Short answer: most first-time visitors to Africa need some form of permission before they fly, but it is usually a short online form, not an embassy visit. South Africa and Morocco let US, UK and EU passport holders walk in visa-free for up to 90 days. Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda and Nigeria run online systems you complete before departure. Rwanda hands out visas at the airport. The trap is not the paperwork. It is using the wrong website, applying too late, or assuming one country's rules apply to the next. Rules change fast: Egypt raised its fee in 2026, Kenya replaced visas in 2024, Nigeria rebuilt its system in 2025. Re-check the official portal before you book.
Why African visas work this way
Africa has 54 countries, and most of their borders were drawn in Europe at the 1884-85 Berlin Conference, when colonial powers divided the continent with little regard for the peoples living there. Each new state then built its own immigration system, so what gets you into Morocco will not get you into Nigeria.
The African Union has pushed the other way: Rwanda, Kenya and Ghana have opened their doors to African passport holders, and blocs like ECOWAS and the East African Community let member citizens move freely. Visitors from outside Africa still face the patchwork, which is why this guide exists. If you are planning the trip itself, our Detty December guide and Benin City guide show what it is for.
The four ways in
Visa-free entry: arrive, get stamped, walk in (South Africa, Morocco). eVisa or electronic travel authorisation (eTA): apply online before departure, approval by email (Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria). Airlines may check approval before boarding. Visa on arrival: issued at the airport for cash or card (Rwanda). Embassy visa: apply at a consulate before travel. Ghana still requires this for most visitors from outside Africa.
Country by country: the destinations first-timers ask about
Rules below are for tourist visits on US, UK or EU passports; other nationalities should check the official portal.
| Country | What you need | Cost (approx.) | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | No visa | Free | Up to 90 days |
| Morocco | No visa | Free | Up to 90 days |
| Kenya | eTA before travel, via etakenya.go.ke | About $30 | Up to 90 days |
| Egypt | eVisa before travel, or visa on arrival | $30 single entry, $65 multiple entry | Up to 30 days per entry |
| Tanzania | eVisa before travel | About $50 | Check the portal |
| Uganda | eVisa before travel | About $50 | Check the portal |
| Rwanda | Visa on arrival | $50; free for AU, Commonwealth and La Francophonie nationals | 30 days |
| Nigeria | eVisa before travel, via evisa.immigration.gov.ng | About $160 for US passports | 30 days, not extendable |
| Ghana | Visa in advance from an embassy or consulate | Varies | Usually 30 to 60 days |
Two details matter. Kenya's eTA replaced the old visa system in January 2024: there is no visa on arrival anymore, and airlines can refuse boarding without an approved eTA. Apply at least a week ahead. Nigeria replaced its visa-on-arrival scheme with a mandatory online eVisa on May 1, 2025. Biometrics are completed on arrival, and the visa cannot be extended, so plan your dates carefully.
Visiting more than one East African country? The East Africa Tourist Visa costs $100, covers Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda for 90 days, and is the region's one multi-country visa. Enter through the issuing country first.
What the advisories say vs. what it is like on the ground
Official advisories from the US State Department and the UK Foreign Office focus on security, not paperwork, and they are worth reading. But they rarely warn you about the problems travellers actually hit at the border. The most common is the copycat website: search results for "Kenya visa" or "Egypt visa" are full of agency sites charging several times the government fee for forwarding your form. Apply only on the official portal.
The second problem is timing: systems slow down in peak season, and a rejected application means a non-refundable fee and a fresh application. The third is simpler: an approved eVisa or eTA does not guarantee entry. The border officer decides, so carry printed copies of your approval, return ticket and first hotel booking.
Practical precautions: the pre-flight checklist
- Apply only on official portals: etakenya.go.ke for Kenya, visa2egypt.gov.eg for Egypt, evisa.immigration.gov.ng for Nigeria.
- Apply at least two weeks before departure, even when the official processing time is shorter.
- Keep your passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, with at least two blank pages.
- Print your approval and keep it with your passport for the whole trip. Phone batteries die; paper does not.
- Carry your yellow fever certificate if arriving from a country where the disease is present. Nigeria asks for it as standard.
- Re-check the rules in the week before you fly. Fees and systems changed in Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria within the last two years.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Africa?
It depends on the country and your passport. South Africa and Morocco are visa-free for US, UK and EU visitors. Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda and Nigeria need an online application before travel. Rwanda gives visas on arrival.
What is the difference between an eVisa and a visa on arrival?
An eVisa is approved online before you fly; a visa on arrival is issued at the airport when you land.
Can I visit several countries on one visa?
Almost never. The exception is the $100 East Africa Tourist Visa, covering Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda for 90 days. Everywhere else, each country needs its own permission.
What if my application is rejected?
Visa fees are almost always non-refundable. Fix the error, usually a photo or passport detail mismatch, and reapply with corrected information.
Sources: official portals for Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria; TripZapp's African visa guide; Kenya entry update 2026. Rules change: verify on the official portal before booking. For the history behind the journey, see our guides to the Door of No Return slave forts and Gondar, Ethiopia.
