Rwanda Visa Requirements and Fees

Rwanda Visa

 

RWANDA VISA INFORMATION:

Citizens of all countries that are not visa exempt, have also option to submit application online Click here or at the Rwanda Diplomatic Missions of the country of residence before departure. Those applying online have option to pay online or upon arrival.

Application for visa extension is submitted at Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration offices.   Detailed requirements are set out in the Information for applicants for each class of visa.

Extension of a visa should be applied for whilst initial visas remain valid.

Visitors who wish to visit simultaneously the three countries (Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda) for tourism may apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa (EATV) online at https://irembo.gov.rw/rolportal/web/dgie/east-africa-tourist-visa, upon arrival or from Rwanda Diplomatic missions abroad. If acquiring the EATV visa before travel, your first entry point must be the country through which you applied for the visa.  The East Africa Tourist Visa costs US$100, is valid for 90 days and is multiple entry (if staying within the three countries).

 

Note: There is no single affiliated Agent that is authorized to apply for visa on your behalf. Such Agents may mislead you and charge more than the visa fees.

The visitor’s and East Africa Tourist Visa should not be used for employment. 

Rwanda’s New Visa Regime – March 10, 2020:

The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration informs the public that the existing Visa Regime of 21 June 2019 is hereby updated as follows:

1. Citizens of countriesmembers to the following international organisations; The African Union, The Commonwealth and La  Francophonie    Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua  and  Barbuda, Armenia, Australia,  Bangladesh,  Barbados,  Belize,  Belgium, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Comoros, Canada, Cape Verde, Congo, Cyprus, Dominica, Djibouti,  Egypt,  Eritrea,  Eswatini,  Ethiopia,  Equatorial  Guinea,  Fiji,  France,  Gabon,  Grenada,  Greece,  Guinea-Bissau,  Guyana,  India, Jamaica, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Luxembourg, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saharawi Arab Republic, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, The Bahamas, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad  and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – get visa upon arrival and are waived visa fees for a stay of 30 days.
2. Citizens of countriesthat do not pay entry visa fees while travelling on Ordinary, Service and Diplomatic Passports A citizen of East African Community  Member States (Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania  and South  Sudan) shall  be issued a pass/entry visa to stay for the period of six months.
3. Citizens of countries that do not pay entry visa fees while travelling on Ordinary Passports – The following countries to be granted 90 days valid visa free of charge: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Sierra Leone, State of Qatar and The Federation of Saint Christopher  and Nevis.
4. Citizens of countries that do not pay entry visa fees while travelling on diplomatic and service/official passports    The following countries have entered into Visa Waiver Agreement or made unilateral decision to allow holders of Diplomatic and Service/Official Passports to enter without visa requirements – including to pay for visa fees: Angola, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, India, Israel, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, People’s  Republic  of China  (including  Public  Affairs  passport), Philippines, Sao  Tome  and  Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Turkey and United Arab Emirates. The visa will be valid for 90 days.
5. 30 days visaupon arrival – Citizens of all countries  not mentioned above to continue  getting visa upon arrival without prior application  and pay a prescribed visa fee.
6. Rwandans living abroad with dual nationality allowed to use national IDs on entry – Rwandans living abroad are waived with the visa fees while traveling on foreign passports in possession of a Rwandan Identity Card.
7. Foreign  residents  to  use  their  resident  ID  cards  for  entry    returning   residents   holding   valid   residence   permits   with corresponding  resident cards will continue to be allowed to use them on entry, including  using electronic  gates (Automated  Passenger Clearance System) at Kigali international Airport.
8. Children belowthe age of 16 years old travelling with their parents– Children below the age of 16 years traveling on foreign passport with their parents traveling on foreign passport in possession of a Rwandan Identity Card will not be required to pay for entry visa.

 

A citizen of East African Community Member States (Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and South Sudan) shall be issued a pass/entry visa free of charge upon arrival to stay for the period of six months.

The following countries to be granted 90 days valid visa free of charge upon arrival: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sao Tome and Principe, Singapore and the state Qatar.

General Information for applicants seeking to visit Rwanda on Tourist Visa:

1. Travel Document: An applicant should have a valid passport or another acceptable travel document. The document must have a validity of at least 6 months on the day of entry in Rwanda.
2. Health Requirements: A vaccination certificate may be required at the border post. In the event of a major disease outbreak, specific requirements could be set and put to the knowledge of the public.
3. Visa Fees: These are fees for processing of applications. If applications are denied, or withdrawn by the applicant, refunds of fees will not be made.
4. Validity Of A Visa: The maximum and minimum period of validity of a visa is set out in the Information for Applicants for each visa class.
5. Single Or Multiple Entries: Whether a visa is issued for single or multiple entries is set out in the Information for Applicants for each visa class.
6. Financial Requirements: An applicant must have sufficient funds to cover the costs of their stay in Rwanda. Evidence for such funds may be requested online, at the Rwandan foreign mission or at the entry point.
7. Extension Of A Visa For Some Classes: Some visa classes may be extended. Details are set out in the Information for applicants for each class. Extension of a visa should be applied for whilst initial visas remain valid.A grace period of 5 days after a visa has expired is allowed for a person to either depart or renew their visa without a penalty; otherwise the person will be subjected to a penalty and a visa extension may be denied.
8. Change Of Status For Some Classes: An applicant may apply to the Director General for another class of visa whilst they are in Rwanda and whilst their current visa remains valid. For the group tourist visa change of status is not permitted. Information for applicants for the particular visa class will state if change of status is allowed.

9. Rwanda Visa Types & Fees:

 

TRANSIT VISA (VT):

• Eligible person:A person who transits through Rwanda.
• Where application is made: It is applied for upon arrival at border post, online or at any other place as may be determined by the Directorate General of immigration and emigration.
• Travel document:Any genuine acceptable travel document valid not less than 6 months.
• Visa fees: Fee of 30 USD. Free for nationals of a country with which Rwanda has a visa waiver arrangement including African Union, Common Wealth and La francophonie.
• Single or multiple entries: Single entry
• Work: Work is not permitted
• Change of status: Not allowed
• Visa validity:Valid for a period not exceeding seventy-two hours (72).

 

TOURIST / HOLIDAY VISAS (V1):

• Eligible person: This visa is issued to a foreigner who visits Rwanda for holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational or other short-term reasons other than work purposes.
• Where application is made: This visa is issued upon arrival at the border post, online, at immigration and emigration office, at the office of a diplomatic mission of Rwanda in the applicant’s country of residence or at any other place as may be determined by the Directorate General. Click here to apply
• Travel document: Any genuine acceptable travel document valid not less than 6 months.
• Visa fees: 50 USD for single entry and free of charge for nationals of countries with which Rwanda has a visa waiver arrangement including African Union, Common Wealth and La francophonie. 70 USD for multiple entries
• Single or multiple entries: Single or multiple entry
• Work: Work is not permitted
• Change of status: Allowed
• Visa validity: valid for a period of thirty (30) days for single entry or of ninety (90) days for multiple entries.
• Visa extension: May be extended in exceptional circumstances

 

EAST AFRICAN TOURIST VISA (V11):

• Eligible person: This visa is issued to a foreign tourist who intends to visit countries signatories to the agreement on the establishment of the East Africa Tourist Visa and its revenue sharing or any similar agreement.
• Dependents:Not allowed
• Where application is made: This visa is issued upon arrival at the border post, online, at the office of a diplomatic mission of Rwanda in the applicant’s country of residence or at any other place as may be determined by the Directorate General.
• Travel document: Any genuine acceptable travel document valid not less than 6 months.
• Visa fees:100 USD
• Single or multiple entries: Multiple entries
• Work: Work is not allowed
• Visa validity: Its validity, usage and number of entries depend on the agreement between concerned parties.
• Visa extension: May be extended in exceptional circumstances.

 

GROUP TOURIST (V8):

• Eligible person:This visa is issued to a foreigner who is travelling as a member of a group of four (4) to ten (10) tourists.
• Dependents: Not allowed
• Where application is made:This visa is issued at the office of a diplomatic mission of Rwanda in the applicant’s country of residence, online or at any other place as may be determined by the Directorate General. It may also be issued at entry point upon showing prior approval by the Directorate General.
• Travel document:Any genuine acceptable travel document valid not less than 6 months.
• Visa fees:150 USD
• Single or multiple entries: Single entry
• Work: Work is not allowed
• Change of status:Not allowed
• Visa validity:Valid for a period of thirty (30) days.
• Visa extension: May be extended in exceptional circumstances

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