Rwanda investor visa and residence permit

The DGIE’s business investor page lists one class per sector: A1 for minerals, mining and related activities, B1 for agricultural production and animal husbandry, F1 for manufacturing and processing, O1 for hospitality, W1 for information technology, X1 for transport and logistics, and Z1 for any other sector of the economy. Each has a recurring version (A3-1, B3-1, F3-1, O3-1, W3-1, X3-1, Z3-1) for investors who have already held a temporary residence permit at least twice.

Neither the DGIE pages nor Ministerial Order N° 06/01 publish a minimum investment amount for these permits. What sets the investor classes apart from the entrepreneur classes is the investment certificate of the company, which must accompany a first application.

A first application needs a detailed CV, the full business registration certificate, the investment certificate of the company, an original police clearance from the country of residence for the previous six months and an application letter. A renewal needs a copy of the trade licence (patente) and an application letter. A recurring five-year application needs a tax clearance certificate from the Rwanda Revenue Authority and an application letter.

Police clearances must be originals, and foreign documents must be officially translated into English or French.

The first permit and its renewal cost FRW 150,000 and are valid up to two years. A recurring permit, issued to investors who have held a similar permit at least twice, costs FRW 250,000 and is valid up to five years. Annex IV of Ministerial Order N° 06/01 prices the agriculture recurring class B3 at FRW 300,000, while the DGIE page shows FRW 250,000; check the amount on Irembo when paying.

The Order states that a five-year permit depends on the DGIE’s assessment of the applicant’s ability to run the business and financial capacity. EAC citizens pay no permit fee; fees are not refunded.

The DGIE advises investors to contact its Field Inspection and Law Enforcement department to arrange a field visit before applying. A self-employed person who registered the business before entry applies within 15 working days of arrival; one who registers after entering applies within 15 working days of registration.

Many investors first come on the V6 business survey visa (USD 50 or USD 70, 90 days). Non-resident investors and board members who only visit regularly may instead use the V9 itinerant business visa, valid two to ten years for USD 200.