Fly Like Eagles is built around travel between the UK and Africa, and a large part of our work is helping people visit family. Visas and passports are usually the easy part, as long as you plan a few weeks ahead. This is a general guide, not legal advice; always check the official government source for your nationality before you book.
Your passport
Almost every African country requires at least six months of validity on your passport beyond your date of entry, and at least one or two blank pages. If your passport expires within a year, renew it before you travel. Damaged passports, including water damage and loose covers, are regularly refused at borders.
Visas, country by country
- Kenya: an Electronic Travel Authorisation is required for almost all visitors, applied for online before travel.
- Tanzania: visa on arrival or an online e-visa for UK passport holders. Zanzibar adds a small mandatory insurance fee.
- Uganda: e-visa in advance, or the East Africa Tourist Visa if you are combining Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.
- Rwanda: visa on arrival or online for most nationalities.
- Ethiopia: e-visa in advance, single entry, usually 30 or 90 days.
- South Africa, Seychelles and Mauritius: visa-free entry stamps for UK passport holders, for stays of roughly 30 to 90 days.
Health entry rules
A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from, or have recently transited through, a country where yellow fever is a risk. Travelling directly from the UK you usually do not need one, but if your itinerary crosses several African countries, carry the certificate. Check malaria advice for each region with a travel clinic four to six weeks before departure.
Advice for diaspora travellers
If you hold both a British passport and the passport of the country you are visiting, the general rule is to enter and exit that country on its passport, and use your British passport for the rest of the journey. Carry both, keep photos and copies stored separately, and make sure the name across your tickets matches the passport you will check in with. If your national passport has expired, some countries still expect you to travel on it or to use an emergency travel document, so start that process early at the relevant embassy.
Children and consent letters
Several countries, South Africa in particular, may ask for a full unabridged birth certificate and a consent letter when a child travels with one parent or with another adult. If that applies to your family, prepare the paperwork well in advance.
Send us your itinerary and passport details and we will give you a checklist for your exact route.
