Rwanda is a well-known African travel destination because of the endangered mountain gorillas, rich culture, 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 also 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 for 6 months and carry a passport photo. Citizens of all countries around the world can obtain a Rwanda visa on arrival without the need to apply beforehand.
You can choose any of the 3 options for getting your Rwanda visa. Most people choose to apply online for peace of mind so that they don't have to go through applying for a visa after a long international flight. You should take the option that best works for you.
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 only 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 spending the extra 30 to 50 dollars for the convenience. Any of the countries can issue you this type of visa but you should apply via the relevant portal of the country where your travel starts.
Take a look at the full article about the East African Tourist Visa to learn more about whether it might be the ideal visa for you.
Rwanda Visa Types & Fees
Rwanda has 3 types of visas for foreigners - Single Entry, Multiple Entry and East African Tourist Visa.
The single entry visa for Rwanda allows for one (1) entry and exit and is only valid for not more than 30 days. For most visitors, this works perfectly and is within the schedule of many safari packages.
The multiple entry visa for Rwanda allows the visitor to enter and leave the country several times within 90 days. This works well for people who are visiting other places like Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo or just anywhere else.
The East African visa is also a multiple-entry visa but for all the 3 countries - Uganda, Rwanda & Kenya. This visa is ideal for people who are combining a visit to Rwanda with a visit to Uganda or Kenya.
| # | Visa Type | Visa Fees | Visa Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single Entry Visa | 50 USD | 30 Days |
| 2 | Multiple Entry Visa | 70 USD | 90 Days |
| 3 | East African Tourist Visa | 100 USD | 90 Days |
Rwanda Visa Exemption
Rwanda has 3 kinds of visa exemptions. Countries in the East African community are exempted for 6 months, others 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 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 Rwanda visas upon arrival and are waived visa fees for a visit of 30 days. Here are the countries whose citizens can benefit from this exemption while visiting Rwanda.
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Rwanda Visa For Minors
Travellers 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.
Closing 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.
Rwanda is one of the African countries which is very open in terms of visa processes for many nationalities and is equally one of the best countries to visit. If not for the incredible gorillas, then for the stunning landscape and vibrant culture.
Through the country's online visa portal (iremboGov), you can easily apply for the relevant visa in a few minutes - between packing your bags. Simply get your various requirements in order, and then apply. Additionally, you can opt to request for visa on arrival in which case you should double-check and make sure all your requirements are in order.
If you are thinking about visiting Rwanda, talk to us about your plans and we shall help you plan and go on your adventure of the land of a thousand hills. You can also look at the already-made safari packages for inspiration and some grounding of how a typical safari would run for you.