Uganda Visa and Entry Requirements for Safari Travellers

Which visa to apply for

Almost all visitors need a visa, and Uganda no longer issues them on arrival for most nationalities. Applications are made online through the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control's e-visa portal, and approval typically takes a few working days.

• Uganda single-entry tourist visa: the standard choice for a Uganda-only trip, valid 90 days
• East Africa Tourist Visa: multiple entry across Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, valid 90 days
• Transit visa: short validity, for connections rather than safaris
• Citizens of most African Union member states enter visa-free

When the East Africa Tourist Visa is worth it

The East Africa Tourist Visa costs more than a single-entry Uganda visa but covers three countries with multiple entries. It is the right choice for a Uganda–Rwanda gorilla combination, for anyone flying into Kigali and trekking Bwindi's southern sectors, and for a Uganda safari bolted onto a Kenyan beach or Masai Mara extension.

One rule to know: you apply through the country you enter first, and that country issues the visa. If you land in Kigali and drive to Bwindi, you apply via Rwanda.

Documents to have ready

The application asks for a passport-style photo, a scan of the passport bio page, your yellow fever certificate and your travel details. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry, with blank pages available.

Once approved you receive an approval letter by email. Print it. Immigration at Entebbe scans it and issues the visa in your passport at the desk, and there is no reliable public wifi in the arrivals hall to retrieve it from a phone.

Vaccinations and health entry rules

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory and is checked at Entebbe before immigration. The vaccine must have been administered at least ten days before arrival and is valid for life. Travellers arriving without one can face vaccination at the airport at their own cost, or refusal of entry.

No other vaccination is compulsory, but hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and meningitis are commonly recommended, and rabies pre-exposure is worth discussing with a travel clinic for longer trips. Malaria prophylaxis is advised for the entire country including Kampala and Entebbe. Confirm all of this with a travel health professional; requirements change and your medical history matters.

Arriving at Entebbe

Entebbe International Airport (EBB) is Uganda's international gateway and sits about 40km from Kampala, on the shore of Lake Victoria. Immigration takes twenty to forty-five minutes depending on the arrival bank.

Every itinerary we operate includes a private airport pickup where your driver-guide meets you in arrivals with a name board. If you land late, an Entebbe overnight before the drive west is almost always the better call than starting a long transfer on no sleep, and we build that in as standard on evening arrivals.

Frequently asked questions