Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are working to establish a common tourist visa for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for June and July 2027, to allow international football fans and tourists to visit all three host countries under a single entry arrangement.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have operated a joint East Africa Tourist Visa since 2014, permitting eligible visitors multiple entries across those three countries on a $100, 90-day visa. Tanzania, however, has never participated in this visa scheme and remains outside the established arrangement.
On July 2, 2026, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni officially endorsed a proposal for
a common East African entry visa that would include Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania during AFCON 2027. Museveni directed officials to commence negotiations with Kenya and Tanzania to advance the visa initiative, which is expected to have a four-month validity period for football fans, tourists, officials and participating teams.
Despite political backing, key legal and operational details for the AFCON visa remain unsettled. Public information does not yet clarify the visa’s legal framework, eligibility criteria, fee structure, or implementation procedures. Questions persist about revenue collection, fee sharing, visitor admissibility decisions, and immigration responsibilities among the three countries.
Tanzania declined to join
the Kenya–Uganda–Rwanda visa arrangement in 2014, citing concerns over national security and economic interests. At the time, Tanzania’s then-Minister for East African affairs, Samuel Sitta, questioned how visa revenue would be fairly distributed among countries with varying tourism demands and warned of losing sovereign control over border admissions.
The East African Community (EAC) formally approved its 2027–2036 Tourism Marketing Strategy on October 15, 2026, aiming to leverage AFCON 2027 as a platform to promote regional tourism. This strategy sets a target of 11 million tourist arrivals by 2027, representing roughly 22.2% growth over 2025 levels.
The proposed common AFCON visa
could facilitate cross-border travel during the tournament, simplifying visas for football supporters and other visitors. It may also serve as a precedent toward a permanent East African single tourist visa, potentially benefiting airlines, tour operators, hotels and increasing multi-country itineraries.
The existing Kenya–Uganda–Rwanda visa has faced operational challenges since its 2014 launch. In 2016, travelers holding the regional visa sometimes encountered extra entry fees, reflecting inconsistencies in enforcement. This underscores difficulties that could affect the AFCON visa’s success.
Tourism integration in East Africa faces additional hurdles beyond visas, including cross-border vehicle permits, insurance, park fees, aviation connectivity, infrastructure, and operational
licensing for guides and operators. While cooperation in tourism and wildlife management is recognized in the EAC Treaty, full regional implementation of a harmonized system remains incomplete.
