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Rwanda attracts thousands of visitors due to its magnificent scenery that is why it is known as the land of a thousand hills. This country offers visitors a unique experiences in one of the most remarkable countries in the world.
The country has an amazing biodiversity, with an abundance of wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, rainforest and extensive plains. People come from far and wide to get a glimpse of the gorillas, yet there is so much more to see and experience.
This information piece tells you everything you need to know about visa requirements for visiting Rwanda.
It is important that you familiarise yourself with these legal requirements of entry before your visit, in particular if you are travelling with minors.
Visa requirements are governed by Rwanda and are subject to change without prior notice. Rather check the country’s official website or enquire from a reputable travelling agency or tour operator like MoAfrika Tours what the latest updates or changes to the requirements for a visa application may be.
WHAT IS A VISA?
Traveling outside of your country of residence can be an exciting, even life-changing, experience filled with new sights, adventures and tastes. Before you jet off to Rwanda however, you’ll need to obtain the necessary travel documents, namely a passport and a visa, in some cases.
As both are necessary for traveling to many countries, it’s easy to get the two confused. However, they are very different, distinct documents – one certifying your citizenship and the other granting you permission to enter Rwanda.
A visa is issued to international travellers visiting Rwanda for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons.
Visas are normally issued for a maximum 30 or 90 days, depending on your country of residence. A valid visa allows you to enter the country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa.
Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING RWANDA
To obtain a visa for Rwanda, you must have a valid passport which must be valid for six months after entry into the country.
You must obtain a visa before traveling or a 30-day tourist visa at a port of entry for USD 30. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is also needed to obtain a visa.
A visa is authorised and issued upon application by a representative of a country’s embassy, mission or consulate after it has been determined that you are eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose.
Visitors holding passports from countries that are classified as ‘exempt’ do not need to apply for a visa prior to arriving in Rwanda. Instead, they are issued with a short-stay visa at the point of entry for a period of time relevant to the status of the visitor’s country.
COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS
Below is a list of countries that are exempt for needing a visa to enter Rwanda:
Angola, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Mauritius, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, São Tomé and PrÃncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
The holders of diplomatic and service category passports of China, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Israel, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates also do not need a visa.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS
Visas can be issued as Transit Visas, normal tourist visas or work and/or business visas. The following is a short description, clarifying the difference between these kinds of visas:
A transit visa is a document showing that a traveller has permission to pass through Rwanda but not to stay there. Transit visas often come up when a traveller’s itinerary includes a layover in a certain country on the way to their final destination. The traveller often won’t leave the airport, but still needs permission to be there during the layover.
Visa rules are complex and may vary due to factors including the country you’re visiting, which country you’re a citizen of and how long you will spend in transit in a country.
For example, if a layover is less than 24 hours, and the traveller never leaves the airport, a transit visa may not be needed in some countries while others still require it.
A basic rule of thumb is that if the country you’re traveling through does not require citizens of your country to have a visa to visit for a longer period, it won’t require you to have a visa to transit through.
However, if the country you’re traveling through does require citizens of your country to have a visa to visit for a longer period, it may or may not require you to obtain a visa to transit through. While some countries allow you to obtain a visa upon arrival, others require that you apply for and receive the visa before you arrive in the country.
Tourist or travel visas allow the bearer to enter Rwanda for touristic and leisure purposes only and stay for a predetermined amount of time. These visas do not entitle the holder to work or engage in any business activities in Rwanda.
A business visa generally permits a traveller to engage in normal business-related activities in Rwanda.
Business visas are usually harder to get, since you will need an official business letter of invitation from your foreign business partner or from a professional organisation.
On a business visa you can attend business conferences, conventions, meetings, and other business-related events. You will also be allowed to negotiate contracts, do trade, and carry out business purchases. You may even be allowed to interview and hire staff during your stay while on a business visa.
Business visas are in general also more expensive.
There are many different types of visas for Rwanda. Below is a list of the main types of visas you can obtain and their requirements.
Holiday purpose Visa
This is issued to a foreigner who visits Rwanda for holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational or other short-term reasons other than work purposes.
This visa is issued to you upon arrival at the border post, online, at immigration and emigration office, at the office of a diplomatic mission of Rwanda in your country of
You will need a passport valid not less than six months. You will not be allowed to work in Rwanda for the duration of your stay.
The visa is valid for a time period of 30 days for a single entry or 90 days for multiple entries. It can only be extended in exceptional circumstances.
Business Visa
This visa is issued to a foreign prospective investor, entrepreneur or trader who visits Rwanda to discover available business opportunities in the country. This does not allow dependents.
This visa is issued at the office of a diplomatic mission of Rwanda in your country of residence, at immigration and emigration office or at any other place as may be determined by the Directorate General
You will need a valid passport for not less than 6 months. There are single and multiple business visa entries. You are not allowed to work in Rwanda for the duration of your stay.
The visa is valid for a period of ninety (90) days and the visa can be renewed once.
Transit visa
This is specifically for a person who is in transit through Rwanda. 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.
The traveller will need a passport valid not less than six months. Â It is only valid for a single entry and you are not allowed to work for the duration of your stay. The visa is valid for a period not exceeding seventy-two hours.
HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING RWANDA
Online
People from all countries that are not visa exempt have the option to apply online or at the Rwanda Diplomatic Missions of the country of residence before departure. Those applying online have the option to pay online or upon arrival.
How to apply for a Rwanda Visa at an embassy or consulate
The application process depends on which country’s embassy or consulate you use to submit your visa application. However, the following is a guideline:
Pay on arrival
You have the option to get a visa upon arrival at any of the port of entries for Rwanda, but it can also be declined, so it is best to ensure you get a visa before departure.
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR VISA
You should have a valid passport or another acceptable travel document. The document must have a validity of at least six months on the day of entry in Rwanda.
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.
You must have your visa fees paid. These are fees for processing of applications. If applications are denied, or withdrawn by the applicant, refunds of fees will not be made.
Whether a visa is issued for single or multiple entries the same information is needed.
You must have sufficient funds to cover the costs of your stay in Rwanda. Evidence for such funds may be requested online, at the Rwandan foreign mission or at the port of entry.
COST OF A RWANDA VISA
For a holiday visa, the cost is UDS 50 for a single entry. It costs USD 70 for multiple entry visa.
For a business visa it costs USD 50 for a single entry. It costs USD 70 for a multiple entry.
For a transit visa it costs USD 30 and is only valid for 72 hours.
VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING RWANDA
The World Health Organisation recommends the following vaccinations for Rwanda: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. Shot lasts two years.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is often required for a foreign visitor who is travelling from or transiting through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Rwanda. You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Rwanda within the 10-day waiting period.
Risk of Malaria is very high throughout the whole of Rwanda.
Ensure that you take anti-malaria medication before and for the duration of your trip. Make sure you have enough medication for your whole journey.
Travelers going to Rwanda should take steps to avoid mosquito bites.
OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING RWANDA
Non-biodegradable bags are prohibited in Rwanda. If you arrive with such bags at the airport in Kigali, they might be confiscated.
Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Drunk drivers are subject to a short prison sentence and a fine.
VISITING RWANDA WITH MINORS
If you are travelling to Rwanda with a minor, please take note of the additional documents you will need per child:
WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN RWANDA
Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons’ and may incur a ban from Rwanda for a time period, which prevents them from applying for a visa and re-entering Rwanda for a prescribed period of time.
You may also be charged a fine for each day that you overstay on your visa.
There may even be legal action taken against you, it is highly recommended that you extend your visa well in advance.
Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can usually lodge a visa overstay appeal.
A tourist visa for Rwanda is valid for a time period of 30 days for a single entry or 90 days for multiple entries. It can only be extended in exceptional circumstances.
ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN RWANDA WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR
MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Rwanda. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Rwanda who make safety a priority.
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MoAfrika tours and the Kruger Safari Co. are destination management companies (DMC) and are not entities of the South African National Parks Board (SANparks).