Arrival in Uganda

Visa-required travelers apply through the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control portal at visas.immigration.go.ug. Available categories include Ordinary, Multiple-Entry, Transit and East Africa Tourist Visa. The application can require the passport biodata page, a photograph, a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate and, depending on the purpose, an invitation, Police Clearance, host evidence or study evidence. Documents should follow the National Citizenship and Immigration Control requirements and generally be prepared in English. An approved application produces an Approval Letter that serves as travel authorization; print it and carry it with the passport. The approval is valid for 90 days, while many tourist, medical, family, business and study single-entry visas allow an initial stay of up to three months. The listed visa fee is USD 50 and is non-refundable, with a possible bank charge. An initial stay can be extended by 60 days in two intervals where the applicable rules allow it. Check the visa category and any exemption immediately before departure because requirements can change. A visa does not automatically grant permission to live or work in Uganda. Longer stays require the immigration document that matches the purpose, such as an Entry Permit, Student Pass, Dependant Pass or Work Permit. The approval, permit or pass should show the permitted period and conditions. Entry takes place through gazetted Immigration Service Points, including Entebbe International Airport and land or water points such as Busia, Malaba, Katuna, Elegu, Mirama Hills, Mpondwe and Mutukula. Uganda's National Migration Policy 2025 records 72 gazetted entry points. At the point of entry, keep the passport, visa or travel authorization, yellow-fever certificate and, where relevant, a return or onward ticket and accommodation evidence ready. Immigration may record biometrics. Check the entry stamp and permitted stay before leaving the counter. Reserve a hotel or other temporary accommodation and keep the local address available because the visa application can ask for it. No general state-arranged first accommodation for ordinary migrants is established. Customs declarations follow Uganda Revenue Authority procedures: use the Red Channel for declarable goods and the Green Channel when nothing requires declaration. Keep invoices and receipts. Commercial goods, alcohol, tobacco and goods intended for sale may not qualify as ordinary personal effects. People arriving to change residence may receive conditional relief for personal clothing and household effects, and one personal vehicle may qualify under conditions that can include at least 12 months of ownership or use. Declare cash or monetary instruments above 1,500 currency points, approximately UGX 30,000,000 or USD 9,000. The Ministry of Health requires travelers over one year of age to present a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. Confirm the certificate and vaccination position before departure with an accredited health facility, airline or the Ministry of Health. Other health or COVID-19 rules may change. Uganda's health system includes public, private and private-not-for-profit facilities. The usual public pathway runs from Health Centre I and Village Health Teams to Health Centre II, Health Centre III, Health Centre IV, district hospitals and regional or national referral hospitals. Government facilities provide essential services such as maternal care, child immunization, HIV/AIDS care and malaria services without charges according to Ministry of Health information, but medicines and availability vary by location. The Ministry of Health hotline is 0800 100 066; police emergencies can be reported on 999 or 112. Uganda has no separately evidenced national registration office for every new arrival. The closest formal identity system is the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA). Ugandan citizens and lawfully resident foreign nationals register under the Registration of Persons Act 2015. Citizens receive a National Identification Number and national identity card; eligible foreign residents receive an Alien Identification Number and Alien ID card. NIRA offices operate nationwide, with Kampala Central serving the Kampala metropolitan area. A foreign resident generally presents a passport and a Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control document such as a Work Permit, Student Pass, Dependant Pass or Certificate of Residence. The Alien ID fee is USD 100, and NIRA currently indicates an approximate two-week waiting period. NIRA registration is separate from a visa application. The form records a residential address, but no general move-in notification deadline has been established in the available national evidence. A Local Council 1 representative may provide local information and, in some cases, a recommendation for a Certificate of Residence; this is not a national residence permit. People seeking asylum should approach the National Police and protection staff at a border checkpoint and request registration assistance. In Kampala, the Refugee Desk is at Plot 302 Sentema Road, Mengo. The Office of the Prime Minister handles refugee reception, documentation and settlement, with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and partners. Registration and partner services are free. An asylum seeker normally receives a Temporary Asylum Seeker Attestation with a file or case number, renewed after three months and then monthly until the Refugee Eligibility Committee decides the claim; a decision can take at least three months. An unsuccessful applicant can appeal to the Refugee Appeals Board within 30 days. In a settlement or reception centre, contact the OPM Settlement Commandant. Recognized refugees may receive a plot and support such as food, shelter or non-food items, depending on the programme and location. Refugee Family Attestations and Asylum Seeker Certificates are central arrival and identity documents. Registered asylum seekers have legal stay while the claim is decided and can access public services and available assistance. Report changes in family status, births, deaths and other relevant details to the responsible OPM office. Do not pay agents or brokers for official UNHCR or refugee registration.