Rwanda job seeker visa (V4)

The DGIE issues the V4 to a foreign skilled worker seeking employment whose skills match an occupation on the Occupation in Demand List (ODL). Ministerial Order N° 06/01 names employment search as one of the purposes of the visitor visa.

The current list was published as Annex III to Ministerial Order N° 02/MIFOTRA/22 of 30 August 2022 on occupational safety and the employment of foreigners. It is organised by unit group and Rwanda national occupation codes and runs from managers, such as chief executives, construction project managers, mine managers, hospital directors and hotel managers, through professional and technical occupations. Check that your occupation appears before applying.

The V4 costs USD 50. It is valid 90 days with multiple entries and is renewable on application. Dependants are not allowed and the visa does not permit work. Fees are non-refundable.

A change of status is allowed: when an employer offers you a contract, you apply from inside Rwanda for the matching temporary residence permit, usually class H1 for a skilled worker in an ODL occupation.

Unlike the tourist visa, the V4 is not listed as issued at the border. It is issued at the DGIE, at a Rwandan diplomatic mission in your country of residence or at another place the DGIE determines, and the DGIE links the application to the Irembo visa service.

Prepare evidence of your qualifications and experience in the listed occupation, such as diplomas and a detailed CV, because the same documents will be needed for the H1 work permit later.

Once hired, the H1 permit costs FRW 150,000 and is valid up to three years. A new application needs the employment contract, academic certificates, an employer recommendation letter, a detailed CV and a police clearance from your country of residence for the previous six months. Under Ministerial Order N° 06/01 a foreigner who signs a contract while in Rwanda must apply within 15 working days of signing.