Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are exploring a common visa system for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the aim of making it easier for international supporters to travel between the three host countries.
The proposed arrangement would allow fans to attend matches in different countries with fewer entry requirements, while potentially increasing spending on hotels, transport, restaurants and tourist attractions outside the cities staging their chosen teams’ matches.
The EastAfrican reported on 12 October that Rebecca Kadaga, chairperson of the East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers and Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister, confirmed the initiative during an inspection of the Pamoja AFCON Stadium in Arusha, Tanzania.
AFCON 2027 is scheduled to be held from 19 June to 17 July, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Discussions over a shared visa framework began in April, when sports ministers from the three host nations agreed to continue examining the proposal. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni backed the initiative in July, but the governments have not yet announced a final agreement or set a timetable for introducing the system.
The proposal would extend current regional travel arrangements. The existing East African Tourist Visa permits eligible travellers to enter Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, but does not include Tanzania.
A separate visa framework for the three AFCON hosts could therefore simplify travel for supporters who want to follow their teams across venues in different countries.
However, important questions remain unanswered. The governments still need to decide who would qualify, how much the visa would cost, how long it would remain valid and what procedures would apply when travellers cross borders.
Tanzanian member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Abdullah Makame has warned that the system’s success would depend on clear regulations and consistent implementation by all participating countries.
The possible economic impact would extend beyond revenue from match tickets. Easier movement between the host nations could spread visitor spending across several destinations and encourage fans to combine attending football matches with wider regional tourism.
Those benefits are not guaranteed, however. They would depend on the number of visitors, how long they stay and how straightforward it is to travel between the various match venues.
With the tournament less than a year away, reaching an agreement soon would give Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania more time to explain the arrangements to international supporters and coordinate border procedures before the opening match.
