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The EAC Common Market Protocol allows workers from any Partner State to accept employment within any other EAC country. They cannot be discriminated against on the basis of their nationality.
Furthermore, a worker will have the right to social security benefits and can be accompanied by a spouse and children.
It is however worth noting that, Employment in the public service is excluded unless permitted by the particular Partner State.
Using the ILO classification, Partner States have committed to open up for the following categories of workers:
- Burundi - Professionals; By 1st July 2010
- Kenya - Managers, Professionals, Technicians and Associate Professionals, and Craft and Related Trades Workers; By 1st July 2010
- Rwanda - Professionals and Technicians and Associate Professionals; By 1st July 2010
- Tanzania - Professionals and Technicians and Associate Professionals; Ranging from 1st July 2010 to 2015
- Uganda - Managers, Professionals and Craft and Related Trades Workers; By 1st July 2010
Entry, Stay and Exit
A citizen of a Partner State, who seeks to enter or exit the territory of another Partner State as a worker, shall do so at entry or exit points designated in accordance with the national laws of the Partner State and shall comply with the established immigration procedures.
Work Permits
A worker who has a contract of employment of a period of more than 90 days in the territory of another Partner State shall apply to the competent authority for a work permit within 15 working days from the date of entry into the territory of the host Partner State.
Where a worker secures employment for a period of not more than 90 days, the worker shall apply for, and be issued with a special pass.
Where the competent authority rejects an application for a work permit, the competent authority shall in writing, notify the applicant, stating the reasons for the rejection.
*Important to note
The Republics of Kenya and Rwanda have abolished work permit fees for East African nationals working in the two countries.
Access to Employment Opportunities
The Partner States shall endeavour to collect and disseminate information on job vacancies and put in place labour market information systems to facilitate access to employment opportunities by the citizens of the Community.
Equal Treatment in Employment
The Partner States provide for regular labour inspections and any other appropriate measures to ensure that the same treatment is accorded to the workers from other Partner States as is accorded to the nationals of the Partner State with regard to:
- terms and conditions of employment;
- equal opportunities for both men and women and in particular, access to employment;
- occupational health and safety;
- contribution to a social security scheme;
- access to vocational training;
- the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining;
- access to dispute resolution mechanism; and
- any other right accruing to a worker under the provisions of the national laws of the Partner State.
Self-Employment
EAC citizens have the right to establish their business in any Partner State and pursue economic activities in accordance with the national laws of the Partner State.
Self-employed persons are able to carry out their work across the region, and be entitled to social security schemes in the host country.
The Protocol requires Partner States to remove all restrictions on the right of establishment based on the nationality of the companies, firms and self-employed persons.
For more information on Self-employment regulations, refer to the Common Market Annex on Right of Establishment.
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Overview
Welcome. Karibu. Bienvenue. With so much beauty to savour, wonderful people to meet, tasty cuisines to sample, travelling in East Africa is guaranteed to be fun.
Documents you need:
- Passport
- Visa (for non EAC citizens)
- Alternative travel documents for East Africans
- Other requirements for East Africans (Certificate of Identity / Inter-state Pass)
- Proof of yellow fever vaccination
- Full Covid-19 vaccination certificate (or valid Negative PCR Test)
Choosing how to travel:
Air:
The East African Community is connected to the world by a network of international airports, most of which are located in or adjacent to the region's major cities. Most major towns in different Partner States also possess smaller airports.
The Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA), an institution of the Community, works closely with national civil aviation authorities to ensure that air travel in the region is safe.
Road:
There is a host of bus services connecting all East African capitals and major cities, but with EAC-enhanced co-operation in the area of transport, East Africans can now drive private cars across borders and across the entire EAC region, free of charge, for visits no longer than seven (7) days.
The maximum period allowed for one to use a car not registered in the host Partner State is six (6) months, although you will be required to pay $20 per month as temporary road licence after the seven-day grace period has elapsed. Anyone using a private car has to fill a form, obtainable at border crossing points or local Revenue Authority office, which grants permission for free access for a week.
A valid driver’s licence is required for driving in any of the Partner States.
Ensure that your car is insured before you travel, with a valid sticker displayed on your vehicle as proof of insurance (seek advice from your insurer on the available insurance options). Also make sure you carry an original copy of your car Log Book or at the very least, a certified photocopy.
Ports of entry (applies to road transport only*)
- Kenya - Uganda border: Busia and Malaba
- Kenya - Tanzania border: Namanga and Holili
- Tanzania - Uganda border: Mutukula
- Tanzania - Burundi border: Kigoma
- Tanzania - Rwanda border: Rusumo
- Rwanda - Burundi border: Akanyaru
- Rwanda - Uganda border: Gatuna / Katuna
- South Sudan - Uganda border: Busia, Nimule
- South Sudan - Kenya border:
Sea:
The region’s principle seaports include; Mombasa in Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Mtwara and Tanga in Tanzania.
Best time to travel based on weather, time zones and public holidays
Weather:
Climatic conditions vary from tropical to temperate, depending on elevation.
There are two common rain seasons in the Partner States: the long rains from late March to early May, and the short rains, from late October to early December.
Time zones:
Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda belong to the East Africa Time zone, which is three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3).
Rwanda and Burundi belong to the Central Africa Time zone. CAT is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo observes GMT+01:00 (West Africa Time) for Western DRC (Kinshasa, Boende, Zongo); and GMT+02:00 (Central Africa Time) for Eastern DRC (Goma, Kindu, Bukama, Lubumbashi). It is the only country in Africa that uses more than one time zone.
Public holidays:
Most government institutions close on public holidays in EAC Partner States, although immigration points (airports, border entry points etc) remain open.
Similarly, most business fixtures remain closed on such days.
Below is a table showing the official public holidays in the EAC Partner States:
| EAC Partner State | Public holidays |
|---|
| Burundi |
1 Jan New Year’s Day; 5 Feb Unity Day; 1 May Labour Day; 21 May Ascension; 1 Jul Independence Day; 15 Aug Assumption; 13 Oct Anniversary of Louise Rwagasore’s assassination; 21 Oct Anniversary of President M. Ndadaye’s assassination; 1 Nov All Saints’ Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day |
| Democratic Republic of Congo |
1 Jan New year's Day; 4 Jan Martyrs' Day; 16 Jan Heroes' Day (Rememberance of Laurent Kabila); 17 Jan Heroes' Day (Rememberance of Patrice Lumumba); 1 May Labour Day; 17 May Liberation Day; 30 Jun Independence Day; 1 Aug Parents' Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day |
| Kenya |
1 Jan New Year’s Day; 1 May Labour Day; 1 Jun Madaraka Day; 20 Oct Mashujaa Day; 12 Dec Jamuhuri (Independence) Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day |
| Rwanda |
1 Jan New Year’s Day; 1 Feb Heroes’ Day; 7 Apr Genocide Memorial Day; 1 May Labour Day; 1 Jul Independence Day; 4 Jul Liberation Day; 15 Aug Assumption; 1 Oct Patriotism Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day |
| South Sudan |
1 Jan New Year's Day; 9 Jan Peace Agreement Day; Easter Sunday, 1 May International Labour Day; 16 May SPLA Day; 9 Jul Independence Day, Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan); 30 Jul Martyrs’ Day; Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice); 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day; 28 Dec Republic Day |
| United Republic of Tanzania |
1 Jan New Year’s Day; 12 Jan Zanzibar Revolution Day; 26 Apr Union Day; 1 May Labour Day; 7 Jul Saba Saba Day; 8 Aug Nane Nane Day; 14 Oct Nyerere Day; 9 Dec Independence and Republic Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day |
| Uganda |
1 Jan New Year’s Day; 26 Jan Liberation Day; 8 Mar International Women’s Day; 1 May Labour Day; 3 Jun Martyrs’ Day; 9 Jun National Heroes’ Day; 9 Oct Independence Day; 25 Dec Christmas Day; 26 Dec Boxing Day |
* Note: Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramdhan) and Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) festivals are determined by local sightings of various phases of the moon and are, upon confirmation, declared public holidays in the EAC Partner States.
Burundi:
DRC:
Kenya:
Rwanda:
South Sudan:
Tanzania:
Uganda: