Visas and entry requirements
One detail saves most travellers on this trip a second application: the Kenyan eTA stays valid when you come back through Nairobi from Uganda or Rwanda.
Kenya
Kenya abolished traditional visas in January 2024 and replaced them with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA).
- Apply at the official portal, etakenya.go.ke. It is the only official channel — a number of lookalike sites charge a markup for the same thing.
- The fee is USD 30, non-refundable, and applies to every traveller including infants.
- Apply at least three days before travel. You can apply up to 90 days ahead, and the authorisation is valid for 90 days from issue.
- East African Community citizens are exempt.
In August 2026 Kenya removed the eTA requirement for citizens of nearly all African countries, permitting two-month stays, with EAC nationals able to stay up to six months. This is recent, so we confirm the position for your nationality with your quotation.
The detail that matters for this trip
The Kenyan eTA remains valid for re-entry after a temporary visit to another East African Community country. So Nairobi, then Uganda or Rwanda, then back through Nairobi for your outbound flight needs only one Kenyan application.
Uganda
Uganda operates an e-visa system, applied for online before travel. Yellow fever vaccination certificates are required and are checked.
Rwanda
Rwanda also operates an e-visa system, with arrangements that vary by nationality.
The East Africa Tourist Visa
A single multiple-entry visa covering Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, priced at USD 100. For a trip taking in two or three of those countries it is usually the most economical route, and it removes the need to hold separate authorisations.
It is applied for through the first country you enter, and that country must be one of the three. Whether it beats separate applications depends on your exact routing, and Kenya's recent eTA changes affect the calculation. We work it out for your itinerary rather than leaving you to.
Health requirements
Yellow fever certificates are required in the region and are checked at borders. Other recommendations depend on your routing and medical history and should come from a travel clinic rather than a tour operator.
One trekking-specific rule: anyone showing symptoms of a respiratory infection may be refused permission to trek gorillas, because the animals are highly susceptible to human illness.
What we do
We confirm the current requirements for your specific nationality and routing in writing with your quotation. Entry rules in the region have changed several times recently — we would rather tell you what applies to your trip than publish a table here that goes stale.
Applications are yours to submit. We will tell you what to apply for, when, and through which official portal.
Common questions
Do I need a visa for Kenya?
Kenya replaced visas with an Electronic Travel Authorisation in January 2024. It costs USD 30, is applied for at etakenya.go.ke, and should be obtained at least three days before travel.
Do I need a second Kenyan eTA if I visit Uganda in the middle of my trip?
No. The Kenyan eTA remains valid for re-entry after a temporary visit to another East African Community country.
What is the East Africa Tourist Visa?
A single multiple-entry visa costing USD 100 that covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. It is applied for through the first of those countries you enter.
This page needs expansion before launch
The East Africa Tourist Visa's current status should be re-verified given Kenya's 2026 eTA changes. A proposed mandatory travel health insurance requirement for Kenya was suspended by the High Court and remains unresolved — monitor and add here only if it comes into force.
Plan your Kenya and gorilla safari
Tell us roughly when you want to travel and how long you have. We will send a written itinerary and a quotation.