Foreign nationals living in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda will soon be able to apply for a six-month tourist visa allowing them to enter and travel freely between the three countries.

Residents may apply for the $100 (about Rwf70,000) multiple-entry visa starting May 15 at Rwandan immigration office or the embassies for Kenya and Uganda.

The expansion of the East Africa Tourist Visa to foreign residents was confirmed last week at the fifth Northern Corridor Integration Project Summit in Nairobi, and follows the launch of the single visa system that was only applicable to tourists coming from other parts of the world.

The visa is a new category of the East Africa Tourist Visa, announced in March and available now, which allows non-resident foreigners multiple entries to the three countries for 90 days. It is also $100 per person.

The resident and non-resident East Africa Tourist Visas are designed to sell the region as a single tourist destination, making it easier for foreigners to travel for holidays across the region.

Currently it costs $50 (about Rwf35,000) for a visitor visa every time they visit Uganda or Kenya only, and $30 (about Rwf20,000) for Rwanda only.

Existing demands

Tour operators say the new visa meets a demand that already exists.

"Most people come here and want to go to Kenya and Uganda as well,” Gina Chetan, a sales representative for The Rickshaw Travel Group in Rwanda told The New Times yesterday.

"It will save time and eliminate the expense of paying twice.”

Yves Nkundabagenzi, of International Tours & Travel Ltd, said the new tourist visa would definitely increase sales for his business.

But some foreigners say the old system of paying for individual visas suits them just fine.

"I often travel to meet up with friends or plan spontaneous trips, so I’d probably just stick with paying the individual visas for now,” said Kirsty Henderson, a Canadian who writes for the expat blog, LivinginKigali.

Henderson said she would possibly purchase the six-month East Africa Tourist Visa if it was available online.

The Rwandan, Ugandan and Kenyan immigration offices will jointly administer the East Africa Tourist Visa, with Rwanda taking on the first year of its management, allowing the three immigration offices to share tourist information and data. 

The three countries are also cooperating on creating an inter-State pass and a standard students card for use as travel identification by July 1.