Here is the process in order, based on what the official portal actually asks for.

First, gather your documents before you start the form: a passport with at least six months validity remaining from your travel date, a passport-style digital photo, your travel itinerary including accommodation details, and your yellow fever vaccination certificate, which is required as part of the application, not just checked on arrival.

Second, complete the application on Uganda’s official electronic visa portal. Stick to the official government site directly, as third-party sites charging extra fees for the same service are common and unnecessary. The form asks for standard biographical details, passport information, and the purpose and dates of your visit.

Third, pay the fee online, around USD 50 for the standard tourist eVisa. Payment is by card through the portal.

Fourth, wait for processing. This typically takes a matter of days, though it can occasionally take longer, so applying at least two to three weeks before your travel date gives a comfortable buffer rather than cutting it close.

Fifth, once approved, you will receive an approval letter by email. Print a physical copy and bring it with your passport, alongside your original yellow fever certificate, both of which immigration officers check on arrival at Entebbe.

A common mistake is applying too close to the travel date and then panicking when processing takes longer than the fastest quoted turnaround, so build in margin. Another is forgetting that the eVisa alone does not cover Kenya or Rwanda, so if your trip includes either, you likely want the East African Tourist Visa instead. Our detailed comparison of the two options covers exactly when each makes sense: /uganda-evisa-vs-east-african-tourist-visa/.