East African Community (EAC) member states are fast-tracking a regional Single Tourist Visa framework ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after EAC tourism ministers meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, on October 15 asked partner states to wrap up national consultations on the proposal so travel across the region is easier for international visitors.
The Sectoral Council on Tourism also directed the EAC Secretariat to circulate an updated study on the proposed visa by October 20, 2026. A senior EAC official, Malueth, urged members to move quickly, warning that the quality of accommodation, food and customer service will shape how international visitors see East Africa when AFCON arrives.
The same meeting adopted a 10-year tourism marketing strategy for 2027 to 2036 that promotes the region as a single destination under the brand “Visit East Africa: Feel the Vibe”, with progress towards a single tourist visa among its priorities.
AFCON 2027 will be hosted jointly by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, the first time the tournament has been shared by three East African countries. Planning for a common visa for the hosts began earlier this year. Consultations among sports ministers started in April, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni endorsed the idea in July, directing officials to talk to their Kenyan and Tanzanian counterparts.
Reports on the proposal say it would let fans, teams, match officials, media and other visitors move between the three countries on one permit for up to four months. EAC Council of Ministers chairperson Rebecca Kadaga confirmed the planning during a stadium inspection in Arusha, though the three countries have not yet published a final timetable or formal agreement.
The plan fills a gap in existing arrangements. Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have operated a joint East Africa Tourist Visa since 2014, which costs US$100 and allows multiple entries over 90 days. Tanzania is not part of that scheme, even though it is one of the three AFCON hosts, so a separate or expanded framework is needed for the tournament.
Beyond football, officials see the visa as a way to encourage visitors to explore several countries during one trip, which supports airlines, hotels, tour operators and travel agents. The ministers also adopted common designs for tourism classification plaques and certificates, asked members to speed up the grading of hotels and other establishments, and welcomed Uganda’s offer to host the fourth EAC Regional Tourism Expo alongside the Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo in May 2027.
