Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are set to introduce a joint regional visa scheme for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON 2027) tournament.
The aim is to allow supporters, teams and officials to travel across the three host nations with one travel permit.
The initiative has received strong backing from Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who has publicly endorsed the proposal and called for talks with the governments of Kenya and Tanzania to establish a common travel framework ahead of the tournament, APA understands.
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.
The three East African Community members are co-hosting the tournament under the “Pamoja” banner (Swahili for together), marking the region’s first time hosting the biennial competition since 1976.
The Confederation of African Football projects more than 1.5 million traveling fans and a global television audience exceeding 3.2 billion during the event. Uganda has committed $43 million toward its hosting preparations.
The initiative builds on the 2014 East Africa Tourist Visa, $100, 90-day multiple-entry permit launched by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Tanzania did not join that agreement.
The AFCON visa would temporarily expand the framework to include all three co-hosts. Officials view it as a potential pilot for a permanent, bloc-wide travel policy.
Separately, the three nations face a Dec. 31, 2026, deadline to complete stadium upgrades and transport infrastructure. Coordinated entry procedures and border-point readiness are critical to the visa’s success, officials said.
Beyond the tournament, authorities aim to use the visa to promote regional tourism and investment, supporting broader East African Community integration goals.
MG/as/APA