Travelling to East Africa

• Kenya
• Tanzania & Zanzibar
• Uganda
• Rwanda
• Travel between the East African Countries

Kenya

Update from 4th January 2024

1. All persons, entering Kenya, except Kenyan and East African Citizens, need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This includes infants and children. The ETA must be obtained online using https://etakenya.go.ke/ before start of travel.
2. Travellers can submit their applications up to 3 months prior to the travel date. Upon approval, an ETA receipt containing a reference number will be sent to the email address used during the application. The standard processing time is three working days.
3. Requirements for the ETA application:
   • Passport with at least 6 months validity and one blank page (you will upload or take a photo of it in the process)
   • Scan of a passport type photo or webcam to take a selfie
   • Arrival and departure details (airlines, flight numbers and you need to upload your flight ticket)
   • Accommodation booking confirmation(s) (you also need to upload those)
   • Credit card, debit card, Apple pay or other means of payment
4. No proof of covid vaccination or negative PCR test needed.
5. Yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from a yellow fever endemic country, see here.

Tanzania incl. Zanzibar

Update from 15th July 2023

1. Travellers, unless exempted (see here) need to obtain a visa online or on arrival. We recommend applying for your visa online. It takes around 10 working days using https://visa.immigration.go.tz/ Present the printed eVisa to the immigration officer at the port of entry. If you opt for your visa on arrival you have to pay the visa fee of 50 USD for an ordinary visa or 100 USD for a multi-entry visa per person in cash. Children (under the age of 18) who have their own passports need their own visas. Minors who are included on their parent’s or guardian’s passport can be included on their parent’s/guardian’s visa.
2. Travellers need a passport with at least 6 months validity.
3. No proof of covid vaccination or negative PCR test needed.
4. Yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from a yellow fever endemic country, see here.

Uganda

Update from 15th July 2023

1. Travellers, unless exempted (see here) need to obtain a visa online. It takes around 3 working days using https://www.visas.immigration.go.ug/#/apply It is not mandatory but recommended that you print the approval letter that you will receive. The immigration officer at the port of entry will use the barcode in the approval letter for accessing your application, printing your visa and pasting it to your passport. Children (under the age of 18) who have their own passports need their own visas. Minors who are included on their parent’s or guardian’s passport can be included on their parent’s/guardian’s visa.
2. Travellers need a passport with at least 6 months validity.
3. No proof of covid vaccination or negative PCR test needed.
4. Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory.
5. It may be difficult to access money. Traveller’s cheques, credit cards and debit cards aren’t widely accepted.
   

Rwanda

Update from 15th July 2023

1. Travellers, unless exempted (see here,citizens of several countries are eligable for free visas on arrival or don’t need a visa) need to obtain a visa online or on arrival. It takes around 7 working days using https://irembo.gov.rw/home/citizen/all_services (choose visa application). Present the printed eVisa to the immigration officer at the port of entry. Children below 16 years don’t need their own eVisa.
2. Travellers need a passport with at least 6 months validity.
3. A negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before visiting primates (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys etc) in Volcanoes, Nyungwe, and Gishwati-Mukura National Parks is mandatory for all travellers incl. children above 5 years. Covid-19 testing facilities are available for all travellers whose final travel destination necessitates having one.
4. Yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from a yellow fever endemic country, see here.
5. It may be difficult to access money. Traveller’s cheques, credit cards and debit cards aren’t widely accepted.

Travel between the East African Countries

The East African Tourist Visa allows for multiple entries to each Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda – but NOT Tanzania. It is valid for 90 days and cannot be extended. You must obtain this visa from the country that is the first entry point – if this country doesn’t issue a visa on arrival you need to obtain it online.
For travel to Tanzania you need to apply for a separate visa.