Uganda is a small African country located in Eastern Africa. The beautiful country is known for its breathtaking landscapes, flora, and fauna. Uganda is also considered one of Africa’s safest and most affordable tourist places. So foreigners who want to enter and visit the country of Uganda can read this article and be informed about everything that they need to know about Uganda.
Who Needs a Visa for Uganda?
Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter and visit Uganda for up to three months:
- Angola
- Ghana
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Grenada
- Seychelles
- Bahamas
- Hong Kong
- Sierra Leone
- Barbados
- Ireland
- Singapore
- Belize
- Jamaica
- Solomon Islands
- Botswana
- Kenya
- South Sudan
- Burundi
- Lesotho
- Tanzania
- Comoros
- Madagascar
- Tonga
- Cyprus
- Malawi
- Vanuatu
- Eritrea
- Malaysia
- Zambia
- Eswatini
- Malta
- Zimbabwe
- Fiji
- Mauritius
- Gambia
- Rwanda
Other Visa Exemptions
Here are some other nationalities who are exempted from the requirements of an Uganda visa:
- Holders of a diplomatic or service passports issued to the following nations do not need a visa to enter and stay in Uganda for three months:
- India
- Italy
- Namibia
- South Africa
How to Apply for an Uganda Visa?
To apply for an Uganda visa, follow these steps:
- Enter the official page of the Uganda Electronic Visa Application System.
- Select the type of visa you are applying for.
- Fill out the Uganda visa application form.
- Attach other requested documents to support your visa application form.
- Finish the applicable visa fee payment.
- Submit the application form.
- Wait until you receive an email with your application visa result, and print a hard copy of your documents and visa application.
- Submit the top-up payment (if applicable).
- Visit the Immigration Office and submit all the requested documents and biometric data at the border.
Uganda Visa Requirements
To apply for an Uganda visa, you must attach the following document to your visa application form:
- A passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of your return to your home country.
- A fully completed visa application form. Do not leave blank spaces, and do not fill out the application form with false information.
- A passport-sized photograph taken within the last six months.
- A tour plan explaining everything you plan to do while in Uganda.
- A vaccination certificate (Yellow Fever Card).
- An accommodation proof such as hotel reservation or rental agreement.
- A letter of invitation from a friend or family living in Uganda.
Note: Other additional documents may be required to support your visa application. That depends on the type of visa you are applying for.
Keep in mind that the applicant must translate all the required documents into English.
Duration of an Uganda Visa
The duration of an Uganda visa depends on the type of visa you apply for; for example:
- A single entry visa is valid for three months.
- A multiple entry visa is valid for six months.
Processing Time for an Uganda Visa
The processing time for an Uganda visa is two to three days. The processing time can be extended if there is any unexpected problem or if there is any missing document.
Uganda Visa Fees
The Uganda visa fee is USD 50. However, it can depend on factors such as:
- Your age.
- The type of visa you are applying for.
- The country you are applying from.
Uganda Visa Types
Here are the Uganda visa types:
- Tourist visa.
- Business visa.
- Study visa.
- Family reunion visa.
Tourist Visa
A tourist visa is issued to foreigners who want to visit the country for tourism purposes. The tourist visa has a duration of three months.
Business Visa
A business visa is issued to foreigners who want to visit Uganda for work and business purposes. To apply for a business visa, the applicant must submit these documents:
- A letter of invitation from the company that has invited the applicant. The letter must state the purpose of the visit to the country.
- A Immigration status of the applicant’s host.
Study Visa
A study visa is issued to international students who want to study in Uganda. Applicants who want to apply for a study visa must submit the following documents:
- A letter of acceptance from a University in Uganda.
- A admission letter issued by the applicant’s school.
- A letter of invitation.
Family Reunion Visa
A family visa is issued to foreigners who want to visit Uganda for a family visit or reunion purposes. To apply for a family visa, the applicant must submit the following documents:
- A letter of invitation.
- A document of the status of the host in Uganda.
- An accommodation proof document.
Residence Permit for Uganda
There are three options on how to obtain an Uganda residence permit:
- Long-stay option.
- Marriage option.
- Former Uganda citizen option.
Long-Stay Option
Applicants who want to apply for an Uganda residence permit by a long-stay option must fulfill these criteria:
- Live in Uganda for a minimum of ten years.
- Have a clean criminal record.
- Be a good person.
- Contribute to the Uganda country and community.
The duration of a long-stay option residence permit is five to ten years.
Marriage Option
The marriage option applies to applicants who fulfill the following criteria:
- Be legally married to a Ugandan citizen for at least three years.
- Stay legally in the country.
The duration of a marriage option residence permit is five to ten years.
Former Uganda Citizen Option
A former Uganda citizen option applies to Ugandans citizens who have citizenship in other countries.
The former Uganda citizen residence permit allows its holder to work and live in Uganda for five to ten years.
How to Apply for an Uganda Residence Permit?
To apply for an Uganda residence permit, follow these steps:
- Apply for a tourist visa and enter the country of Uganda.
- Fill out the application form.
- Attach other relevant documents to support your application.
- Submit the application and other supporting documents in person to the Immigration Office in Uganda.
- Wait until you receive a response from the Immigration Office. You will receive the response through email.
Note: If the Immigration Office requires any other additional information, the application can attach the requested documents online through the official page of the Immigration Office.
Why Should You Visit Uganda?
Here are a few interesting facts about the beautiful country of Uganda:
- More than 30 different indigenous languages are spoken around Uganda.
- The best pineapples are made in Uganda.
- The people in Uganda are considered the nicest people. They are friendly, helpful, and very respectful.
- Uganda is considered one of the safest countries in Africa.
- The country is home to different species of birds, chimpanzees, and butterflies.
- Weddings are very important for the citizens of Uganda. They spend a big amount of money on weddings.
- The country exports different things such as gold, coffee, fish, tea, tobacco, cotton, corn, beans, vanilla, etc.
- Uganda is considered one of the best English-speaking countries in Africa.
- Uganda is differently called the ‘Perl of Africa.’
- The country has a low number of tourists, so the prices are very affordable.