For the longest time, the people in Africa were issued ‘African Union Member State Passports’ when they applied to travel. This allowed them to move throughout the country, in many cases, needed them to apply for visas for some of the states they wanted to visit. This entire system was revamped with the implementation of the African Union Passport, now the most common passport being issued in Africa. It will soon replace all other forms of passports previously issued and will shortly be rolled out throughout the country. The passport change is relevant since it allows for travel throughout Africa without separate visas to get across internal borders.

What is the current travel system in Africa?

Until the proper implementation of the African Union Passports, most of the passports being used are issued state wise. The people from the East African states can use their East African Passports to enter these states without constantly applying for a visa.

Since the East African Community is made up of intergovernmental organisations of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the United Republic of Tanzania, their passport allows for the smooth travel between these countries. The people applying for an East African Passport additionally receive a six month, multiple, entry and exit visas to enter these states.

What is the status of the East African Passport?

Multiple findings are tipping the scales back and forth concerning the strength of the passport. While some believe the passport is not as strong as it should be in a world getting further and further globalised with every passing day, others declare it in a good place.

However, there aren’t a lot of connections between Africa and many countries to allow for visa-free entry or visa on arrival which was an inconvenience when travelling around the world, almost defeating the purpose of a passport.

Overall, the country has done a lot to increase the strength of their passport. One of the failings it had was that it needed multiple visas to travel within the country, which is a giant bain considering passports are supposed to ease travel. In response, the East African Passport
currently gives passport holders multiple entries and exit into the East African Communities.

Additionally, countries like Japan, Singapore and South Korea have passports allowing their citizens entry into 190 out of 218 countries globally, other countries have to apply for visas to get these permissions. East Africa Committee passports managed to make it up on the list and allow their citizens entry about 80 countries from that list without visas or providing visas on arrival.

Within Africa however, the EAC is one of the strongest passports with other countries forced to further limit their access to less than 80 countries globally.

What are the benefits of using an East African Community
Passport?

The EAC passports allow for entry into more countries than most other African passports.

The EAC passports are moving to electronic passports which reduce the waiting time post the application process and are recognised by a larger number of countries as compared to the individually created passports.

The country is working hard to improve the strength of their passports allowing the EAC passport to soon provide passport holders with access to more than 80 countries without visas.

Travelling within Africa, the EAC passport allows for the travel to the EAC countries without visas, unlike other passports issued that need individual visas for most of the countries and states there.

What are the additional steps being taken by East African countries in terms of enhancing their passports?

The team is working on creating electronic passports moving forward allowing for the faster deployed of passports, reducing the wait time, post the application process. Additionally, these passports are better-accepted, as compared to the individual national passports currently being used.

Since Africa is a country looking to build its image, others want to help them in their ordeal. Increased collaboration in terms of travel seems to be quite common at this time. This could be thanks to political ties that the country is building with various parts of the world, as well as a contribution to the world economy through its resources.