Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are developing a joint visa framework to ease cross-border travel for football fans attending the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027, The EastAfrican reported on October 12.
East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers Chairperson Rebecca Kadaga confirmed that the three countries were working on the proposed arrangement during an inspection of the Arusha Pamoja Afcon Stadium in Tanzania on October 12. Kadaga, Uganda's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, led members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) on the visit.
The proposal predates the latest announcement. Sports ministers from the three host countries agreed in April to continue consultations on a common visa framework, while Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni endorsed the initiative in July. However, no final agreement or implementation timetable has been announced.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda already operate a joint East African Tourist Visa, allowing eligible visitors to travel between the three countries, but Tanzania is not included. The proposed Afcon arrangement would establish a common entry framework for all three tournament hosts, although eligibility, fees, validity periods and border procedures remain to be agreed.
Kadaga said easier cross-border travel could encourage international supporters to attend matches in more than one host country, potentially increasing spending on accommodation, transport, tourism and other services.
The proposed visa could also help the three EAC members capture a larger share of the tournament's economic benefits by facilitating travel between match venues. However, the scale of those benefits would depend on the final visa arrangements and their implementation.
During the Arusha inspection, engineers overseeing construction of the Pamoja Afcon Stadium reported that the facility was approximately 95% complete.
Tanzania's Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Minister Paul Makonda put the stadium's construction cost at $112mn and its capacity at 32,500 spectators. China Railway Construction Engineering Group, a subsidiary of China Railway Group (SSE: 601390; HKEX: 00390), has separately described the facility as having capacity for approximately 30,000 spectators.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the tournament dates but has not publicly identified the host country for the opening match or final.
Tanzanian EALA member Abdullah Makame cautioned that the proposed visa's effectiveness would depend on its final rules and consistent implementation at border crossings, underscoring the need for coordination among the three host governments before the tournament.