Entry and airport

Kigali International Airport arrival and departure

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 10 sources

Short answer

Kigali International Airport is run by Rwanda Airports Company, a government-owned company, and the airport lists 24-hour operations ^1,2. On arrival, immigration is handled by DGIE, which gives a visa on arrival to all nationalities ³. Travellers from yellow fever endemic countries must show a vaccination certificate ⁴. On departure, a US$40 international passenger service fee and a US$10 security fee are built into the ticket ⁵. Airlines send passenger data to DGIE before and after boarding ⁹.

Operator: Rwanda Airports Company (RAC) ¹
Hours: 24 hours, 7 days ²
Visa on arrival: All nationalities since 1 January 2018 ³
Departure fees in ticket: US$40 international, US$10 domestic, plus US$10 security ⁵
Customer care: +250726944367 ²

Who runs the airport

Rwanda Airports Company (RAC) manages daily airport operations and provides air navigation services for all airports in Rwanda ¹. RAC says it is a subsidiary of The Aviation, Travel and Logistics Holding Limited, which is wholly owned by the Government of Rwanda ¹. RAC manages Kigali International Airport, Kamembe International Airport, Gisenyi Airport and the Ruhengeri, Butare and Nemba airstrips ¹.

The RAC operations page gives the address as KN5 Road and lists the airport as working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ². DGIE lists Kigali International Airport and Bugesera International Airport as Rwanda's international airports ¹⁰.

Arrival: immigration and visas

DGIE says nationals of all countries can get a visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport from 1 January 2018 ³. Citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie countries get 30 days with fees waived, and East African Community citizens get a free pass for six months ³. Travellers can apply in advance through Irembo and pay online or on arrival ³.

In February 2012 DGIE installed two electronic gates in the arrival hall for Rwandan passport holders, as reported by Edwin Musoni in The New Times ⁶. The gates used passport scanning and fingerprint recognition ⁶. This page has not confirmed their status in 2026.

Arrival: health checks

The Ministry of Health traveller page says a yellow fever certificate is mandatory for arrivals from endemic countries or countries with an active outbreak ⁴. Travellers without a certificate from those countries are vaccinated on arrival at their own cost ⁴. A certificate issued less than 10 days earlier is not valid, and the traveller is quarantined until it becomes valid ⁴.

The same page says no COVID-19 test is required at Kigali International Airport on arrival or departure ⁴. RAC says health experts from King Faisal Hospital and Rwanda Military Hospital are available 24 hours a day for emergencies ⁸.

Departure: fees and passenger data

The Rwanda eAIP lists a passenger service fee of US$40 for international departures and US$10 for domestic departures ⁵. A security fee of US$10 applies to both ⁵. Both apply to departing passengers aged 2 and over, are payable by the operator and are included in the ticket ⁵.

Airlines must send Advance Passenger Information to DGIE at check-in closure and at boarding closure ⁹. They send Passenger Name Record data at 72 hours, 24 hours and 90 minutes before departure and right after boarding closure ⁹. DGIE can direct a carrier not to board a particular passenger ⁹.

Services in the terminal

RAC lists two lounges. The Dream Lounge is open to RwandAir business class passengers and top-tier Dreammiles members, and the Pearl Lounge offers WiFi, food and drinks ⁷. RAC lists physiotherapy in the departure area next to the duty-free hall ⁸.

RAC runs online systems for lost and found, item tracking, airport access requests and passenger feedback ².

Common questions

Is Kigali airport open 24 hours?

Rwanda Airports Company lists the airport as working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ².

Do I pay a departure tax at Kigali airport?

The passenger service fee and security fee are included in the ticket and paid by the airline, according to the Rwanda eAIP ⁵.

Can I get a visa on arrival at Kigali airport?

Yes. DGIE says all nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport ³.

Do I need a COVID test to fly into Kigali?

No. The Ministry of Health traveller page says no COVID-19 test is required on arrival ⁴.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].

Sources

Kigali International Airport passenger charges
Official passenger service fee, security fee, oversight fee and aircraft charges at Kigali International Airport, from the Rwanda eAIP and RCAA.
Rwanda entry requirements
Documents, passport validity, visa rules, health checks and border rules for travellers entering Rwanda, with links to the official sources.
Rwanda visa on arrival and e-visa
Who gets a Rwanda visa on arrival, who is visa-free, official visa fees in US dollars, the East Africa Tourist Visa and how to apply online.
Rwanda passenger data: API and PNR
What passenger data carriers must send to Rwanda's immigration service, when they send it, how long it is kept, data safeguards and fines.
Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE)
Rwanda's immigration agency: its legal powers, visas, e-passports, border posts, passenger data role and how to contact it.