Uganda Passport Fees 2026: Ordinary, Express and Renewal Costs

An ordinary Ugandan passport costs UGX 250,000, whether you're applying for the first time or renewing one that's expiring. Express processing adds UGX 150,000 on top, and cuts the wait by several days.

These are the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control's (DCIC) own fees, checked on immigration.go.ug in November 2026. They match the Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Fees) Regulations, 2021, the gazetted law that set these amounts, so they aren't changing any time soon. Below: every passport type and what it costs, how to pay, how long each option takes, and what trips people up.

Uganda passport fees at a glance (2026)

Source: Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Fees) Regulations, 2021, confirmed against immigration.go.ug's Ordinary Passport and Renewal/Replacement pages, checked November 2026. All fees exclude bank charges.

If you only remember one number, remember this: for the standard 48-page book that almost everyone applies for, you are looking at UGX 250,000 regular or UGX 400,000 express, full stop. Everything else in that table is for a specific situation (diplomats, frequent flyers, people replacing a lost booklet).

Ordinary vs express: what the extra UGX 150,000 buys you

The difference isn't the booklet, it's the queue.

• Regular processing: 10 working days from the day your biometric enrolment at a passport centre is complete, for UGX 250,000 (48-page) or UGX 350,000 (64-page).
• Express processing: 2 working days from the same enrolment date, for an extra UGX 150,000 on top of whichever booklet you chose.

That's straight from DCIC's own FAQ page, so treat any blog that promises express in "24 hours" or "same day" with suspicion. The clock only starts once you've shown up in person and given your fingerprints and photo, not the day you pay.

Express is worth it if you have a flight booked, a visa interview with a deadline, or a job offer that needs proof of travel documents fast. If you're applying months ahead of any trip, save the UGX 150,000 and take the regular 10 working days.

Renewal and replacement fees

Renewing a passport that's about to expire, or replacing one that's worn out or damaged, costs the same UGX 250,000 as a first-time ordinary application (UGX 400,000 with express). There's no separate "renewal discount."

To renew or replace, DCIC asks for:

1. A completed Appointment Form from the online portal.
2. Your National ID (or National Identification Number).
3. Your old passport.
4. A recommendation letter from a Ugandan national of good standing who can vouch for your citizenship, with a copy of their National ID attached.
5. If you've stated a profession, or you're changing the one on your old passport, a copy of your academic transcript or certificate.

Changing your name or other personal details on a passport goes through the same UGX 250,000 fee (plus UGX 150,000 for express), but you'll also need a written explanation addressed to the Passport Control Officer and a copy of your National ID clearly showing the new details.

If your old passport is lost, you pay the UGX 100,000 fine on top of the UGX 250,000 replacement fee. Mutilated or badly damaged passports attract the same UGX 100,000 charge.

How to pay for a Uganda passport

Every passport application, new or renewal, runs through the passports.go.ug portal, not a bank counter or an agent's office. The steps:

1. Go to the Passport Portal and accept the disclaimer.
2. Answer the security questions and fill in the application form.
3. Print your Passport Application Payment Advice Form. This carries your Payment Registration Number (PRN).
4. Pay the PRN by card, online banking, over the counter at a bank, or mobile money.
5. Book an appointment through the link on the portal's home page and print the Appointment Form.
6. Go to your chosen passport centre with the appointment form, your documents, and your National ID for fingerprint and photo enrolment.

For mobile money, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) processes PRN payments on both networks. Menu wording shifts from time to time, so follow the prompts on your screen rather than memorising exact numbers:

• MTN MoMo: Dial *165#, then look for Payments, Fees & Taxes, URA, and a "pay with PRN" option. MTN also launched a dedicated URA shortcode, *165*18#, in December 2025, built specifically for URA and government payments.
• Airtel Money: Dial *185#, then look for Pay Bill, URA, and a "pay registered" option, and enter your PRN.

For what either network charges you to send that payment, check MTN MoMo and Airtel Money charges in Uganda, or run the figure through our Uganda Mobile Money Charges Calculator before you pay.

Double-check the PRN on your screen matches the one on your payment advice form before you confirm. A mismatched PRN means your money goes to the wrong invoice, and getting it moved back is a headache you don't want. If you're applying from outside Uganda, embassies note that express processing usually isn't available abroad, so budget the full 10 working days and add the UGX 10,000 courier fee if you want your passport shipped to the mission instead of collecting it on a trip home.

Mistakes that cost people time or money

Paying before the PRN is confirmed. The payment advice form expires after a set number of days. Pay promptly, and if it lapses, generate a new one rather than trying to push through an old payment.

Going through a middleman. DCIC runs the portal so you don't need an agent. Someone asking for extra cash "to speed things up" at a passport centre is asking for a bribe. Report them to the office rather than paying.

Skipping the recommendation letter. Renewal and replacement applications get rejected at the counter when the recommender's letter or National ID copy is missing. Sort this before your appointment, not on the day.

Assuming express means same day. Express still takes 2 working days after your fingerprints are taken, not from the moment you pay.

Forgetting bank charges. The UGX 250,000 or UGX 400,000 figures above are what DCIC charges. Your bank or mobile money provider adds its own transaction fee on top, so the amount leaving your account will be slightly higher.

These government fees sit alongside other 2026 Uganda costs worth planning around if you're also sorting a TIN, a business licence or a loan this year; see our full round-up of Uganda money guides.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a Ugandan passport in 2026?

An ordinary 48-page passport costs UGX 250,000 for regular processing or UGX 400,000 with the UGX 150,000 express fee added. A 64-page passport costs UGX 350,000 regular, or UGX 500,000 with express. These are DCIC's own fees, confirmed on immigration.go.ug in November 2026.

How much does it cost to renew a Ugandan passport?

Renewal costs the same as a new ordinary passport: UGX 250,000 regular, or UGX 400,000 with express processing. You'll need your National ID, your old passport, and a recommendation letter from a Ugandan national, plus their National ID copy.

How long does an express Ugandan passport take?

Two working days, counted from the day your biometric enrolment (fingerprints and photo) is completed at a passport centre, not from the day you pay. Regular processing takes 10 working days from the same point.

Can I pay for my Uganda passport using mobile money?

Yes. On MTN, dial *165#, go to Payments, then Fees & Taxes, then URA, then pay with your PRN (or use the newer *165*18# URA shortcode). On Airtel, dial *185#, select Pay Bill, then URA, then Pay Registered, and enter your PRN.

What happens if I lose my Ugandan passport?

You pay a UGX 100,000 fine in addition to the UGX 250,000 replacement fee for an ordinary passport, so budget UGX 350,000 total (more with express). You'll need to apply as a replacement through the same passports.go.ug portal.

How do I check my Uganda passport application status?

Log in to the passports.go.ug portal with your application ID to see your payment and processing status. If you applied in person, your passport centre can also check it against your appointment reference.

Do I need a URA TIN to apply for a Uganda passport?

No. A passport application uses your National ID, not a URA TIN. You only deal with URA because it processes the PRN payment for your passport fee. If you need a TIN for other business, see how to check or generate your URA TIN number online.