Visa for Africa

When you travel to Africa, it varies greatly whether you need a visa and whether you don’t.

In this blog post, you can learn more about the visa and passport requirements when heading off on the tour of your lifetime to Africa.

NB: This blog post was last updated in June 2024. We recommend that you check the latest recommendations on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website.

Do I need a visa for Africa?

Perhaps. It depends where you’re travelling to.

Some countries in Africa require a visa, while others are visa-free.

Of the destinations we offer in Africa, you don’t need to apply for a visa for Mauritius, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa or Kenya if you’re staying there for less than 90 days. In Zambia and South Africa you receive a visa on arrival, and in Kenya you must apply for an electronic travel authorization before departure.

If, on the other hand, you’re travelling to Uganda, Madagascar, Tanzania or Zimbabwe, a visa is required.

If you’re travelling to several countries on the same tour, you must apply for a visa for all the countries that require it.

Where do I apply for a visa?

Visas can be applied for online on the websites of the embassies of the African countries concerned.

Your tourist visa is typically valid for 90 days.

When should I apply for a visa at the latest?

We recommend that you apply for a visa well ahead of departure, as it may take time to process your application.

The time it takes varies and depends on where you are applying for a visa and what type of visa you are applying for. For example, it might take up to 10 days to get your visa for Tanzania approved, whereas pre-approval for a visa to Uganda officially takes 2–3 working days, but may, in practice, be closer to 7 days.

How much does a visa for Africa cost?

The price of a tourist visa varies greatly depending on which African country you are travelling to.

A visa for Uganda or Tanzania visa costs USD 50, while the Kenya electronic travel authorization costs USD 30 (June 2024).

You can check the exact price at the embassy of the country concerned, where you can also apply for a visa for that country.

Passport regulations in Africa

When travelling to Africa, certain passport requirements apply.

Generally speaking, your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the duration of your stay, except for South Africa where the requirement is only 30 days. The passport must also have at least 2 blank pages.

Travelling with children?

Special requirements also apply in most countries when you’re travelling with children.

As a rule, it is recommended that if you are travelling with children under the age of 18, you should bring a Certificate of Personal Data in English, in which the parents’ names appear. The Certificate of Personal Data can be ordered where you find your other personally sensitive papers.

If you’re travelling to Botswana with children under the age of 18, bring a copy of their birth certificate in English (if the original version is in English) or your local language AND English. The birth certificate must not have been issued more than 3 months before departure.

Stay in the loop

Ready to set off on a unique tour to one of the African countries?

We recommend that you check the latest requirements on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s website to ensure that you’re fully up to date and ready to travel.

TourCompass – From tourist to traveller