Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are moving to introduce a single regional visa for visitors attending the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), in a landmark initiative aimed at easing cross-border travel and boosting tourism across East Africa.
The proposed visa would allow football fans, participating teams, tournament officials, media personnel and other visitors to move freely between the three host nations for up to four months during the continental football championship.
The initiative has received strong backing from Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who has publicly endorsed the proposal and called for discussions with the governments of Kenya and Tanzania to establish a common travel framework ahead of the tournament. If approved, the unified visa would eliminate the need for visitors to apply for separate entry permits for each country, making travel across the three destinations more convenient while encouraging tourists to explore multiple attractions before, during and after the tournament.
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The proposal also aligns with the broader objectives of the East African Community (EAC), which has long championed easier movement of citizens and visitors as a catalyst for trade, investment and regional development. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be the first edition of the tournament to be jointly hosted by three East African countries, marking a historic milestone for the region.
Preparations are already underway, with investments being made in stadiums, transport infrastructure, accommodation and other facilities to ensure the successful staging of Africa’s biggest football event.
Should the single visa be adopted, it would rank among the tournament’s most significant legacies, creating a seamless travel experience for thousands of international visitors while showcasing East Africa as an integrated tourism destination. Industry experts say the initiative could serve as a model for future multi-country sporting events on the continent, demonstrating how sport can drive tourism growth, improve regional connectivity and accelerate economic development.
