GoUganda Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

Check the validity period of the passport. The remaining validity period of a passport should generally be at least one year to avoid visa application being affected due to insufficient passport validity, or travel being affected by passport expiration while abroad. Please renew your passport as soon as possible if its validity period is less than one year.

Prepare the "International Certificate of Vaccination or Preventive Measures" (commonly known as the "Yellow Book"). The Uganda Immigration Department requires incoming personnel to provide a yellow book on yellow fever vaccination.

Complete the visa application process. The Uganda Immigration Department has launched a new electronic visa (E-Visa) system in September 2016 (Uganda Immigration Department E-Visa system website: https://visas.immigration.go.ug/ ）The system requires people coming to Ukraine to submit relevant information such as passport information pages, yellow books, and passport photos on the website in advance, and to pay visa fees online. After the visa is approved, you can go to the Ugandan Embassy in China, Consulate General in Guangzhou, or Entebbe Airport in Uganda to have your fingerprints recorded and receive a sticker visa. Due to the low efficiency of Uganda's immigration department, visa approval may take more than a month.

When entering or leaving the country, a yellow book of yellow fever vaccination must be presented. If there is no residence permit in Ukraine, an entry and exit card must be filled out, and the immigration officer at the port must truthfully and accurately answer the inquiry based on the visa type and visit purpose, and enter fingerprints. Afterwards, Wuhai Pass will inspect the luggage, and if there are no issues, it can be cleared.

At present, in the context of the long-term COVID-19 and the normalization of prevention and control, Uganda requires that people coming to Uganda must have a negative nucleic acid test report within 120 hours of departure for Ukraine. With the changing situation of the epidemic, the relevant entry policies of Ukraine will continue to be adjusted, and personnel invited to Ukraine must closely monitor.

Special reminder: Migrant workers in Uganda must apply for a legal work permit in accordance with the relevant policies of the Uganda Immigration Department, and copy and scan personal materials such as passport information pages for future reference.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Ivory tusks and their products, crocodile skin and its products, cow horn products, especially raw horns, as well as animals and their bones listed as protected by the World Wildlife Fund, are strictly prohibited from entering or leaving. Once caught, regardless of the quantity, violators will be fined, detained, or even prosecuted.

Residency and Naturalization

1. Residence

According to the applicant's situation, Ukraine issues long-term residence permits, work visas, and special passes. For specific regulations, please refer to the website of the Ukrainian Immigration Bureau.

Ukrainian visas mainly include tourist visas, transit visas, multiple entry and exit visas, as well as the following types of work residency: A2 Ukrainian government contracted work residency, B agricultural work residency, C mining work residency, D commercial work residency, E manufacturing work residency, F expert work residency, G volunteer work residency, and G expatriate work residency. To enter Uganda, one must hold a valid passport, valid visa, or residence permit in Uganda. After the visa is approved, please carefully check the validity period, type, and duration of stay of the visa, and arrange your itinerary accordingly. Please enter within the validity period of your visa and leave before the end of your stay. Please strictly follow the application type for the intended purpose. If the application type does not match the actual purpose, please do not use it.

(1) Long term residence permit. Those who have worked and lived in Ukraine for more than 10 years, have good records, and have personal and company tax certificates, or are married to Ukrainian citizens, can apply for long-term residency. Requirement: Fill out the CR form and provide 3 passport sized photos, Lc1 recommendation letter, medical examination certificate, passport copy, and property proof. If applying for residency due to marriage, a copy of the marriage certificate and the passport of the Ugandan spouse are also required. Three levels of permanent residence permits are issued: 5-year, 10-year, and permanent residency permits.

(2) Accompany residency. Provide proof letter from spouse, two passport photos, marriage certificate, spouse residence permit (if applying for children, birth certificate is required), and parents' residence certificate is also required when applying for minors.

(3) Work visa. Provide two passport photos, a letter of introduction from the employer, the business license of the employer, the text of the company registration, a copy of the municipal government business license, a bank deposit certificate of no less than 80000 to 100000 US dollars, a notarized translation of the applicant's certificate of no criminal record, and an original notarized translation of the applicant's educational background certificate. Additionally, pay a deposit for round-trip airfare in advance; Large scale companies are required to provide a copy of the investment certificate from the investment bureau; The trading company provides a copy of the container tax bill and fills out the application form.

Ukrainian embassies and consulates abroad temporarily do not issue work visas. After Ukrainian staff enter Ukrainian territory, they can apply for a new work visa. They are not allowed to work in Ukrainian territory without obtaining a work visa.

(4) Special Passes. Ukraine issues special travel permits for short-term entry, those who have not obtained work visas, and residents, valid for 1 to 3 months. It can be processed at the airport or immigration office.

2. Naturalization

Ukraine recognizes dual citizenship, but only for those whose country of origin also agrees to recognize dual citizenship and issues a letter of consent to apply for Ugandan citizenship. Other applicants applying for citizenship must declare their withdrawal from their original nationality. Applicants who apply to restore their original nationality may also request to renounce their Ukrainian nationality from relevant departments in Ukraine.

The risk level in Uganda is yellow (medium risk).                                           

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Chinese citizens in Uganda to closely monitor the local security situation, be vigilant, strengthen prevention, and pay attention to safety. In case of emergency, please report to the police in a timely manner and contact the Chinese embassy or consulate in the local area.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas embassies and consulates will continue to closely monitor changes in the overseas security situation, dynamically adjust relevant risk assessments, and release and update corresponding security reminders in real time on platforms such as the China Consular Service Network. Please continue to pay attention.

public security

In recent years, the crime rate in Uzbekistan has generally declined, but since the end of 2016, public security has deteriorated, and homicides and robberies have continued, especially against foreigners. With the increasing number of Chinese citizens coming to Ukraine for business and employment, theft and robbery cases targeting Chinese people have become frequent. In October and November 2018, there were multiple vicious public security incidents targeting overseas Chinese enterprises and individuals.

Since March 2020, the long-term COVID-19 and the normalization of prevention and control have led to economic decline in many African countries, greatly affected people's lives and worsened public security, including Uganda. We should closely monitor the security situation in Ukraine and effectively enhance our awareness of prevention. We should pay attention to personal and property safety, and further enhance our awareness of prevention. The place of residence should be chosen in a relatively safe and environmentally friendly area, and caution should be taken not to live in high-risk areas such as urban-rural fringe areas. We attach great importance to the reminder from the Ukrainian police that armed security should be equipped, and pay attention to strengthening the security measures of companies, factories, and residences. We regularly inspect the fence, power grid, cameras, and alarm systems to ensure the normal operation of relevant security measures. Do not place large amounts of cash in the workplace or residence, and do not bring too much cash or valuable items when going out. Pay attention to electrical and fire safety to prevent accidents from occurring. Pay attention to strengthening security background checks and prevention measures for relevant personnel. Avoid going out at night. If an accident occurs, please contact the local police department and the embassy in Uganda as soon as possible.

natural disaster

Although located on the equator, due to its high altitude, rivers crisscross and lakes are scattered everywhere, resulting in abundant rainfall, lush vegetation, and spring like seasons, it is known as the "Pearl of Africa". Except for the high mountain areas on the eastern and western borders, the climate throughout the region is mild, with an average annual temperature of 22.3 ℃. The highest temperature is in January, with an average of 23.55 ℃; The lowest temperature is in June, with an average of 21.4 ℃. The annual rainfall in most parts of the country ranges from 1000 to 1500 millimeters, with 2000 millimeters of precipitation along the shores and islands of Lake Victoria, and less than 500 millimeters in the northeast region. The seasonal variation of rainfall is obvious: the southern region has rainy seasons from March to June and September to December, while the rest of the time is divided into two dry seasons; The northern region experiences a long rainy season from April to November, followed by a dry season from December to March of the following year, which is drier than the southern region. Due to the impact of climate change, the transition between rainy and dry seasons is sometimes advanced and sometimes delayed. During the dry season, some areas may experience temporary drought due to prolonged lack of rainfall, while during the rainy season, there may be temporary floods in some areas due to excessive rainfall. A mudslide disaster occurred on October 11, 2018. Since May 2020, Ukraine has suffered severe floods and locust plagues that have not been seen in decades, resulting in heavy losses. In addition, there are relatively few other serious natural disasters in the country.

FDA

Malaria is one of the main diseases in Wudang, with a high incidence rate and high child mortality. Other infectious diseases include AIDS, yellow fever, cholera, typhoid fever, Marburg haemorrhagic fever, Ebola, etc. Before going to Uganda, one should receive the yellow fever vaccine in advance and try to minimize travel to remote areas to prevent infection.

In August 2018, an Ebola outbreak occurred in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In July 2019, the World Health Organization declared the recent outbreak as a "public health emergency of international concern". As a neighboring country, Ukraine reported 3 confirmed cases of imported Ebola on June 11, 2019. Since then, the epidemic in Ukraine has been brought under control, and there have been no new confirmed cases of Ebola so far. However, close attention and prevention measures are still needed.

Caution should be exercised when consuming frozen or canned food. If nausea, vomiting, or central nervous system symptoms such as eye and pharyngeal muscle paralysis occur, seek medical attention promptly.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Ukraine has seen its first imported case since March 21, 2020. At present, there are 54669 confirmed cases and 388 dead cases (as of June 6, 2021). The situation is very serious. We must be highly vigilant about this, resolutely abandon complacency, luck mentality, and fatigue and relaxation mentality, closely follow up and strictly abide by the Ukrainian government's various epidemic prevention regulations, enhance safety awareness, strengthen personal protection, wear masks in public places, maintain a safe distance, and minimize the risk of infection.

Urgent Help

Chinese citizens in Uganda are advised to seek assistance from local police or fire departments in case of emergency, and can also contact the Chinese Embassy in Uganda.

Bandit police and emergency rescue hotline:+ 256-999, 112

Fire alarm:+ 256 714 667 752

Uganda Central Police Headquarters Address: Katalima Road, Naguru, Kampala， Phone:+ 256 414 233 814，+ 256 414 250 613，+ 256 800 199 990/1/2

Global Consular Protection and Services Emergency Call Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:+86-10-12308 or+86-10-65612308

Consular protection assistance hotline of the Embassy in Ukraine:+ 256-703-886-882

Chinese medical aid team to Ukraine phone number:+ 256-753-561-189

China Ukraine Friendship Hospital Phone:+256-414-289-740

air traffic

There is no direct flight route between Uganda and China. Before the epidemic, it was mainly possible to transfer to Uganda's Entebbe International Airport through ports such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, via Dubai, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and other places. Uganda's state-owned airline has resumed operations, and there are several international airlines operating in Uganda, such as Kenya Airways, Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Rwanda Airways, and Brussels Airlines.

Uganda's Entebbe International Airport is relatively small, with direct flights to cities such as Amsterdam, Brussels, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Cairo, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Dubai, Juba, Kigali, and Kinshasa before the pandemic. However, international flights have been severely impacted after the epidemic, with many routes significantly reduced and some routes significantly reduced or even grounded.

land transport

The Uganda passenger transport system has both surface (TAXI, fixed route) and motorcycle (BODABODA) systems. The main mode of transportation between cities is long-distance buses.

Local vehicles drive on the left side due to poor road conditions, and the Chinese driver's license must be replaced with a local driver's license before driving.

water communication

Uganda can be transported by water through Lake Victoria with Tanzania and Kenya, and by water through Lake Albert with the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the safety of waterway transportation is poor, and ship capsizing accidents often occur.

Urban transportation

The transportation in the capital city of Kampala mainly relies on roads, motorcycles, and bicycles. Among them, motorcycles are the main mode of transportation with lower prices, but traffic accidents often occur.

Pedestrians should pay attention to avoiding vehicles when crossing the street.

major city

KAMPALA: The capital and largest city of Uganda, with a population of approximately 3.84 million, located in the southern region of Uganda. It is the political, economic, and cultural center of Uganda.

Mbarara: The second largest city in Uganda, with a population of approximately 220000, is an important transportation hub and major commercial center in the southwest of Uganda.

GULU: Located in northern Uganda, with a population of approximately 200000, the main industry is agricultural product processing.

Jinja: located in southeastern Uganda, with a population of approximately 100000; The main industry is agriculture.

Entebbe: Located in the Victoria Lake area south of the capital city of Kampala, with a population of approximately 70000, it is the only civilian airport in Uganda.

MBALE: located in the eastern region of Uganda, with a population of approximately 100000.

Commodity prices

There are few industries in Ukraine, and most daily necessities rely on imports. In addition, due to its inland location, transportation costs are relatively high, and prices are relatively high. Ukrainian daily necessities are relatively complete, and general goods can be purchased, but the price is more than twice the domestic price in China.

The currency of Ukraine is the shilling, which can be freely exchanged with the US dollar. In June 2021, the exchange rate was approximately 3500 Ukrainian shillings for 1 US dollar and 550 Ukrainian shillings for 1 Chinese yuan.

There are several business districts in the capital Kampala, among which SHOPRITE, GAME (the above are chain supermarkets) and Carrefour are large and convenient for shopping. In addition, there are many small supermarkets with a wide variety of goods and cheaper prices than chain supermarkets, which can basically meet daily life needs. There is a Chinese supermarket in the city center where you can purchase a variety of Chinese food, seasonings, and daily necessities.

There are many types of locally produced fruits and vegetables such as bananas and pineapples, which are cheap and of high quality, while other imported fruits are more expensive. Egg prices are on par with domestic prices, while pork, beef, and mutton prices are cheaper than domestic prices.

Insurance Medical

The overall medical and health conditions in Ukraine are poor, with hospitals divided into state-owned and private systems. Under the background of the epidemic, medical resources are very scarce. There are many hospitals and clinics in the capital, among which Nakasero Hospital and Mulago Hospital, designated hospitals for COVID-19, are strong, with many doctors, advanced equipment and complete departments. The level of private clinics varies greatly, and the cost of diagnosis and treatment is relatively high.

China has sent a medical team to Ukraine, which is stationed at China Uganda Friendship Hospital (Naguru) in Kampala, the capital city, and is the designated hospital for COVID-19. There are also several private clinics run by Chinese in the capital.

The variety of local drugs is incomplete, and shortages often occur.

The National Insurance Company of Ukraine can provide medical insurance services at+256-414258001.

Customs taboos

Major festivals in Uganda: January 1st - New Year's Day, January 26th - Liberation Day, February 16th - Bishop's Martyrdom Day, March 8th - International Women's Day, around April - Good Friday and Easter, May 1st - International Labour Day, June 3rd - Martyrs' Day, June 9th - National Heroes' Day, between June and July - Eid al Fitr, around August - Eid al Adha, October 9th - Independence Day, December 25th - Christmas, December 26th - Boxing Day.

Muslims make up about 11% of the population in Ukraine. When entering mosques or Muslim homes, it is important to respect their religious customs and follow the prescribed route and location. Visitors are not allowed to visit freely. Ugandans mainly eat rice bananas, beef, mutton, and chicken to entertain guests. The vast majority of people do not eat seafood, and some people eat freshwater fish. Ugandans rarely smoke and do not like people smoking around them. In Ugandan households, there are small thatched cottages or ornaments used to worship ancestors, and outsiders do not like to touch them. Families in northern Ukraine usually have many cows and sheep, but the owner is most averse to customers asking him how many cows and sheep he has, and does not allow others to count cows or point to lambs. They believe that counting cows can lead to their loss, and that counting lambs can make them susceptible to evil. Some tribes do not like to touch children's heads with their left hand, believing that it will prevent them from growing taller. Uganda is a Commonwealth country and does not like people cutting in line or making noise when queuing for business.

Communications Power

To call a local number in Ukraine from within China, add+256 before the number, and to call a domestic number in China from Ukraine, add+86 before the number.

Local mobile phone service companies include MTN, Airtel, etc. The local mobile phone is in GSM standard, and Chinese domestic mobile phones can be used by installing a local SIM card. Each company has international long-distance packages targeting China, with relatively economical tariffs.

There are several local companies providing network supply services, but the cost is relatively high. The basic access method is microwave transmission, and currently fiber optic transmission is gradually becoming popular. Microwave transmission method for internet access, with a 15M broadband speed of approximately $2100 per month. Fiber optic transmission for internet access, with a 15M broadband speed of approximately $3700 per month.

The power supply voltage in Ukraine is the same as that in China, which is 220/380, 50Hz. Use a British style power plug.

contact information

Phone number of Uganda Immigration Department:+ 256-414-232573

Uganda Entebbe International Airport Phone:+ 256-414-353000

Uganda government website:www.gou.go.ug

Uganda Ministry of Health website:www.health.go.ug

Uganda Civil Aviation Authority website:www.caa.co.ug

Uganda Tourism Board website:www.visituganda.com