Rwanda entry requirements

Rwanda entry requirements that travellers in to Rwanda need to put in to considerations. These are the official documents required while entering Rwanda either for business, tourism or pleasure, such as a valid passport and visa, and a valid return ticket.

Passport

This is one of the most important entry requirement to Rwanda. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Rwanda. You’ll need one blank page on your passport for entry stamps.

Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park

Visa

A visa is another entry requirement in to Rwanda that are required by all nationals which are not 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. Nationals of Australia, Germany, Sweden, the UK and the USA can purchase a visa on arrival. All other nationals not mentioned above must obtain a visa in advance.

Obtain visa before traveling or a 30-day tourist visa at port of entry for $50. Credit cards are not accepted at all land border crossings. These are fees for processing of applications. If applications are denied, or withdrawn by the applicant, refunds of fees will not be made.

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.

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. A single-entry visa on arrival is also available to nationals who do not have a Rwandan embassy or consulate in their country. If this applies to you, we highly advise to visit www.migration.gov.rw (http://www.migration.gov.rw) to request a visa

Health Requirements

Travellers require a yellow fever vaccination certificate if they are coming from yellow fever endemic countries or countries with active yellow fever transmission outbreaks. In the event of a major disease outbreak, specific requirements could be set and put to the knowledge of the public.

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.

Extension of a Visa for Some Classes

Any visitor who wish to extend his visa must apply to the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration in Kigali before your current visa expires. 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.

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. Above all, travelers are free to visit any tourist national parks in Rwanda such as Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park to track Chimpanzee in Rwanda or take a Canopy walk experience and Volcanoes National Park and so on. Without meeting these Rwanda entry requirements, one may not gain access in to Rwanda and may result in to deportation, so we recommend that you plan well in advance before you arrive at any entry point this could be through the land borders or airports.