Uganda work permit (entry permit classes G1, G2 and G3)

Uganda's entry permits are divided into classes A to H by the holder's activity. Three of them cover employment. Class G1 is for missionaries and volunteers working in NGOs. Class G2 is the general class for foreign expatriates employed in Uganda, including salaried NGO staff. Class G3 is for rare-skilled foreign nationals employed in agro-processing, manufacturing and the mining of selected minerals. Class A2 exists separately for people employed and paid by the Government of Uganda.

The permit is always tied to a sponsoring organisation, which must first obtain a mandatory organisation code from NCIC by submitting the organisation profiling form with its registration documents, tax identification number and director details.

For class G2 NCIC lists the passport bio-data page, a recent photo, a covering letter from the employer, a valid police clearance from Interpol or the home country, a valid tax clearance certificate, your current immigration status, the appointment letter, a certified copy of your qualifications (graduate certificate), proof that the employer could not find a qualified Ugandan for the job, and a list of the organisation's employees showing nationality and position.

Class G3 needs the same core documents plus an equivalence certificate from Uganda's National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). Class G1 asks for the appointment and covering letters, certified qualifications, a recommendation from the NGO Bureau for NGO volunteers, the organisation's valid NGO permit and its staff list.

Class G2: USD 1,250 for 6 months, USD 2,500 for 12 months, USD 5,000 for 24 months and USD 7,500 for 36 months; NCIC states that the 12 to 36-month amounts include a non-refundable USD 1,500 portion. Class G1: USD 250 for 6 or 12 months, USD 500 for 24 months and USD 750 for 36 months. Class G3: USD 400 for 6 or 12 months, USD 800 for 24 months and USD 1,200 for 36 months.

East African nationals are treated differently: Kenyans and Rwandans are exempt from immigration fees but must still apply for and obtain the permit, while the fee for Tanzanians has been revised to USD 1,550 a year. The refundable security bond that work permit applicants used to deposit is no longer required.

Once the employer has its organisation code, the application is filed on visas.immigration.go.ug under Permit, choosing the entry permit class. Some permits require a prepayment on submission and a top-up payment after approval; the approval letter is emailed after the final payment. You then report to the immigration office with all uploaded documents, payment receipts, the approval letter and your passport for biometric capture.

Workers recruited from abroad who are not visa-exempt usually travel on a single-entry visa first, as entry permits are finalised at an immigration office in Uganda; the approval letter for a visa is what allows entry, since NCIC states that other permits do not by themselves allow you to enter the country.

Every employer must send NCIC a return listing all non-citizens it employs every six months. Foreign nationals must carry a copy of their passport and valid immigration status, and company directors who employ foreigners without valid facilities can be prosecuted. Renewal is done through 'Extend your application' on the portal before the permit ends.