Uganda - Apply for a Short term Journalists visa

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Procedure

• The Government of Uganda introduced the online visa application system with effect from 01 July 2016.
• All persons intending to travel to Uganda for Journalism business are required to apply and obtain a visa online.

Apply online:
Applications should be filled at the following link: Link.

• Step 1.
  

• Log into visa portalVisa Link
  

• Step 2.
  

• Accept the terms and conditions displayed in the Disclaimer.
  

• Step 3.
  

• Answer simple security questions
  

• Step 4.
  

• Complete the Visa application form
  

• Step 5.
  

• Print visa Application Payment Advice Form
  

• Step 6.
  

• Make payment for the selected type of visa using the selected payment method.
  

Apply in Person:
All journalists must apply for Journalist visa regardless of purpose of travel to Uganda. The procedure is divided into two stages:

Stage 1 (before arrival)

• You need to visit the nearest Ugandan Embassy and apply for journalist short term visa. Nearly all applications are approved without any difficulties.
• The embassy then requests the "approval" from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department Directorate of citizenship and immigration control in Uganda.
• The Directorate of citizenship and immigration control then sends the approval to the embassy, together with the customs clearance (for the equipment to be brought into the country).
• Then you need to re-visit the embassy to provide a list of all the equipment to be brought into Uganda.
• Finally the embassy issues the visa stamp and the customs clearance for the equipment.

Stage 2 (after arrival)

• With the visa stamp in your passport you travel to Uganda.
• After arrival in Uganda, your first point of contact is the (Directorate of citizenship and immigration control) in Uganda, to provide them with a full list of all the sites you would like to visit or film.
• Finally, the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration control will issue the necessary paper work: 'permission' to film the listed sites, and an 'ID', which you must carry with you at all times.
• For underwater, aerial and safari filming, you can submit a detailed map outlining the specific locations you wish to film.

Note

• If you fail to follow the above mentioned requirements, your visa application will not be processed.
• Visa processing starts only after all necessary documents are submitted

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Required Documents

• Scanned Valid National Passport (minimum period validity 6 months at the time of travel)or any acceptable Travel document;
• Printed copy of a completed Online Visa Application Form(with one passport size photograph attached), and a copy of Payment Confirmed page;
• A letter of invitation from local contact(s) in Uganda;
• A letter of introduction from the organisation(s) that journalists work for or represent;
• A copy of itinerary while on duty in Uganda;
• List of equipment accompanying applicant(s);
• Scanned copy of your passport's bio data page (the page with your photo).
• Your profession.
• Estimated date of arrival.
• Payment. Visa Fee (cash only)Paid in advance
• Application form
• A valid Passport.
• Two recent passport photos.
• Visa reference number (from Uganda).
• Letter from employer.

Office Locations & Contacts

Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration control - Head Office,
Ministry of Interior
Plot 75, Jinja Road P. O. Box 7165 / 7191, Kampala - Uganda
Telephone contact: + 256 414 595 945
Fax: +256 414 348 707
Email: [email protected]
Website: Link

Eligibility

• One must be a journalist visiting Uganda on the short term mission of not less than 6 weeks gathering news or capturing news or Filming sites in Uganda on behalf of the foreign organization. This Visa is granted to the following category of people.
• Only Journalist accreditation is required. Visiting crew must pick up and sign for the accreditation in Uganda.
• All Ugandan visa applications must be accompanied by a valid passport form the applicant's country of origin. For candidates who are living in a country which is not their country of origin, proof of residence must also be supplied. In all cases, passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the duration of the visa. Where candidates are applying for Uganda Tourist visas, a letter from the Tourist contact in Uganda will be required. The letter must detail the proposed duration and purpose of the trip to Uganda.

Fees

• Aliens Card - of US $100.00 at the prevailing exchange rate.
• Residence/Work Permit of US$250.00 at the prevailing exchange rate.
• Regularization/Multiple Re-Entry Visa Fees range from Ugshs 50,000-100,000 depending on the nationality of the applicant.
• In addition, film crews are to pay a fee of US $150.00 per filming day and US $200.00per day for commercial or promotional films respectively (in foreign currency only)

Validity

This journalist visa is valid for 3 months only with a single entry. Regardless of the entry status, it can be renewed upon request.

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• Processing time take less than a one month but because of the complexity it can exceed that time. Visas for journalists cannot be fast-tracked and may take longer than five (5) working days to process;
• A Journalist Visa is normally issued in 2 working days, exclusive of the day on which application is made. If the journalist intends to make documentaries in Uganda, six weeks are required to process the application.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. 	
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

• If you intend to visit or film sites in Uganda, then you need to obtain a journalist Visa which include those sites in the list of the sites you intend to film.
• If you secure permission from the Directorate of citizenship and immigration control for the whole list (as of the above procedure) then you can visit and film in all the sites approved in list.
• It is therefore necessary to include all the sites you intend to visit in the list before you submit it to the directorate of citizenship and immigration control Department.
• If you need business visas then a local Ugandan sponsor company will need to apply for you.

Required Information

• Documents customs clearance for the equipment to be brought into the country.
• A list of all the equipment to be brought into Uganda.
• A valid passport for less than 6 months to expire.
• Signature of the Applicant.

Need for the Document

Please provide the need for the procedure. e.g. Birth Certificate - why do we need to have a birth certificate? 
 

Information which might help

• No person being an employee of a foreign mass media organisation or working as a freelancer for that mass media shall practise journalism in Uganda unless he or she is in possession of an accreditation card issued by the council.
• Journalists on short-term visits for periods of not more than 6 weeks require NO work permits. However, they will only be accredited for the duration and purpose of their assignment in Uganda.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

External Link

Others

More information which might help people.