Do I need a Visa to travel to Uganda? Most travellers from different countries wonder if they need a Visa to enter Uganda, before we go into answering the question, what is a Visa?
A Visa is a conditional authorization granted by a territory to a foreigner, allowing them to enter, remain within, or to leave that territory. Visas typically 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. Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter a territory and thus are, in most countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an unknown to enter and remain in the country.
In each instance, a visa is subject to entry permission by an immigration official at the time of actual entry, and can be revoked at any time. Visa evidence most commonly takes the form of a sticker endorsed in the applicant’s passport or other travel document but may also exist electronically.
The answer to this question above is YES, travellers need a Uganda Visa to enter Uganda. However, there are some countries that are exempted from entry with Visa. These nations include; includes Angola, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Burundi, Comoros, Cyprus, Eritrea, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Italy (Diplomatic Passport holders only), Jamaica, Ireland, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Vanuatu, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. If you are not from any of the above countries, you are highly required to travel to Uganda with a Visa.
The Ministry of Internal affairs under the Uganda Immigration body is responsible for issuing the Uganda Visas to travellers. The Uganda Visa is permission to enter Uganda. All persons intending to come to Uganda for holiday, tourism, business, study, visit, medical are required to apply and obtain a Visa. The Uganda Visa is only obtained online in advance before arrival.
A Uganda Visa is valid up to 90 days. Persons holding a Uganda Visa are not allowed to take up work in Uganda. Engage in any pursuit in Uganda other than the purpose specially in his or her visitors’ pass. This is in reference to the Regulation6(3)(4) of the Uganda citizenship and immigration control Regulations 2004.
There are 5 types of Uganda Visa required depending on your purpose of visit Uganda. These include;
Uganda Ordinary/Tourist Visa – this Visa is the most commonly obtained, issued to visitors for the purpose of tourism, business visit, family visit, study visit, Medical visit or any other reason that does not involve. This Visa costs 50 US dollars
East African Tourist Visa – this Visa type was introduced by the 3 partner states of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya with a common view to enhance cooperation and promotion of tourism in the 3 partner countries as s single tourist destination. This Visa costs USD 100.
Note that;
- First country of entry must be the issuing country.
- This Visa allows travellers to enter and exit at will while in the 3 countries with multiple entries. It’s only validity of 90 days and it’s not renewable.
- Exist from the 3 countries makes the Visa invalid.
Diplomatic and official passport Holders – this Visa type is issued for single entry to holders of Diplomatic or official passports on official duty. This Visa type is free of charge.
Transit Visa – This Visa is issued to travellers passing through Uganda and destined for another country. This Visa is valid for only 7 days. Its’s only a single entry visa and not extendable. This Visa costs USD 50
Multiple Entry Visa – this Visa type is issued to travellers with multiple entry within the period of validity. It’s mainly issued to travellers who frequently travel to Uganda however are not allowed to work. Multiple entry for 6 months’ costs USD 100, Multiple entry for 12 months’ costs USD 100 and multiple entry for 24 months’ costs USD 150 thus Do I need a Visa to travel to Uganda?
While applying for a Uganda, there are mandatory documents required for your Visa application to be a success. These include as follows;
To apply for a Uganda Ordinary/Tourist Visa, you need;
- Letter stating reason for transit and country of destination
- Cover letter detailing the purpose of visit
- Support Document for the purpose of visit (Medical)
- Immigration Status of the Host
- Invitation Letter
- Invitation letter for the Conference
- Recent Passport-size Photograph
- Passport copy (bio-data page)
- Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
For the East African Tourist Visa, you need;
- Travel itinerary
- Return Ticket
- Vaccination Certificate (Yellow fever)
- Copy of recent Passport size Photograph
- Copy of the passport (Bio-data page)
For Diplomatic and official passport Holders, you need;
Diplomatic – Diplomatic passport (Bio-data page & Cover Page) with at least 6 months’ validity, Diplomatic Note (Note Verbal), Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever), and Recent Passport size Photo graph
Official – Support documents for official visa, Recent Passport Size Photo graph, Passport (Bio-data page & Cover Page) with at least 6 months’ validity, and Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
For a Transit Visa, you need;
- Passport (Bio-data page) with at least 6 months’ validity
- A letter stating reason for transit and country of destination
- Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
- Recent Passport size Photograph
For a Multiple Entry Visa, you need;
For 6 Months – Passport (Bio-data page) with at least 6 months’ validity, Recent Passport size Photograph, Valid Police clearance from Interpol or home country, Proof entries and exits into Uganda in the last one year, Recommendation letter from referee one (1) in Uganda, Cover Letter stating reasons for Multiple Entry, and Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
For 12 Months – Recent Passport size Photograph (not older than 6 months), Police clearance from Interpol or home country, Vaccination certificate (Yellow Fever), Recommendation letters from referee Two (2) in Uganda, The passport (Bio-data page), Cover Letter stating reasons for Multiple Entry, Proof entries and exits into Uganda in the last one year, and Recommendation letters from referee one (1) in Uganda
24 Months – The passport (Bio-data page), Recent Passport size Photograph (Not older than 6 months), Police clearance from Interpol or home country, Proof entries and exits into Uganda in the last one year, Recommendation letters from referee one (1) in Uganda, Cover Letter stating reasons for Multiple Entry Recommendation letters from referee Two (2) in Uganda, and Vaccination certificate (Yellow Fever) thus Do I need a Visa to travel to Uganda?
How to get the Uganda Visa?
After confirmation that you will travel to Uganda with your confirmed booked flight. Next step is to apply and pay for a Uganda Visa. Note that Uganda Visa applications on arrival are no longer accepted so you must apply for your Visa at least 2 weeks before your flight to Uganda.
All travellers wishing to enter Uganda must apply and obtain their Visa online via the immigration Uganda website portal (www.visas.immigration.go.ug) Find in all the required information and the end of the application, you will be required to make payment for your Visa.
Once the application is submitted it will be studied by an Immigration Officer. Please note that during the approval process additional information may be required. The new required information can be submitted electronically through “Manage your applications”. The decision taken on the application will be sent electronically through the email provided by the applicant. If approved, an approval letter will be sent as an attachment to the email provided.
Note; This travel authorization does not guarantee entry into Uganda. Travelers will be subjected to secondary verification where necessary before personalization.
