Uganda Tourist Visa
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Traveling to Uganda
An abundance of rare wildlife and an incredible natural landscape are just two reasons many tourists visit Uganda each year. It is one of the only countries where wild mountain gorillas can still be found! While the tourism sector in Uganda is in its adolescence, it is run by a warm, hospitable population who are eager to welcome new visitors. Plus, tourists will be able to see all Uganda has to offer, without the crowds!
Who Needs an Uganda Visa?
Foreign nationals from the following countries are required to apply for and obtain a tourist visa to enter Uganda:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestinian Territories, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Uganda Tourist Visa Validity
The Uganda Ordinary/Tourist visa is a single-entry visa that allows travelers to come to Uganda for short-term tourism, medical treatment, visiting family/friends, studies, and business purposes.
The visa can be granted for up to three (3) months. Successful applicants for the tourist visa will receive a Travel Authorization/Visa Approval Letter that allows them to enter Uganda lawfully.
Uganda Tourist Visa Requirements
All individuals applying for an Uganda Ordinary visa for tourism purposes will be required to submit the necessary materials and documents.
The following documents are mandatory for all tourist visa applicants:
A valid passport
The applicant should have a copy of the bio data page of their passport. The bio/data page contains all the main identification information and the document number. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Personal photo
Applicants must submit a copy of a recent passport-sized photo with a white background.
Complete application form
The tourist visa application can be found on the official immigration portal. Application forms must be completed entirely and accurately.
Tourism activities plan
The tour plan should include where the applicant plans to travel in Uganda and the activities they intend to participate in.
Travel itinerary/booking
Flight tickets or other bookings must be from an official source such as a travel agency or airline.
Vaccination certificate
Applicants must have a recent, valid yellow fever vaccination certificate.
Proof of accommodation
Hotel bookings, reservations, or any other proof of accommodation must have an official address in Uganda.
Uganda Visa Application Steps
Applying for a Ugandan tourist visa is very straightforward and can be done entirely online through the official immigration portal.
Applicants can follow a few basic steps to complete their tourist visa application:
- Create a new visa application
Applicants can log on to the Immigration Portal and start their new tourist visa application.
- Select the application type, category, and sub-category
The application type is “Visa”, the category is “Ordinary” and the sub-category is “single-entry” for the Uganda tourist visa.
- Complete the visa application form
Application forms must be completed accurately with all required details.
- Upload the required documents
Once the required documents, including the passport copy, passport-sized photocopy, vaccine certification, and more, are uploaded the applicant will receive a six-digit application ID. This will serve as their reference number for their unique application.
- Submit the application for processing
Visa applications can be submitted online for processing. Ugandan immigration officials will typically take 2-3 working days to process ordinary/tourist visas.
- Pay the visa fees
Applicants must have a valid MasterCard or Visa card to pay the visa application fees.
Uganda Tourist Visa Fees
The Ordinary/Tourist visa (for tourism purposes) will cost 50 USD. Visa fees are non-refundable and must be paid using a valid MasterCard or Visa.
Where to Apply
All Uganda visa applications, including for tourism purposes, can be applied for online at the official Immigration Portal. Applicants must ensure they select the correct visa type category (Ordinary visa) and the “single-entry” sub-category.
Uganda Tourist Visa Processing Time
Uganda tourist visas typically take 2-3 days to process. Additional information may be required during processing. The status of the application can be tracked on the Immigration Portal using the six-digit reference number. Applicants are advised to submit their application at least ten days before their intended date of arrival in Uganda.
Approved Visa Applications
If the Uganda tourist visa is approved, and no top-up payment is required, the applicant will receive an email with their Travel Authorization/Visa Approval Letter. They must download and print this document and bring it with them when they travel.
If a top-up payment is required, the payment be made first before the applicant can receive their Travel Authorization/Visa Approval Letter by email. Once the payment is confirmed, they will receive their visa document.
Uganda Visa Extension
The Uganda tourist visa can be extended for an additional 60 days in two different instances. Extensions can be done online or in person at the Immigration Headquarters and the Regional Immigration offices.
Uganda Tourist Visa FAQ
An Uganda Ordinary/Tourist visa is a single-entry travel permit valid for up to three (3) months. It can be issued for short-term purposes including tourism, business, studies, family visits, and medical treatment.
An Uganda Ordinary visa for tourism purposes will cost 50 USD for a single entry.
All Uganda visas can be applied for and obtained online through the official Immigration Portal. Applicants must complete the visa application and upload all the required documents as stipulated in the visa application guidelines.
Yes, all travelers coming to Uganda as tourists, or otherwise, must obtain a yellow fever vaccination. The vaccination certificate should be uploaded to the application portal with the other required application materials.
