Rwanda Visas
Do I require a visa to enter Rwanda?
Most travellers require a visa in order to enter Rwanda, unless exempt.
List of countries exempt from Rwanda visas…
Citizens of the following countries may visit Rwanda without a visa for a period up to 90 days: Hong Kong, Philippines, Mauritius, Singapore and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
EAC Partner states citizens’ shall be issued with 6 months visitors pass (renewable) upon arrival with no fee.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Citizens of a select number of countries (including the U.S. and the U.K.) may obtain their visas upon arrival in Rwanda for a fee of US$30. All other travellers who require visas must obtain them from their country of residence prior their trip.
Citizens of the following countries are eligible for visa on arrival: Australia, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States of America
Note that if you are also travelling to Kenya or Uganda, you may want to consider purchasing the new East Africa Tourist Visa instead. If you have questions about the visa process, please feel free to contact Chalo Africa or your nearest Rwandan embassy or consulate for advice.
For further questions, you are encouraged to contact the nearest Rwandan Mission abroad .
Rwanda Visa Requirements
Single Entry Visa costs US $30 and must be applied online. This visa shall be issued to:
(i) A foreigner who wants to visit Rwanda for any purpose other than work and is not a citizen of Hong Kong, Philippines, Mauritius, Singapore and Democratic Republic of Congo.
(ii) A person from any country who wants to enter Rwanda to seek a visa appropriate to the purpose of their stay. The purpose is other than visit, holiday, sightseeing, or recreation.
Nationals of Australia, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States of America will be issued with entry visa valid for a period up to 30 days and pay for a visa ($30) upon arrival without prior application.
An entry visa is single entry and shall be valid for a period of not more than 30 days.
An entry visa only allows a person to enter for 30 days and if they wish to stay longer they must, after they have entered Rwanda, seek another class of visa.
Application for a visa, other than the Entry Visa, may be lodged at the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration offices.
We recommend that you verify the above details with your local Rwandan Mission.
Rwanda Visa requirements for Indian citizens
Citizens of India require to apply for a visa prior to entering Rwanda. If you are applying from India, please visit this link to see the full requirements for Rwandan visas for Indian citizens.
Rwanda Visa requirements for U.S. citizens
Citizens of the United States can obtain a visa on arrival. Happy travelling!
Rwanda visas and entry: common questions
Do I need a visa in advance for Rwanda?
No. Since January 2018 Rwanda’s immigration directorate has stated that citizens of all countries can get a visa on arrival without prior application. That makes Rwanda one of the most straightforward entries in Africa. You can still pre-apply online through the government’s Irembo platform if you prefer to have it settled before you fly.
Is the visa free for Indian passport holders?
Yes — India is a Commonwealth member, and Rwanda waives the fee for nationals of Commonwealth, African Union and Francophonie member states, giving a 30-day visa on arrival at no charge. That covers British, Indian, Australian, Canadian and Singaporean passports among others. East African Community nationals get six months free. US passport holders do pay, up to a published maximum of US$50 for single entry and US$70 for multiple entry.
Where do I apply if I want to do it in advance?
The official channels are migration.gov.rw and the Irembo platform at irembo.gov.rw. Rwanda’s own site carries a line worth repeating: there are no approved agents, and you should apply directly through official channels only. A warning that applies to every country on this site: commercial reseller sites consistently outrank the official portals in search results, because the government portals are JavaScript applications that index badly while the copycats are static pages that index beautifully. They charge a markup for filling in the same form. Check the domain before you pay anyone.
What else gets checked at the border?
Passport validity of six months and at least one blank page. A yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from a country with transmission risk — which, given how many Rwanda itineraries connect through Entebbe or Nairobi, applies more often than Rwanda’s own status would suggest. One practical oddity: drones must be declared and may be confiscated, so leave yours at home unless you have arranged permissions.
Can I use the East Africa Tourist Visa for Rwanda?
Yes — Rwanda is one of the three countries it covers, alongside Kenya and Uganda. It is US$100 for 90 days with multiple entries between the three, and the country that issues it must be your first point of entry. For a Rwanda-only trip it is rarely worth it, given that most nationalities get a free or inexpensive visa on arrival. It earns its keep on a gorilla-and-Mara itinerary.