The East Africa Tourist Visa: one stamp, three countries, $100

The East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) is one of the best-value visa products in the region — $100 USD, 90 days, multiple entries, and valid across Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya on a single stamp. But it has rules about where you apply, who qualifies, and which order you visit the countries in. This guide unpacks all of it, with itinerary suggestions that get the most out of the spend.

What is the East Africa Tourist Visa?

Launched in 2014 by the East African Community, the EATV is a single multiple-entry visa that grants access to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya for tourism for up to 90 days. It is issued by whichever of the three countries you apply through and is recognised by the immigration services of the other two. Tanzania and Burundi, although EAC members, are not part of the EATV — you need separate entries for those. Outline — full prose to follow in Pass 3A.

Who qualifies and who does not

The EATV is available to most nationalities that would otherwise need a tourist visa for any of the three countries — including most European, American, Asian, and Middle Eastern passport holders. EAC nationals do not need it (they have free movement). Some African nationalities (Burundi, Tanzania, South Sudan, plus most COMESA members) also have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the EAC and do not need the EATV. Check your specific passport against the issuing country's eVisa portal before applying. Outline — full prose to follow in Pass 3A.

Where to apply and how

You apply through the eVisa portal of whichever country you will enter first. Rwanda's portal is irembo.gov.rw. Uganda's is visas.immigration.go.ug. Kenya's is etakenya.go.ke. The country you apply through is the one that issues the visa and the one you must enter first — you cannot apply through Rwanda then fly into Nairobi as your first port of entry. Documents required are minimal: scanned passport bio page, recent photo, return ticket, accommodation confirmation. Outline — full prose to follow in Pass 3A.

The best EATV itineraries

Two-week classic: fly into Kigali, 3 days in Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, drive to Lake Kivu, fly Kigali-Entebbe, drive to Bwindi for a second gorilla trek, transit through Queen Elizabeth NP, drive into Kenya at the Busia border, train to Nairobi, fly out. Three-week deep dive: add Akagera (Rwanda) and Murchison Falls (Uganda) on the front end, and the Masai Mara on the back end. Adventure budget version: skip the second gorilla trek and use the saved $800 for Masai Mara extras. Outline — full prose to follow in Pass 3A.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Applying through the wrong country (you must enter through the issuer first), forgetting that Tanzania is not covered (Serengeti needs its own visa), letting the 90 days expire mid-trip with no exit (the EATV's 90 days are inclusive of the full multi-country journey, not 90 per country), and assuming the EATV covers business activities (it is strictly tourism — business visits require a different visa). Outline — full prose to follow in Pass 3A.

Next steps

If you are ready to act on any of the above, here is the fastest way:

• EATV via Rwanda — Apply through Rwanda's Irembo portal — we walk you through it.
• Browse East Africa journeys — Multi-country itineraries built around the EATV.