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Rwanda visa on arrival: who qualifies and what it costs

Visa on arrival (visitor visa issued at Kigali International Airport and land borders)

In short

Since 1 January 2018 every nationality can get a Rwandan visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and all land borders without applying in advance. The fee is at most USD 50 for 30 days single entry or USD 70 for multiple entries; AU, Commonwealth and Francophonie nationals get 30 days free, some countries 90 days free and EAC citizens six months.

Apply on Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
30 days; 90 days on a multiple-entry visa or for listed visa-waiver countries; six months for EAC citizens
Validity
30 days single entry, 90 days multiple entries
Fee
US$50Maximum USD 50 single entry or USD 70 multiple entry; free for exempt groups. Paid at the entry point if not paid online.
Processing time
Issued at the immigration desk on arrival
Work
No
Family
Each family member receives an individual visa
Where to apply
At Kigali International Airport or any land border

Who gets a visa on arrival and on what terms

The DGIE’s rule since 1 January 2018 is simple: citizens of all countries are allowed to obtain a visa upon arrival without prior application. What differs is the price and the length of stay. Nationals of African Union, Commonwealth and Francophonie member states are waived the fee for a 30-day visit (class VE-1).

A fixed list of countries gets 90 days free of charge: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone and Singapore. East African Community citizens are issued a free pass (VP-1) for up to six months. Everyone else pays the standard visitor fee.

What to have with you

Bring a passport or other recognised travel document valid for at least six months on the day you enter Rwanda. The officer may ask for evidence that you can pay for your stay. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from endemic countries or countries with an active outbreak.

The visa on arrival is for visits only. The DGIE warns that visitor visas must not be used for employment, and no agent is authorised to obtain a visa on your behalf.

Required documents

Travel

  • Passport valid at least six months on the day of entry

Money

  • Visa fee in cash or card as accepted at the border (USD 50 or USD 70) unless exempt or paid online

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Money

  • Proof of sufficient funds if the officer asks

Other

  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate when required

What you pay at the border

The DGIE caps the visa on arrival fee at USD 50 for a single-entry visa and USD 70 for a multiple-entry visa. The single-entry visa is valid 30 days, the multiple-entry visa 90 days. If you applied on Irembo and chose to pay on arrival, the fee is collected at the entry point.

Fees are processing charges and are not refunded if the visa is refused. Other visitor classes can also be issued at the border, for example the conference visa V5 (USD 50), the medical visa V7 (USD 30) and the East Africa Tourist Visa (USD 100).

After arrival: extension and change of status

An extension is applied for at DGIE offices before the visa expires and, for holiday and family visits, is granted only in exceptional circumstances. If you decide to stay for work, study or business, the visitor visa allows a change of status: you apply for the matching visa or residence permit to the Director General while your current visa is still valid.

A five-day grace period after expiry lets you leave or renew without penalty. Later departures are fined from FRW 50,000 upwards under Ministerial Order N° 06/01.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Check your passport validity and whether your nationality falls in a fee-free group.
  2. Optionally request the visa on Irembo before you fly and choose payment online or on arrival.
  3. On landing in Kigali or at a land border, go to the immigration desk and state the purpose and length of your visit.
  4. Pay the fee for a single-entry or multiple-entry visa if it applies to you.
  5. Keep the visa in your passport and track its end date; apply for an extension at DGIE before it expires if needed.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

Can every nationality get a visa on arrival in Rwanda?

Yes. Nationals outside the fee-waiver groups pay USD 50 for 30 days single entry or USD 70 for 90 days multiple entry.

Is the visa on arrival available at land borders too?

Yes. The DGIE states it is issued at Kigali International Airport and at all land borders.

Which nationalities enter Rwanda free of charge?

AU, Commonwealth and Francophonie members for 30 days; a listed group including Ghana, Indonesia, the Philippines, Qatar and Singapore for 90 days; EAC citizens for up to six months.

Can I switch to a work permit after entering on a visa on arrival?

The visitor visa allows a change of status: you apply for a residence permit at DGIE while your visa is valid. You may not work until the permit is granted.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Rwanda

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: V6: 90 days; V5: 30 days; V9: multiple visits over its validity
  • Investor visa Maximum stay: Up to two years per first permit; five years for recurring applicants
  • Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: Up to two years per permit; five years for recurring applicants

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Length of studies, renewed yearly

Work

Family

Residence

Online travel permits

  • e-Visa Maximum stay: Depends on the class: 30 or 90 days for visitors, 72 hours for transit

Protection

Rwanda visa guide