Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are developing a common tourist visa for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for June and July 2027, enabling international visitors to access all three countries with a single entry document.
Since 2014, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have operated a joint tourist visa allowing travel across the three countries, but Tanzania has not joined this arrangement due to concerns over national security and revenue sharing. Tanzania’s minister in 2014, Samuel Sitta, rejected the scheme citing sovereignty and economic reasons.
On July 2, 2026, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni officially endorsed the proposal for a common
visa covering Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda during AFCON 2027. East African Community ministers responsible for tourism and wildlife have backed the visa plan to facilitate movement among the tournament hosts.
The legal framework, eligibility criteria, visa fees, and operational details of the proposed AFCON visa remain undisclosed publicly, meaning the visa is not yet operational. It is expected to allow a four-month stay for football fans, tourists, officials, and teams during the tournament period.
East Africa targets 11 million tourist arrivals by 2027, requiring roughly 22.2% growth over 2025 levels. The AFCON visa would test progress toward regional tourism integration,
allowing visitors to easily travel among Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda during a period of peak international attention.
Despite political support, challenges remain. Past experience with the Kenya–Uganda–Rwanda visa includes issues such as visitors being charged additional entry fees despite holding a regional visa. Questions over visa fee distribution, visitor admissibility, and immigration control continue to slow permanent visa harmonization.
The single tourist visa during AFCON 2027 could simplify border crossings and reduce administrative hurdles for tourists and football fans attending the event. It would also make multi-country travel itineraries within East Africa more accessible for tour operators and travelers.
The
initiative forms part of a broader East African Community Tourism Marketing Strategy for 2027–2036, which identifies AFCON 2027 as a strategic opportunity to promote the region as a unified destination. The AFCON visa proposal could pave the way for enhanced collaboration and potentially bring Tanzania into a shared visa system if successfully implemented.
