East African VISA

Initially, the East African VISA (EA VISA) was not something that existed. However, the introduction of the EA tourist VISA is the one major factor that has made traveling so easy within the East African countries like; Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda among others. The EA visa allows you to freely move between borders of the East African country which are under the agreement of the East African community. However, the movements have to start from the country in which your visa is obtained, and that is when the expiry duration starts to count down.

This East African free movement document was an idea that sprung up as a result of a joint initiative that was made by the presidents of the East African Community member states. The initiative was intending to the main aim of boosting regional tourism, as well as creating a range of opportunities for the travelers to explore ant adventurous array of Mother Nature’s diversity with in East Africa, such as the national parks, cultures and the other attractions with in the region.

The EA tourist visa offers single entry permission to the foreign nonresidents who are simultaneously visiting the East African Community member countries, such as Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda. However, the visa for EA tourist grants free multiple entries in the three countries of Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, but, if you go outside the countries of the East African community the EA tourist visa expires automatically.

Who is eligible for an EA tourist VISA?

Majorly the EA tourist visa is made for the foreigner who is willing to simultaneously visit the republic of Uganda, the republic of Kenya and the republic of Kenya, for the main aim of travel being tourism purposes. You can get the EA tourist visa from the different embassies of the member countries of the East African country. You can also apply for your visa online or even acquire your EA tourist VISA from any of the immigration offices of the member states of the East African community.

How to apply for the EA tourist visa

You can apply for the EA tourist visa from the country you wish to start your adventure or safari from. You can contact the local embassy of the East African country in your country and ask for the wholesome information on how to acquire your EA tourist visa; this should be done a few days or weeks before you start your journey to magical Africa. Alternatively, you can purchase your East African tourist visa upon arrival at the international airport of the East African country: which is your starting point.

Alternatively, you can check on the different websites of the East African Community member countries, if at all you want to book an online EA tourist visa. However, you should know that the different destinations within the East African community might possess different requirements and application procedures stipulated online; this is why you have to check on the website of the country you are intending to visit first.

If Uganda is your first country of the East African safari, you can easily find the information about the EA VISA by contacting the embassy of Uganda with in your country, this should be done before you start traveling. It is easy to purchase your EA tourist visa by purchasing it directly on arrival at Entebbe international airport. However, at Entebbe international airport, it is good you know your itinerary because it might be asked of you; this is done for confirmation before the visa is handed to you.

If Kenya is your East African safari starting point, you can find the application forms on the website of the consular section of your local Kenyan embassy. Otherwise, you can visit eCitizen, which is Kenya’s department of immigration online services portal where you can apply for your online EA visa. You can as well call in order to get clear information before you start traveling to Kenya: you can reach Kenya’s migration customer care on +254707657945 and +2540202222022, calling the immigration customer care center might save you from frustrations and inconveniences.

If Rwanda is the starting point for your safari in East Africa, you can apply online for the EA tourist visa from Rwanda by selecting the type of visa on the immigration portal of Rwanda, then after you can select East African tourist visa and follow the procedure, thereafter. You can as well call the embassy of Rwanda in your country for clarification. To note, you can apply for your EA visa via Rwanda because they have the simplest application procedure with user-friendly guidelines.

Requirements For the VISA

The requirements for the EA tourist visa are not any different or unique from other visa requirements of other countries.

A clear passport size photo is always one typical requirement for the EA visa. The photos must be colored with a clear black and white background. You should take these passport photos without glasses, caps, and scurf, this helps to bring out a clear face appearance.
Complete filled forms; after checking online and downloading the forms for the application of the EA tourist visa, don not forget them when you go to pick your EA tourist visa.
You should also remember to carry your visa letter back to the authority that issues the East African tourist visa with in your local counties embassy of any of the East African countries to which the visa pertains.

To note; there is an exemption of the visa fee for the different category of travellers. For example, the expatriates and the foreign residents staying within any of the member states of the East African community, are all exempted from having a visa to travel with in the East African countries. However, the expatriates and the foreign residents with in the East African community are required of a valid resident or work permit for at least one year.

However, the citizens of the EA community are allowed to travel with in the East African community using the national identification cards. However, this visa exemption on the citizens of the East African community only allows the citizens a time of about six months in the other countries other than the one of their origin. On the other hand, the students who are citizens of the East African community can use their students’ identification cards to travel with in the region: any of the countries of the East African community.

If you are going to travel as a family or with other dependents, you should take note that all the persons must apply for the EA visa using their own right. You and your company can use any other authorized travel document with not less than 6 months of validity. However, the EA tourist visa is only valid for a period of 90 days from the date it is issued to you.

East African Visa fee

Unlike for the single entry visas to other countries, the EA tourist visa allowed you multiple entries with in the member countries of the East African community at a charge of just USD100. To get your EA tourist visa, you have to pay a fee of USD100, however, you can choose to pay this fee using any other currency to its equivalent.

You should keep in mind that the EA tourist visa does not allow you to engage in any activity which leads to remuneration or profit: work. The EA visa is only allowing you to engage in tourism activities only.

The EA visa cannot be extended, unlike other visa permits. Therefore, you should make every day count within the time frame of your EA tourist visa. It is always good to start with the big safaris like mountain gorilla trekking in bwindi impenetrable national park and volcanoes national park, then you can sum up with the other safaris like cultural encounters, as this will save you from missing your favorite destinations in East Africa.