Filming in East Africa: permits, accreditation and drone rules in all eight EAC countries

The East African Community has eight partner states: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Somalia became the eighth on 4 March 2024.⁹

We checked every official source in this guide on 29 September 2026. Rules and fees change, sometimes without notice, so confirm with the issuing office before you book travel. Where official sources disagree or are out of date, we say so.

Sources for the table are given in each country section below.

Rwandan and foreign production companies and individuals apply for a photography and video shooting permit online through Irembo, the government’s e-services platform. It covers filming in public for documentaries and fiction, processing takes four days, and the permit arrives as a downloadable e-certificate.¹¹⁰

Published fees for foreigners are RWF 30,000 for 15 days, RWF 50,000 for one month, RWF 100,000 for three months and RWF 200,000 for twelve months. Rwandans pay RWF 10,000.¹

The permit does not replace other approvals. Irembo notes that crews must still complete formalities requested by local authorities, including authorisations for drones and special equipment.¹

Official pages name different offices behind the permit: Irembo’s citizen guide (updated December 2025) names the Ministry of Youth, an earlier agent guide names the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, and Rwanda’s embassy in Japan still names the Rwandan Academy of Language and Culture. Apply through Irembo and check the current office there.¹¹¹¹²

Journalists apply for media accreditation through Irembo. The published fee is US$30 for Rwandan correspondents of foreign media and journalists from the East African Community, and US$100 for other foreign journalists. No fixed processing time is published.¹³¹⁴¹⁵

For drones, the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority says operators must declare the drone to Rwanda National Police on entry and register it, and should hold a Rwandan remote pilot certificate and an activity permit before flying.⁴

For equipment, the Rwanda Revenue Authority’s general guidance on temporary duty-free import lists a bank guarantee, insurance and a guarantee from the relevant ministry. This is general customs guidance, not a filming rule.¹⁶

The Kenya Film Classification Board licenses filming. Its published requirements say all foreign filmmakers must be facilitated by a local film agent registered with the Board, and that international filmmakers need Special Passes from the Department of Immigration Services.²⁵

The Board’s 2021 requirements list fees of KSh 5,000 for documentaries and short productions, KSh 15,000 for feature films and TV series, and KSh 1,000 per filming day. They state that applications for features and series are processed within 48 hours. These are the latest official figures we could verify.²

A July 2026 news report says the Board, now called the Kenya Film Classification and Licensing Board, has moved licensing to eCitizen. We could not confirm this on the Board’s own website.¹⁷

According to the Kenya Film Commission, drone operators must first get approval from the Ministry of Defence and then from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. Drones are governed by the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2020.⁵¹⁸

Filming in national parks and reserves needs a Kenya Wildlife Service permit and fees.²⁵

On equipment, official sources differ: the Film Commission says no taxes are charged and a security bond is used, while the Board’s 2021 document mentions a small import charge per consignment. Ask your local agent which applies today.²⁵

Foreign producers apply to the Tanzania Film Board. Its application form lists a fee of US$1,000, or US$3,000 for fast-track applications processed within seven working days. Applicants should apply at least one month before filming and attach a synopsis or script.³

The same form says imported equipment requires a cash bond with customs at the point of entry.³

Journalist permits are issued through Tanzania Information Services (MAELEZO). Zanzibar has its own Information Department.¹⁹²⁰

The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority requires non-resident drone operators to obtain an import permit, drone registration, pilot registration and an operations permit, applying at least three weeks before arrival. Without an import permit, the drone will be confiscated on arrival.⁶

Published charges for a non-resident drone under 5 kg are US$100 for registration, US$10 per day for the operations permit and US$50 for import.²¹

Tanzania National Parks charges a filming fee per person per day in its parks, which also covers entrance and camping. The last tariff we could find (2023/2024) ended in June 2024, so ask TANAPA for the current rates before you budget.²²

Foreign journalists need accreditation from the Media Council of Uganda. It asks for an application form, a police or Interpol clearance, a letter from the employer, a passport with a valid visa, a work permit and six recent work samples. Accreditation is offered for three months, six months, one year or two years, and processing takes seven days.²³

Uganda’s embassy in Washington lists fees of US$175 for up to 30 days, US$225 for up to six months and US$325 for two years. These periods differ from the Media Council’s accreditation periods, so confirm the period and fee when you apply.²⁴

The Uganda Communications Commission issues a licence for filming, documentary production and commercial still photography. Its licence form asks for local government permits, including from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in Kampala, and for authorisation from the responsible government department when filming in protected areas.²⁵²⁶

For drones, a 2020 circular from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority requires a letter of no objection from the relevant ministry, an application to the authority and security clearance through a committee convened by the Chief of Defence Forces, with a fee of UGX 250,000 plus 18% VAT. Uganda’s Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2022, also apply, so confirm the current process with the authority.⁷²⁷

The Uganda Wildlife Authority charges extra for filming and drone filming in protected areas, and filming must be booked in advance. Its last published tariff (July 2024 to June 2026) has expired, so ask the Authority for the current rates.²⁸

We could not find an official, published filming permit process for Burundi. The civil aviation authority publishes forms for drone registration and a drone operating certificate.⁸

The Conseil National de la Communication reviews applications for press cards and journalist accreditation, according to REFRAM, the network of francophone media regulators.²⁹

For the 2025 elections, the national electoral commission required its own accreditation in addition to the press card, according to the Burundian newspaper IWACU.³⁰

Contact Burundi’s embassy and a trusted local partner before planning a shoot.

A ministerial order of 12 July 2017 from the Ministry of Communication and Media says foreign media need an authorisation for their reporting, valid only for the places and period it names. The authorisation is issued after payment of accreditation fees. This is the latest order we could find; confirm it is still in force.³¹

The same order says any travel outside the city of Kinshasa needs the minister’s prior authorisation.³¹

The UK government advises against all travel, or all but essential travel, to several areas, including the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. Its advice was updated on 16 September 2026.³²

We could not open the drone documents of the DRC’s civil aviation authority, so we found no published drone process. Ask the authority directly before you travel with a drone.

The South Sudan Media Authority accredits journalists. Its 2018 regulations say foreign journalists must get a no-objection letter from the Authority to receive an entry visa from a South Sudan embassy.³³

Accreditation lasts for the event being covered, or up to three months from the date the card is issued. The regulations count people who take photographs and make films as journalists, and we found no separate filming permit.³³

For international journalists, the Authority asks for a signed and stamped letter from the employer, professional certificates, samples of previous work, two passport photos, a valid work permit, a copy of the passport and a press card from the home country.³⁴

The Civil Aviation Authority lists Unmanned Aircraft Systems Regulations of 2026 among its rules. Ask the authority how to apply before bringing a drone.³⁵

The UK government advises against all travel to South Sudan, in advice updated on 25 August 2026. It also warns against taking photographs near government buildings, military sites, bridges, airports and other sensitive places.³⁶³⁷

Somalia’s Media Law was signed by the President after the House of the People approved it on 8 July 2019 and the Senate on 14 January 2020, according to the national news agency.³⁸

A copy of the law as amended in 2019 says identification cards are issued only to journalists who have been registered and vetted by the ministries. We found no rules written specifically for foreign journalists and no official filming permit process.³⁹

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority’s website did not mention drones when we checked, so ask the authority before planning any drone work.⁴⁰

The UK government advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland. The only exceptions are the Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil regions, where it advises against all but essential travel. Its advice was updated on 4 June 2026.⁴¹

In places with serious security risks, work only with an experienced local partner, a security plan and insurance that covers the area.

None of the eight countries appears on a carnet provider’s list of countries that accept ATA Carnets, the international customs documents for temporary imports. Plan for bonds or guarantees instead, and confirm with customs in each country.⁴²

We are based in Kigali and work across the region. We can prepare permit applications, arrange accreditation, plan drone approvals and provide crews and interpreters. Allow at least one month for any multi-country shoot.