Safaris
- Kenya eTA and eVisa guide on Touring Insights
- Compare Kenya safari packages on FindMySafari
Related guides: Kenya vs Uganda Safari: Which East African Destination Is Right for You.
