How to get the Uganda Visa
How to get the Uganda Visa
Are you planning to visit Uganda for a holiday, safari, family visit, or medical treatment and you want to know how long it takes to get the Uganda Visa? The approval of the Uganda visa occurs within two (2) to three (3) working days, except in special circumstances where it requires more documents and/or verification.
Uganda Visa Approval Authorisation validity is 90 days (three months) from the day of Approval. After that, the Approval Authorisation is automatically canceled and invalidated and the applicant needs to make a new application. Applicants should always travel within three months of visa approval to avoid this inconvenience
Where to apply: the visas are available online through the Immigration portal.
Requirements to apply for a Uganda Visa
Attachments
Tourism
Passport copy (bio-data page) with at least 6 months validity
Tour Plan
Travel itinerary/booking
Recent Passport-size Photograph
Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
Hotel booking or reservation (if any other accommodation, provide an address)
Business (meetings, conferences)
Passport copy (bio-data page) with at least 6 months validity
Letter of invitation with clear address and clearly stating business in Uganda
Recent Passport-size Photograph taken in the last 6 months
Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
The immigration status of the host if an individual
Studies
Passport copy (bio-data page) with at least 6 months validity
Letter of invitation from the school
Recent passport-size photograph
Admission letter from the school
Vaccination Certificate (yellow fever)
Status of Host in Uganda
Family Visit
Passport copy (bio-data page) with at least 6 months validity
Letter of invitation
The immigration status of the host
Recent Passport-size Photograph
Vaccination Certificate (Yellow Fever)
Hotel booking or reservation (if any other accommodation, provide an address)
Status of Host in Uganda
Fees
The visas cost USD 50.
Visa Fees are non-refundable and all payments are subject to a bank charge.
Language; all documents attached should be in English.
It may require other documents during the process
Application Steps.
A guide on how to apply, renew, or replace any immigration facility.
1: Log into the Immigration Portal and select start a new application
2: Accept the terms and conditions displayed in the Disclaimer.
3: Select the visa or permit type, category, and sub-category
4: Complete the application form
5: Upload the required documents; a six-digit application ID eg. (234790123) is automatically generated as the reference number
6: Make payment for applications that require prepayment.
7: Upon approval, for applications that don’t require top-up payment, an approval letter will be generated and emailed to the applicant on the home page
8: Following the approval, make a top-up payment for applications that require a top-up payment. After payment, an approval letter is generated and emailed to the client
Step 9: Report to the immigration office/ border for biometric capture with all documents uploaded, payment receipts, approval letter, and passport
Renewal
The initial period granted at entry may be extended for another 60 days in 2 intervals. This can be done online or manually at the Headquarters and the Regional Immigration offices
Uganda has much to offer for tourists ranging from trekking other primates, to wildlife and cultural experiences, here are the other Top Things to do on a Uganda Gorilla trekking tour including other activities.
Other Primates tracking
Primate tracking is one of the top Uganda safari activities to do, Uganda is home to various primate species including Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and Golden Monkeys, among others. On this activity, you will be able to explore various forests in search for the famous primates major activities include Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee trekking, and Golden monkey trekking.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Uganda
Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda is done in Kibale Forest National Park, Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kalinzu Forest, and Budongo Forest close to Murchison Falls National Park. The chimpanzee tracking is done in the morning and afternoon and we can book for you the permits and organize this trek for you depending on the itinerary and timing of the activities. For normal chimpanzee tracking, a Chimpanzee permit costs USD250 for foreign nonresidents, USD200 for the residents, and 150,000 Ugandan shillings for the citizens this gives you one one-hour encounter with the chimpanzees. You can also do the chimpanzee habituation experience which gives you a half-day encounter with the chimpanzees; this is only done in Kibale Forest National Park
Golden Monkey Trekking
Golden Monkey tracking is only done in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, A Golden monkey tracking permit costs USD100 allowing you to spend one hour of encounter with the Golden Monkey, then a Golden monkey habituation permit costs USD140 giving you a 4-hour encounter with the Golden monkeys.
Gorilla Habituation Experience
This is a gorilla activity in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park that involves trekking/walking and hiking through the forest to search for semi-habituated mountain gorillas that live together in a given gorilla family group but are not used to human presence, once you find them you will participate in activities geared to making these mountain gorillas get used to human presence. Gorilla Habituation Experience allows you to spend time with the mountain gorillas which is four four-hour encounters different from the one-hour encounter during normal gorilla tracking. This experience is unique as it allows you to learn more about mountain gorillas. It happens in the form of a group, in a group of 4 visitors tracking a given semi-habituated gorilla group.
Wildlife viewing
You will be able to do various game drives in the savannah national parks of Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, and Uganda’s most popular National park Queen Elizabeth National Park, wildlife to see includes tree climbing lions, Buffaloes, Elephants, warthogs, Giraffes, Zebras, Leopard, among others.
Experiential Tourism Activities
Experiential tourism activities is one of another item you should not miss in your itinerary, these include lion tracking, Mongoose tracking, Hippo Census, and Bird counts these are all done in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Depending on the time you have on your safari you will you do one of the activities which normally give you a great up-close experience with animals in their natural habitat.
Cultural experiences
Uganda is ranked among countries with the most diverse cultures with more than 50 ethnic tribes and languages, you will be able to enjoy various cultural experiences, and you will be able to visit many communities in various national parks part of your itinerary where the local community will share with you the hard experience of living near the park and how they have managed to co-exist peacefully with wildlife you will as well enjoy the cultural encounters and traditional dances.
Mountain Hiking and Cycling
Mountain Hiking and cycling is other amazing adventure activities that you can add to your safari to Uganda. Uganda is a land of various hills, mountains and various highlands giving you a great opportunity for hiking activities and cycling. Mountains include Elgon, Rwenzori, Moroto, Sabinyo, Muhavura, and Gahinga among others which are common for hiking.
Bird watching
With over 1000 recorded bird species in Uganda, Uganda is one of the best destinations for birding in Africa; it is home to various migrant birds and Albertine endemics with the Shoebill as one of the must-see bird species in the major birding areas including Bwindi Forest, Mabamba swamp, Mubwindi swamp, Bigodi wetland and Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park among others many birds as well can be spotted during game drives in various national parks. Some of the Birds include Collared pratincole, Palm-nut vulture, Pel’s fishing-owl, Rare Swamp flycatcher, Gray-crowned crane(Uganda’s National bird), Giant Kingfisher, Giant Heron, Shoebill stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Black-headed lapwing, Back-bellied Bustard, Swamp Flycatcher, Giant Heron, African Jacana, Secretary Bird among others.
Boat Safari excursions
With various lakes and rivers in Uganda boat trips and excursions is one of another top Uganda safari activities to do, Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and River Nile Excursions to the top of the falls and the Delta allow you to enjoy wildlife up-close and various water animals in Murchison Falls National Park.
The best time to Visit Uganda and How long does it take to get the Uganda Visa
The best time for visiting Uganda is during December to February and then June to October which is relatively drier than March to May and November. Uganda is crossed by the equator making it experience a modified equatorial type of climate with two rainy seasons and because of this people tend to associate drier seasons to be the best time to visit Uganda.
Additional Activities to Consider:
Visit Lake Bunyonyi: Known as the “Switzerland of Africa,” this lake offers breathtaking scenery and various water activities.
Boat cruise and stay at Lake Mutanda.
On foot Rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Cultural Tours: Visit local communities to experience Ugandan culture, including traditional dances and crafts.
Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. Moreover, Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a business for a Ugandan native, we specialize in life-changing experiences and sustainable tours and holidays to all East African countries. We are members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and with registration from the Uganda Tourism Board. We have a good and long working relationship with Uganda Wildlife Authority making it easy to book your gorilla permits and gorilla trekking safari. Safari Vacations and Travel Services is also high in Trip Advisor reviews.
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