Rwanda is a well known African travel destination because of the endangered mountain gorillas, rich culture, past history and more. To visit Rwanda as a tourist, you will need to acquire a tourist visa unless your country's citizens are exempt from the visa requirement.
In this article, we'll look at the visa requirements for anyone planning to visit Rwanda. We'll also look at which countries don't need visas and the process of obtaining one.
Rwanda Visa Requirements.
Here are all the things you need to get a tourist visa for Rwanda
- A current passport with at least 6 months validity and 1 blank page.
- Filled out application form delivered at any embassy or submitted via the online portal
- Copy of your itinerary
- 1 Color passport size photo
- Visa fees
Rwanda Visa Process
There are 3 ways for you to get a tourist visa for visiting Rwanda.
You can go to a nearby Rwanda Diplomatic Mission in your country and apply directly. Remember to carry the above-mentioned requirements with you.
You can apply for Rwanda's visa online and print it out from your e-mail. The whole process takes a few days and only needs a picture of your passport as well as your clear passport photo in colour. To apply online, visit the official government portal.
The third option is applying for a visa on arrival. Just make sure your passport is valid by 6 months and carry a passport photo. Citizens of all countries around the world can obtain a Rwanda visa on arrival without the need for applying beforehand.
You can choose any of the 3 options for getting your Rwanda visa.
East Africa Tourist Visa
The East Africa Tourist Visa is the other way of easily getting a visa for going to Rwanda. The East Africa Tourist Visa is a multi-country visa that can allow you to visit Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda using the same visa - for multiple entries.
If your visit is confined to Rwanda, there is no need for this East African Tourist Visa - unless it becomes the absolute easiest way for you to get a visa and you don't mind the extra 30 to 50 dollars.
Check out our article about the East African Tourist Visa to learn more on whether it might be the ideal visa for you.
Rwanda Visa Exemption
Rwanda has 2 kinds of Visa exemptions. Countries in the East African community are exempted for 6 months, other countries are exempted for 90 days while others are only allowed an exemption for 30 days.
1. East African Community
Citizens of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and South Sudan are issued entry visas for free and can stay in Rwanda for a period of 6 months.
2. 90-Day Visa Exemption
Citizens of the following countries can go to Rwanda for 90 days without the need for a visa.
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3. 30-Day Exemption
Citizens of countries members to the following international organizations; African Union, Commonwealth, and La Francophonie get visas upon arrival and are waived visa fees for a visit of 30 days
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Rwanda Visa For Minors
Travelers under the age of 18 need to provide the following extra requirements.
- Copy of the birth certificate
- Copy of parent's IDs or passports
- Signed and notarized consent by the parents allowing the minor to travel in someone else's care.
Final Thoughts
Rwanda is a top destination worth visiting and the streamlined process of getting a visa is an added incentive to visit this land of natural beauty, great apes, and lovely people.
There are many websites that charge to help you apply, but as long as you have a picture of your passport and passport photo, the whole process won't take you more than a couple of minutes.
