East Africa Tourist Visa: Who Needs It and How to Apply (2026)

Last checked October 2026. Visa rules change often, so always confirm on the official government site before you apply.

If you are planning a safari that crosses borders, the East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) can save you time and money. But it does not cover everywhere, and applying in the wrong order is the most common mistake I see. Here is how it works in plain English.

What is the East Africa Tourist Visa?

The East Africa Tourist Visa is a single visa for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. It costs USD 100, is valid for 90 days and lets you move between those three countries as many times as you like while it is valid. It cannot be renewed or extended, and it ends if you leave the three countries.

It does not include Tanzania. Tanzania has its own visa (see below).

Who needs it?

• Anyone visiting more than one of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda on the same trip, for example Uganda or Rwanda gorilla trekking combined with a Kenya safari.
• You do not need it if you are only visiting one country. A single-country visa or the Kenya eTA will usually be cheaper.
• Citizens of some countries are exempt or have different rules, so check your own passport on the official sites.

Which country do I apply through, and which do I enter first?

Apply through the online immigration system of the country you will enter first, and enter that country first. The visa is issued by that country, and the other two accept it.

• Entering Kenya first: apply on the official Kenya eVisa site and choose the East Africa Tourist Visa as your visa type.
• Entering Uganda first: apply on the official Uganda eVisa portal. Uganda also explains the East Africa Tourist Visa on its immigration page.
• Entering Rwanda first: apply on Irembo, the official Rwanda visa application page. Choose “Visa application”, then under Visa Type select V11 East Africa Visa.
• Important: leaving the three countries (for example flying out to Tanzania or home) ends the multiple entry. Re-entering after leaving the zone usually needs a new visa.

Do I need a yellow fever certificate?

Yellow fever is the one vaccination certificate that can be checked at the border in East Africa. Whether you need to show it depends on where you are arriving from, not just where you are going.

• Kenya: required if you arrive from, or have had a layover of 12 hours or more in, a yellow fever country.
• Tanzania: the same rule. Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are on the list of yellow fever countries, so if your safari goes from Kenya (or Uganda or Rwanda) into Tanzania, you should expect to be asked for your certificate. Flying in direct from the US or UK does not trigger it.
• Uganda: historically required for every traveller and checked at Entebbe and land borders. Uganda’s immigration page now says the certificate is no longer mandatory for entry, but I still recommend carrying it in case an officer asks.
• Rwanda: required if you arrive from a yellow fever country.

Good to know

• It is a single dose, given at least 10 days before you travel, and the certificate is valid for life.
• Carry the original yellow card. Photocopies and phone photos are often not accepted.
• If you cannot show it when asked, you can be refused entry or vaccinated at the border (in Tanzania this costs USD 50 and you may be kept under observation).
• Children under 1 and people over 60 are exempt in Tanzania, and a doctor can give a medical exemption letter for pregnancy, a weakened immune system or a severe egg allergy. Acceptance is up to the border officer.
• Vaccination is also strongly recommended for Kenya itself, so speak to your travel clinic. This is general information, not medical advice.

Do I also need the Kenya eTA?

If you hold the East Africa Tourist Visa you do not need a separate Kenya eTA. If you are only going to Kenya, the eTA (from around USD 30) is the right choice. My full guide is here: No visa for Kenya, how to apply for an eTA.

Going to Tanzania too?

Tanzania is separate. A Tanzania eVisa is USD 50 single entry (US citizens are asked for the USD 100 multiple-entry visa). See How to apply for a visa to Tanzania.

Kenya and Tanzania on one trip: can I go in and out?

This is the question I get most. The official Kenya eTA guidance says the eTA remains valid for more than one entry if you only visit other East African Community partner states (including Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda), you do not visit any other country, and the eTA has not expired (90 days). Some older embassy notes say a single-entry visa can be reused when crossing from Tanzania or Uganda within its validity. Sources do not always agree, and airlines and border officers can apply rules differently. I recommend asking your safari provider to confirm before you fly, and keeping your plans simple if in doubt.

Step by step

• Decide which countries you are visiting and in what order.
• Choose your entry country and apply on its official e-visa site only (never a third-party agent).
• Upload your passport page, photo and flight and accommodation details.
• Pay the fee and keep the confirmation.
• Print the approval and carry it with your passport.
• Apply at least 2 to 3 weeks before travel.

Need help planning?

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Your African Safari Expert