Uganda Visa for South African Citizens: 2026 Guide

Last checked August 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

South African citizens travelling to Uganda for tourism should apply online for a Uganda tourist eVisa before departure. The tourist visa is single-entry and may be granted for up to three months; the official fee listed by Uganda’s embassy is US$50. Uganda’s immigration guidance does not state a guaranteed processing time, so confirm the current status and timing on the official portal before booking travel.

This guide is for travellers using ordinary South African passports. Diplomatic, official or other travel-document holders may follow different rules, and the visa decision remains with Ugandan immigration.

Uganda visa types and who needs one

Uganda’s tourist visa is a single-entry visa for visitors travelling for tourism, medical treatment or a family visit. The National Citizenship and Immigration Control service says it may be granted for up to three months.

For a South African safari traveller, this is generally the relevant category for a holiday that includes Kampala, national parks, gorilla trekking or other tourism activities. A tourist visa does not automatically authorise employment, study or business activity. If your main purpose is a conference, meeting, study programme, paid work or another non-tourism activity, select the appropriate category and follow its separate document requirements.

Uganda’s official guidance lists different supporting documents for tourism, business, study and family visits. Business applicants, for example, need an invitation letter with the host’s address and a clear statement of the business in Uganda; study applicants need school documentation including an admission letter.

If your itinerary includes Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda, investigate whether the East African Tourist Visa is suitable rather than assuming that a Uganda tourist visa covers the entire region. The supplied research describes that regional visa as allowing travel between those three countries, but you should confirm current eligibility, entry conditions and the correct issuing country on an official portal before applying.

How to apply for a Uganda visa from South Africa

1. Use the official application portal

Uganda states that visa applications must be submitted online through its official eVisa website. The Ugandan embassy warns travellers about fraudulent websites that imitate the government service, charge incorrect amounts and add substantial processing fees. It says paper applications will not be processed and may cause delays.

Start at visas.immigration.go.ug and check that you are applying for the Uganda government service. Avoid websites that present themselves as the official authority or that require an additional service charge unless you knowingly want private assistance.

2. Choose the tourism category

Select the tourist visa category if you are visiting Uganda for a safari or holiday. Check the planned dates and requested length of stay carefully. The official tourist visa is single-entry and can be granted for up to three months.

3. Prepare the required documents

Uganda’s official tourist-visa page lists these tourism attachments:

• A copy of the passport bio-data page.
• A passport with at least six months’ validity.
• A tour plan.
• A travel itinerary or booking.
• A recent passport-size photograph.
• A hotel booking or reservation, or an address if you will use another type of accommodation.

These are the requirements stated for the tourist category by Uganda’s immigration authority. Scan documents clearly, make sure names and passport numbers match the application, and keep copies of everything submitted. The portal may request additional information or documents during assessment, so do not wait until the day before departure to begin.

4. Complete the form exactly as shown in your passport

Enter your name, passport number, nationality and dates exactly as they appear in the travel document. Use an email address that you monitor because the application outcome and approval authorisation may be sent electronically. Review the application before submitting: a spelling error or incorrect passport number can create problems at airline check-in or at the Ugandan border.

5. Pay through the official process

The official Ugandan embassy page identifies US$50 as the correct fee and warns that unofficial sites may charge much more. Confirm the live amount and accepted payment method inside the government portal before completing payment.

6. Save the approval authorisation

Keep the approval email and a downloadable copy with your travel documents. Uganda’s immigration authority says the Visa Approval Authorisation is valid for 90 days from the day of approval. If it is not used within that period, it is automatically cancelled and invalidated, and a new application is required.

Uganda visa fees and payment

Item	What the research confirms
Uganda tourist visa fee	US$50 on the official Ugandan embassy visa page. Confirm the current fee on the official portal before paying.
Private agent or service fees	Not included in the government fee. The embassy warns that fraudulent sites may add processing fees ranging from US$110 to US$200 and advises applicants to use only the official website.
Payment method	Use the payment process presented by the official online portal. The supplied official guidance does not specify a current list of accepted cards or payment providers.

Do not pay a visa fee to a website simply because it uses the words “Uganda,” “eVisa” or “immigration” in its domain name. Uganda’s embassy says the official website bears the Ugandan Coat of Arms and the DCIC logo, and that the government is not responsible for losses caused by unofficial sites.

Uganda visa processing time and validity

There is no guaranteed processing time stated in the official tourist-visa information supplied for this article. Some private visa websites advertise their own estimates, but those are not a government service standard or a guarantee of approval. Apply as early as practical, particularly if your South African itinerary includes fixed safari dates, internal flights or gorilla trekking.

The important official validity rule is different from processing time: the Visa Approval Authorisation is valid for 90 days from approval. Uganda says travellers should travel within those three months; after that, the authorisation is cancelled and a new application is needed.

The tourist visa itself is single-entry and may be granted for up to three months. Do not assume that the approval date, arrival date and permitted stay are interchangeable. Read the dates and conditions on the issued authorisation and ask Uganda immigration if anything is unclear before travel.

Visa validity is only one part of safari planning. Travellers can compare Uganda safari packages and routes for 2026 while checking that the visa dates cover the full itinerary.

On arrival in Uganda: what immigration may check

At check-in and on arrival, carry the same passport used for the application, together with your Visa Approval Authorisation and copies of your supporting documents. Your passport should meet the official minimum of six months’ validity, and your application should be consistent with your tour plan, itinerary and accommodation details.

Ugandan immigration makes the final decision on admission. An approved online authorisation does not remove the need to present a valid passport or satisfy border officials. Keep your accommodation address, onward travel information and safari booking accessible in case an officer asks for them; the official tourist requirements specifically include itinerary or booking information and accommodation details.

Health documentation can be separate from the visa application. The supplied official tourist-visa page does not list a yellow-fever certificate among the tourism attachments shown here, so do not rely on this visa checklist alone for health rules. Confirm current vaccination and transit requirements with official Ugandan, South African and airline sources before departure.

Transit, extensions and overstays

Transit

If Uganda is only a connection point, do not automatically apply for a tourist visa. The correct requirement depends on whether you leave the airport transit area, how long you remain in Uganda and your onward route. Check the official portal or a Ugandan diplomatic mission with your exact itinerary before travelling.

Changing or extending a visit

A tourist visa is single-entry and may be granted for up to three months. The supplied official guidance does not provide an extension procedure or guarantee that a tourist visa can be extended. If you need to stay longer, contact Uganda’s immigration authority before the authorised stay expires and confirm the available route.

Overstays

Do not remain in Uganda beyond the date authorised on your visa. The research supplied for this article does not state the current overstay penalties, so confirm the consequences and any regularisation process directly with Uganda immigration rather than relying on an online estimate.

Common Uganda visa mistakes and rejection risks

• Using an unofficial website: Uganda’s embassy specifically warns about fake eVisa sites, inflated charges and paper applications. Use only the official portal.
• Applying for the wrong category: A safari holiday belongs under tourism; business, study and family visits have different supporting documents.
• Submitting a short-validity passport: The official tourist checklist requires at least six months’ passport validity.
• Leaving out itinerary or accommodation information: Uganda lists a tour plan, travel itinerary or booking, and hotel reservation or accommodation address for tourism applications.
• Uploading an unsuitable photograph: The tourist checklist requires a recent passport-size photograph.
• Waiting too long after approval: The approval authorisation expires after 90 days from approval if unused.
• Assuming approval guarantees entry: Carry the passport and supporting information and follow any instructions from immigration at the border.
• Confusing visa rules with health rules: Check vaccination and transit requirements separately with official sources.

For the wider trip budget, SafariFind’s Uganda safari price guide for 2026 can help separate tour costs from flights, visas and other travel expenses. You can also compare safari operators through this guide to the best Uganda safari companies to compare in 2026.

Important disclaimer

This article is general travel information, not legal advice. Visa, entry, health and immigration requirements can change, and individual cases may be assessed differently. Confirm the current fee, eligibility, documents, processing position, vaccination rules and entry conditions with the official Uganda eVisa portal or a Ugandan diplomatic mission before travelling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for Uganda?

South African citizens travelling on ordinary passports should apply for a Uganda eVisa for tourism unless the official portal confirms a specific exemption. Current non-government visa references classify South Africa as eligible for the Uganda eVisa system.

How do South African citizens apply for a Uganda tourist visa?

Apply online through Uganda’s official eVisa portal. The tourist application requires a passport bio-data copy, at least six months’ passport validity, a tour plan, itinerary or booking, a recent passport-size photograph and accommodation details.

How much is a Uganda visa for South African citizens?

The official Ugandan embassy page lists the correct Uganda visa fee as US$50. Confirm the current fee on the official portal before payment and avoid unofficial sites that add large service charges.

How long does a Uganda visa take for South African citizens?

Uganda’s official tourist-visa guidance supplied here does not publish a guaranteed processing time. Apply well before departure and check the application status and current instructions on the official portal.

How long is a Uganda tourist visa valid?

The Uganda tourist visa is single-entry and can be granted for up to three months. The Visa Approval Authorisation must be used within 90 days of approval or it is cancelled and a new application is required.

What documents do South Africans need for a Uganda safari visa?

You need a passport bio-data copy, a passport valid for at least six months, a tour plan, travel itinerary or booking, a recent passport-size photograph and a hotel reservation or accommodation address.

Can I get a Uganda visa on arrival as a South African citizen?

The official guidance supplied for this article directs applicants to apply online through Uganda’s immigration portal. Apply before departure rather than relying on an airport arrangement, and confirm the current rule directly with Uganda immigration.

Is the Uganda tourist visa single-entry?

Yes, the official Uganda tourist visa described by the immigration authority is single-entry and may be granted for up to three months. A new application or a different visa category may be needed after leaving Uganda.

Does my passport need six months’ validity for Uganda?

Yes, Uganda’s official tourist-visa checklist requires a passport copy and at least six months’ passport validity. Check the passport’s expiry date before submitting the application.

What happens if my Uganda visa approval expires before I travel?

The Visa Approval Authorisation is automatically cancelled and invalidated after 90 days from approval if it has not been used. Uganda says the applicant must make a new application.