Are you planning to visit Rwanda for business, tourism, or visiting friends or family? It is important to understand the category of visitor you are, especially regarding visa requirements—whether you qualify for visa-free travel, the application fees for your country, visa category, and validity period.
Rwanda is a small landlocked country that has many treasures such as wildlife—mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, Big Five animals, Masai giraffes, golden monkeys, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, and warthogs. It also has many bird species and different landscapes—mountains, hills, flat savannah plains, and very friendly people with a rich culture.
Besides tourism, Rwanda has many good accommodation facilities, including urban hotels, safari lodges, and motels that cater to budget, midrange, and luxury visitors. The country is also a good MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) destination, ranked the second most popular in Africa.
However, all foreign citizens who want to enter Rwanda must first get a Rwanda Visa. Some citizens of certain countries are allowed to enter Rwanda without paying for a visa if they qualify for visa-free travel.
Rwanda is one of the few African countries with an easy visa process, allowing visitors from every country to get a visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and other land borders. Citizens of East African Community member states get visa-free entry on arrival and can stay for up to six months. These countries are Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and South Sudan.
Citizens of countries that are members of international organizations like La Francophonie, African Union, and Commonwealth are also given visas on arrival, but with visa-free entry for one month. These countries include the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Morocco, Switzerland, Lesotho, Belgium, Nigeria, Mozambique, South Africa, India, Vietnam, Burkina Faso, Monaco, Namibia, Belize, Lebanon, Mali, Somalia, Mauritania, Guyana, Botswana, Niger, Bahamas, Romania, Pakistan, New Zealand, Liberia, Congo, Papua New Guinea, Canada, Bangladesh, Zambia, Togo, Cyprus, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Eritrea, Comoros, Sudan, Tonga, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Greece, Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Romania, and others in the mentioned category.
Citizens of countries like Singapore, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Ghana, Haiti, Indonesia, Benin, Seychelles, Sao Tome and Principe, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritius, the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Philippines, Senegal, Central African Republic, State of Qatar, and Indonesia are given a 90-day visa-free entry into Rwanda.
Citizens of countries that are not visa-exempt can apply for visas online and make payments either online or on arrival. Alternatively, they can contact Rwanda Diplomatic Missions in their countries before traveling.
Unlike some countries that use visa agents, Rwanda does not have any authorized agents to apply for visas on your behalf. Be careful of con-men trying to trick visitors.
Visa Fees/Costs
- Single-entry tourist visa valid for 30 days costs $50.
- Single-entry conference visa valid for 30 days costs $30.
- Multiple-entry business visa valid for 12 months costs $50.
- East African Tourist Visa valid for 90 days costs $100 and allows you to visit Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda with a single visa.
Visa Application Requirements
- To get a Rwanda visa, applicants must present a valid passport or another travel document.
- The travel document must be valid for at least six months from the day of entry into the country.
- Applicants must present a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate at the point of entry.
Applicants must have enough funds to cover their stay in Rwanda. Sometimes proof of funds is required when applying online, at the Rwandan Foreign Mission, or at the point of entry (Kigali International Airport or other land borders).
