Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are exploring the introduction of a common tourist visa to facilitate travel during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament scheduled from June 19 to July 17, 2027. The planned visa would enable visitors, officials, teams, and football supporters to cross borders among the three host countries without obtaining separate entry permits throughout a four-month period linked to the event timeframe.
Regional Tourism Arrivals and Earnings in 2025
In 2025, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda recorded an estimated 6.63 million international tourist arrivals combined, generating about US$9.9 billion in tourism revenues. Kenya accounted for approximately 2.7 million visitors and tourism earnings near Sh500 billion.
Tanzania received 2.29 million visitors, yielding US$4.41 billion, while Uganda recorded 1.64 million arrivals with revenues of US$1.62 billion. Between 2024 and 2025, Kenya’s arrivals grew by 9%, Tanzania’s by 7.1%, and Uganda’s by 19.7%. Tourism earnings also rose with Kenya’s revenue increasing from Sh452.2 billion to Sh500 billion, Tanzania’s from US$3.9 billion to US$4.41 billion, and Uganda’s from US$1.28 billion to US$1.62 billion within the same period.
Existing East Africa Tourist Visa and Proposed AFCON Visa Differences
Currently, an East Africa Tourist Visa, costing US$100, permits multiple entries for 90 days among Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. Tanzania is excluded from this arrangement. The proposed AFCON common visa would span
four months and include Tanzania, marking a significant policy extension. Key details such as visa fees, eligibility criteria, application processes, and operational dates remain under discussion. The proposal aims to simplify visa complexities that presently impede seamless multi-country tourism within the region.
Endorsement and Pending Steps for the Common Visa
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni endorsed the common tourist visa proposal in July 2026 during discussions with Uganda’s AFCON Local Organising Committee. He directed relevant officials to initiate consultations with Kenya and Tanzania on the initiative. Despite this endorsement, no formal tripartite agreement has been finalized, and essential technical and administrative aspects are yet to be determined. The visa’s
operationalization hinges on resolving these details and ensuring coordination among the three national immigration systems.
AFCON 2027 and Regional Tourism Development
AFCON 2027, running from June 19 to July 17, will serve as a focal point for developing regional travel itineraries that combine football attendance with tourism experiences such as safaris, cultural visits, and coastal stays. This opportunity aligns with the East African Community’s (EAC) adoption of a ten-year regional tourism marketing strategy on October 15, 2026, aimed at promoting the region as a unified destination through 2036. Uganda is set to host the fourth EAC Regional Tourism Expo alongside the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo
in May 2027, integrating AFCON promotion and cross-border tourism packages.
Average tourist expenditure statistics illustrate the commercial rationale for multi-destination packages. Tanzania’s mainland visitors spent US$289 per person per night in 2025, with Zanzibar averaging US$274 per night. Ugandan tourists spent approximately US$986 per trip, an increase from US$933 in 2024, with average lengths of stay rising slightly from 8.7 to 8.8 nights. Combined with improved transport and accommodation infrastructure, these figures support extending visitor stays and encouraging spending across multiple countries.
The proposed visa could facilitate easier planning and sales of integrated travel products encompassing flights, hotels, transfers, and
excursions. However, the visa remains a proposal, and travel businesses should avoid marketing it as currently available. Its success depends on finalized visa terms, operational coordination, and alignment with wider AFCON preparations, including transport links, accommodation capacity, and synchronized tourism marketing efforts.
