Visas. As much as they make passports look prettier, they can be frustrating to obtain.

As a travel agent I would probably always advise getting all the visas that you can before departing. As a traveller I forget to apply for visas in time and end up winging it.

Following online guidance I decided to get an East African Tourist Visa on arrival in Kenya Airport (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport). If I had done slightly more research it would have been a total breeze.

So if you are heading to East Africa anytime soon, maybe you can learn from my experience. Or you could just wing it, because that was kind of emotionally draining fun too…

First things first. When you arrive in the customs building (the hot shed) you will find random desks littered with forms. You will need to fill out two if you are getting a visa on arrival. Grab the arrival card and visa form and try and find a spare chair (or bit of floor) to fill them out.

The visa form will not actually give you any options about what visas are available on arrival but luckily I knew that the East Africa Tourist Visa existed so I could ask about it.

If you are getting the East Africa Tourist Visa (and not just a Kenyan single or multi entry visa) head to the desk on the far right. This is not in anyway labelled but it is the only desk that issue East Africa Tourist Visa’s. (Don’t waste precious moments of your life sweating it out in the other lines because you will end up lining up again.

You MUST pay for the visa in US dollars. You can get other visas in different currencies but the  East Africa Tourist Visa requires $100USD and USD only.

If you make my mistake and forget to have any USD on you there is a chance they will hold onto your passport and direct you to the ATM’s. If you have my luck, the ATM’s will be out of order. You will then be directed onto the street to find a money exchange office. Yep, out of the airport and into the country in search of money. Eventually you will find somewhere to exchange it and return to find a shiny new visa in your passport.

Skip the hassle and just bring USD. Please.

If you know what to expect and have the right currency getting an East Africa Tourist Visa on arrival in Kenya Airport should be a total breeze. Good luck.

FYI the visa gives you 90 days multiple entry into Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda but NOT Tanzania.

Visa information is constantly changing so please check the consulate websites of the countries you are visiting for the most up to date information!

For more info: http://www.visiteastafrica.org/visa-2/

If you want to play it safe and organise visas before you travel check out: https://visasdirect.com.au