Sorting out your visa and entry documents is one of the least exciting parts of planning a gorilla trip, but getting it wrong can cost you a flight or a permit date. This guide covers what most travellers need to enter Uganda, how the application works, and how it changes if your trip also crosses into Rwanda.
Requirements vary by nationality and can change, so treat this as a starting point and confirm the current rules for your passport before you travel.
Do you need a visa?
Most nationalities need a visa to enter Uganda. A small number of countries have visa-exemption or visa-on-arrival arrangements, but the great majority of visitors, including from Europe, North America, Australia and much of Asia, need to arrange a visa before they fly. Check the current requirement for your passport on the official Uganda e-visa portal or with your nearest Ugandan diplomatic mission, since the list of exempt countries is reviewed periodically.
The Uganda e-visa
Uganda's visa system is entirely online. You apply through the official Electronic Visa/Permit Application System, upload a passport photo and a scan of your passport's biodata page, pay the fee by card, and receive an approval letter by email once processed. There is no physical visa sticker; you travel with the printed or digital approval letter and it is checked against your passport on arrival.
Processing typically takes a few working days, though it can occasionally take longer, so we recommend applying at least two to three weeks before you travel and avoiding the very last minute. Apply only through the official government portal. Third-party websites that charge extra fees for the same service are best avoided.
The East Africa Tourist Visa
If your trip includes Kenya or Rwanda as well as Uganda, the East Africa Tourist Visa is worth considering. It is a single visa valid for entry into all three countries within a 90-day period, and it can work out more convenient and often cheaper than arranging separate visas, provided your first port of entry is one of the three member countries and you apply through that country's system. It cannot be added after a single-country visa has already been issued, so decide before you apply which route suits your itinerary.
Passport requirements
Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates and have at least one, ideally two, completely blank pages for entry stamps. Check this well before you travel, since a passport close to expiry is one of the most common reasons for problems at the border, and renewing it takes time.
Yellow fever vaccination certificate
Uganda requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for entry, in the form of an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, commonly called a yellow card. This is checked on arrival, and travellers without one can be refused entry or, in some cases, vaccinated on the spot at the airport, which is best avoided by arranging it properly at home. The vaccination should be given at least ten days before you travel to be considered valid, so plan this well ahead, ideally at the same time as booking your trip. Consult a travel health clinic for current guidance, since malaria prevention and other recommended vaccinations are also worth discussing at the same appointment.
Entry points
- Entebbe International Airport. The main entry point for international flights, on the shore of Lake Victoria about 40 minutes from Kampala.
- Kisoro and Kihihi airstrips. Used for domestic flights connecting to the gorilla trekking sectors, not for international arrivals.
- Land borders. Katuna and Cyanika are the main crossings used by travellers combining Uganda with Rwanda, both in the south-west near the gorilla parks. Busia and Malaba serve travellers arriving from Kenya.
If your gorilla trek is in Bwindi or Mgahinga and you are flying into Kigali, you will cross a Uganda-Rwanda land border as part of the trip. See our itineraries from Kigali for how this works in practice.
If your trip includes Rwanda
Rwanda has its own separate visa system, though many nationalities can obtain a Rwandan visa on arrival or qualify for visa-free entry, one of the more open policies in the region. If your itinerary crosses between the two countries, as several of ours do, confirm the entry requirements for Rwanda separately from Uganda's, since holding a Uganda visa does not grant entry to Rwanda unless you have specifically applied for the East Africa Tourist Visa.
Applying for the e-visa step by step
- Gather your documents. A passport-style photo, a scanned copy of your passport's biodata page, and your travel dates and accommodation details.
- Complete the online form. Enter your personal details, travel plans and the address of your first night's accommodation exactly as booked.
- Pay the fee. Payment is made online by card at the time of application.
- Wait for approval. You will receive an email, usually within a few working days, either approving the application or asking for more information.
- Print or save the approval letter. Carry both a printed copy and a saved digital copy, since border staff may ask to see either.
Keep a note of your application reference number until the visa is approved, in case you need to follow up on a delayed application.
Common problems that delay entry
- A passport nearing expiry. Less than six months' validity is one of the most common reasons for being refused boarding by an airline before you even reach Uganda.
- No blank pages. A full passport can cause the same problem, even with months of validity left.
- Mismatched names. If your visa application, passport and gorilla permit do not all show your name identically, expect questions at the border. Tell us immediately if you notice a discrepancy.
- Missing yellow fever documentation. Carrying only a general vaccination record instead of the specific International Certificate can cause delays or refusal.
- Applying too early or too late. An e-visa approved many months before travel can occasionally cause confusion over its validity window at the border, while applying in the final days before departure risks the approval not arriving in time.
Currency and what to declare
Uganda's currency is the Ugandan shilling, and US dollars are widely accepted for larger payments such as hotel bills and permits, though small notes in shillings are more practical for tips, porters and markets. There is no need to declare reasonable amounts of currency for personal travel, but very large sums should be declared on arrival, as in most countries. Dollar notes printed before 2006 are sometimes refused or offered a lower rate by exchange bureaus, so bring newer notes if you are carrying cash.
What to carry at the border
- Your passport, valid for at least six months with blank pages.
- A printed or saved copy of your e-visa approval letter.
- Your yellow fever vaccination certificate.
- Your gorilla or chimpanzee permit confirmation, since land border officials occasionally ask about the purpose of travel.
- Contact details for your lodge or our team, in case of questions about your itinerary.
Practical timing
Because permits are booked months ahead but visas are usually valid for only a defined window from the date of entry, apply for your e-visa closer to your travel dates rather than as soon as you book your trip. A good rule of thumb is two to four weeks before departure, which leaves margin for processing without risking the visa's validity window closing before you travel.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us your nationality and route and we will point you to the right visa process for your trip.
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