Rwanda Visa Requirements

Last checked 15 October 2026.

Rwanda is one of the easiest countries in Africa to enter. Citizens of every country can obtain a visa on arrival, and many nationalities, including all African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens, pay no fee for a stay of up to 30 days.

Visa on arrival or online

All nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and land borders, without applying in advance.
Apply online if you prefer, through the government portal Irembo, and pay online or on arrival.
Fees: no more than US$50 for a single-entry visa and US$70 for a multiple-entry visa.

Fees waived or no visa needed

African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens, including holders of British, Indian, Canadian, Australian, Nigerian and South African passports, receive a visa on arrival with the fee waived, for up to 30 days.
East African Community citizens, including Kenyans, receive a free visa on arrival, valid for six months.
Visa-free for 90 days: citizens of Qatar, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Angola and several others listed by Rwanda’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration.

East Africa Tourist Visa

Rwanda also issues the US$100 East Africa Tourist Visa, covering Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya for 90 days with multiple entries. See our East Africa Tourist Visa page.

Other entry rules

Passport valid for at least six months.
Rwanda bans single-use plastic bags, which may be confiscated on arrival.
Gorilla trekking permits are separate from your visa and should be secured months in advance.

Health on entry

Rwanda asks for a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from a yellow fever risk country, which includes Uganda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. See our yellow fever entry requirements by destination, and our guide to where to be vaccinated.

Beware of unofficial websites

Many look-alike websites sell visas at a mark-up. Apply only through the official government portal linked on this page.

Sources

Checked 15 October 2026.

Visa decisions rest with each government, and rules can change at short notice. Please confirm with the official source before you travel. We check every guest’s entry requirements as part of planning.

For other destinations, yellow fever, insurance and everything else to arrange before you travel, see Before You Travel. If you are planning a journey, we would be pleased to begin with a conversation.

This page is for general information only. Entry rules change often, so please recheck visa, health and passport requirements with the official embassy or government source before you travel. Final responsibility for confirming them rests with the traveller.