Rwanda routes East Africa Tourist Visa applications through Irembo for $100

Headline: Rwanda routes East African Tourist Visa applications through Irembo for $100

How the regional tourist visa works

The East Africa Tourist Visa is a 90-day, multiple-entry permit covering Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda for a flat $100, per the Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration. Travelers must apply through the country serving as their first point of entry and the visa lapses the moment a holder leaves the three-country bloc.

Rwanda processes applications through the Irembo online portal, with limited issuance through Rwandan diplomatic missions and, in some cases, on arrival. The visa is strictly for tourism. It doesn't authorize employment in any of the three countries and can't be renewed or extended once it expires.

Who the EATV fits

The permit suits short-term tourists planning a multi-country itinerary, such as a Rwanda gorilla trek paired with a Kenyan safari or a Ugandan side trip, without paying for three separate visas.

Nomads and expats already holding work permits or residence cards in one of the three countries can use the EATV for regional tourism, though not to live or work across borders. Business travelers attending tourism activities outside their paid work fall under the same rule. Nationals who normally receive free or visa-free entry to Rwanda still need the EATV to unlock multi-country movement on one document.

Applying through Rwanda

Applicants file via the Irembo portal, select "V11 East Africa Visa" under visa type and upload the required documents:

• Passport with at least six months of validity
• Passport-size photo on a white background
• Travel itinerary covering the Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda legs
• Return or onward ticket
• Accommodation booking or invitation letter
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate, where applicable

Payment runs through Visa or Mastercard on Irembo or offline via Bank of Kigali using a billing ID, in USD or Rwandan francs. Fees are non-refundable.

Processing typically takes 3 to 7 working days, though some applicants report waits up to 14 days. Applying one to two weeks before departure is the safer window. Mail-in applications through Rwandan embassies, including Washington, add transit time but don't shorten the 90-day validity once the visa is issued.

Read our full Rwanda guide for the complete picture and follow our visa updates for regional changes.