Uganda e-Visa for Indians in 2026: Single-Entry e-Visa and the East Africa Tourist Visa
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer covers African and emerging-market visas for Indian travellers — visa-on-arrival quirks, e-visa portals, KAZA and regional combos, yellow-fever rules, and the safari logistics that trip up first-time visitors to the continent.) · Published · Last updated · 12 min read
Uganda requires an e-visa applied for online before travel, and a yellow-fever certificate is mandatory. If you're also doing Kenya and Rwanda, the USD 100 East Africa Tourist Visa is the smart combo — here's how the order of entry decides where you apply.
Quick answer
Indian passport holders must apply online for a Uganda e-visa before travelling — it's mandatory and applied for at the official portal visas.immigration.go.ug. The single-entry tourist e-visa costs USD 50 (plus about a 3% online surcharge, ~₹4,400 total), is typically valid for a stay of up to 90 days, and processing usually takes a few working days. A yellow-fever vaccination certificate is compulsory for entry and is checked at Entebbe. If your trip also includes Kenya and/or Rwanda, consider the East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) at USD 100 — a 90-day multiple-entry visa across all three. Always confirm the current fees on the official portal before applying, as they change.
Uganda's e-visa system in 2026 — and the yellow-fever rule
Uganda is the gorilla-trekking and Nile-source headline of East Africa, and for Indians the entry process is fully online. There is no informal walk-up: all visitors travelling for tourism, business, study, visiting or medical reasons must apply and obtain a visa online at visas.immigration.go.ug before boarding. (Uganda technically issues the visa at the port of entry against your online approval, but the application and payment happen online beforehand.)
The non-negotiable Uganda-specific requirement is the yellow-fever certificate. Uganda is a yellow-fever risk country, and an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (the "yellow card") is mandatory for all travellers, including Indians. It must be issued by an approved centre, dated at least 10 days before arrival, and is routinely checked at Entebbe International Airport (EBB). Arriving without it can mean on-the-spot vaccination, quarantine of up to six days, or denial of entry. In India, get vaccinated at a government-approved yellow-fever centre (available in most major cities) well ahead of travel. You'll also upload the yellow card as part of the e-visa application.
See our structured country page at /visas/uganda for a quick reference, and check the live position on the official portal before you fly.
Fees and validity (date-stamped, June 2026)
| Visa | Fee | Validity / stay |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda single-entry tourist e-visa | USD 50 (+~3% surcharge) ≈ ₹4,400 | Single entry; typically up to 90 days |
| East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) | USD 100 (~₹8,400) | 90 days, multiple entry across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda |
| Transit visa | USD 50 | Short transit |
Online payments on visas.immigration.go.ug carry a ~3% surcharge, so the single-entry visa lands around ₹4,400 all-in as of June 2026. Pay by international card. Fees and surcharges change — verify on the official portal before applying.
Quick maths on the combo: if you're only visiting Uganda, the USD 50 single-entry is cheaper. But if you're doing a classic Kenya + Uganda + Rwanda loop, three separate single-entry visas (roughly USD 50 each) would cost about USD 150, so the USD 100 EATV is both cheaper and more flexible (it's multiple-entry within the bloc).
The East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) — and why the order of entry matters
The East Africa Tourist Visa is a shared 90-day, multiple-entry visa covering Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda (Tanzania and Burundi are not included). At USD 100, it's the standout choice for Indians doing a multi-country East Africa trip — gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, the Masai Mara in Kenya, Kigali's memorials and Lake Kivu.
The rule that trips people up: you must apply through the country you will enter first, and you must enter the region through that country. Concretely:
- Entering via Uganda (Entebbe) first? Apply for the EATV on Uganda's portal, visas.immigration.go.ug.
- Entering via Kenya (Nairobi/Mombasa) first? Apply on Kenya's eCitizen portal.
- Entering via Rwanda (Kigali) first? Apply on Rwanda's Irembo portal (irembo.gov.rw).
If you arrive at Entebbe on an EATV that was issued by Rwanda, you can be denied entry or forced to buy a separate Uganda visa — so match the issuing country to your first arrival point. Also important: the EATV is only valid while you stay inside the Kenya–Uganda–Rwanda bloc. If you leave (e.g. fly Nairobi to Tanzania for a Serengeti add-on), the EATV is dead and you can't re-enter the three countries on it. Plan your routing so the EATV-covered countries come as one continuous block. For the Rwanda leg, see our Rwanda visa guide; for Kenya, our Kenya ETA guide.
Documents and step-by-step application
For the Uganda e-visa (and the EATV, which asks for a similar set), prepare:
- Passport bio-page scan — valid at least 6 months beyond entry, with blank pages.
- Recent passport-style photograph.
- Yellow-fever vaccination certificate — mandatory; dated 10+ days before arrival.
- Return / onward ticket.
- Proof of accommodation — hotel or lodge bookings, or a tour operator's letter (common for gorilla-trekking packages).
- Proof of funds — recent bank statement.
- Go to visas.immigration.go.ug (the official NCIC/Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control portal) and register.
- Choose the visa — Uganda single-entry tourist visa, or the East Africa Tourist Visa if Uganda is your first entry.
- Complete the form and upload documents, including the yellow card.
- Pay online (USD 50 + ~3% surcharge for the single-entry, or USD 100 for the EATV).
- Receive the approval letter, print it, and carry it. The visa is granted at the port of entry on arrival.
Apply about 2–3 weeks before travel. Gorilla-trekking permits in Uganda (Bwindi) are separate, expensive, and limited — book those through your operator well in advance; they're not part of the visa.
Getting there and Uganda trip logistics from India
There are no direct flights from India to Uganda. Indians usually connect via Nairobi (Kenya Airways), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), or the Gulf hubs (Emirates/Qatar/Etihad) to Entebbe. Entebbe International Airport (EBB) serves Kampala, about 40 km away. Compare live fares and the smartest connection in the FlightGPT chat at flightgpt.in, and see our Mumbai to Nairobi gateway page — Nairobi is the most common East Africa connection for Indians.
On the ground, Uganda is malaria-endemic, so speak to a travel clinic about prophylaxis along with your yellow-fever shot. For gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, a moderate fitness level and good boots are essential, and the high-altitude forest in Bwindi is cooler and wetter than people expect — pack layers and rain gear. USD cash (clean, recent notes) is widely used for tips, permits and park fees.
Money, SIM, malaria and the best time to visit
Practical ground realities for an Uganda trip from India:
- Currency — the Ugandan Shilling (UGX) is local; USD is used for permits, park fees and many lodges. Carry clean, recent USD notes and a zero-forex card (Niyo Global, Fi, IDFC/HDFC forex) for towns. ATMs dispense Shillings.
- SIM / data — MTN and Airtel sell tourist SIMs at Entebbe and in Kampala; passport needed at purchase.
- Malaria — Uganda is malaria-endemic across most of the country. Prophylaxis (discuss with a travel clinic), repellent and covering up at dusk are essential, alongside your mandatory yellow-fever shot.
- Gorilla permits — Uganda vs Rwanda — a genuine money point for Indians: Uganda's gorilla-trekking permit (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest) is significantly cheaper than Rwanda's, which is why many budget-conscious trekkers choose Uganda for the same experience. Permits are still costly, limited and separate from your visa — book months ahead through a licensed operator.
- Best time to visit — the drier months (roughly June–September and December–February) are best for trekking and game drives, with firmer trails in Bwindi. The wetter months are lush but muddy.
Compare flight timing for your trekking dates in the FlightGPT chat at flightgpt.in.
Common mistakes Indian travellers make with Uganda
- Skipping the yellow-fever certificate — it's mandatory and checked at Entebbe; without it you face vaccination, quarantine or refused entry.
- Applying for the EATV through the wrong country — you must apply via your first country of entry and arrive through it.
- Leaving the EATV bloc and expecting to return — a side trip to Tanzania kills the EATV; you can't re-enter Kenya/Uganda/Rwanda on it.
- Buying three single visas when EATV is cheaper — for a Kenya+Uganda+Rwanda loop, the USD 100 EATV beats ~USD 150 in separate visas.
- Forgetting gorilla permits are separate — they're costly and limited; book early through an operator.
- Using copycat visa sites — apply only on visas.immigration.go.ug.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Uganda in 2026?
Yes. Indians must apply for the Uganda e-visa online before travel at visas.immigration.go.ug. There is no informal walk-up; the visa is granted at the port of entry against your online approval, and a yellow-fever certificate is mandatory.
How much does the Uganda e-visa cost for Indians?
The single-entry tourist e-visa is USD 50 plus about a 3% online surcharge (~₹4,400 all-in as of June 2026). The East Africa Tourist Visa, covering Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, is USD 100. Verify on the official portal before applying.
Is a yellow fever certificate mandatory for Uganda?
Yes. Uganda is a yellow-fever risk country and the International Certificate of Vaccination (yellow card) is compulsory for all travellers, dated at least 10 days before arrival. It's checked at Entebbe; without it you risk on-the-spot vaccination, quarantine or denial of entry.
Should I get the East Africa Tourist Visa or a single Uganda visa?
If you're only visiting Uganda, the USD 50 single-entry is cheaper. If you're combining Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, the USD 100 EATV (90-day, multiple-entry across all three) is cheaper than three separate visas and more flexible. Apply for the EATV through your first country of entry.
Does the East Africa Tourist Visa include Tanzania?
No. The EATV covers only Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Tanzania and Burundi are not included. If you leave the three-country bloc (for example to visit Tanzania), the EATV becomes invalid and you can't re-enter on it.
Are there direct flights from India to Uganda?
No. Indians connect to Entebbe (EBB) via Nairobi, Addis Ababa or the Gulf hubs (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad). Compare live fares and connections in the FlightGPT chat at flightgpt.in.