Entry and airport
Rwanda visa on arrival and e-visa
Short answer
- Visa on arrival
- All nationalities, since 1 January 2018 1
- AU, Commonwealth, Francophonie
- 30 days, fee waived 1
- Holiday visa (V1)
- US$50 single, US$70 multiple 2
- East Africa Tourist Visa
- US$100, multiple entry 1
- Transit visa
- Up to 72 hours 3
- Online channel
- Irembo portal 1
Who gets a visa on arrival
The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE) says nationals of all countries can get a visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and at all land borders from 1 January 2018 1. Citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie member countries get a visa on arrival with visa fees waived for a visit of 30 days 1. East African Community citizens receive a free pass or entry visa on arrival for six months 1.
DGIE lists 19 countries whose nationals get 90 days free of charge on arrival. They are Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, São Tomé and Príncipe, Singapore and Qatar 1. Aircraft and boat crew receive a free 72-hour visa at entry 2.
Applying online through Irembo
Applicants who are not visa-exempt can apply online through Irembo or at a Rwandan diplomatic mission before departure 1. Online applicants can pay online or on arrival 1. The DGIE visitors visa page links the holiday visa and other visa types to the Irembo portal at irembo.gov.rw 2.
DGIE warns that no single agent is authorised to apply on a traveller's behalf and that some agents may overcharge 1. Visa fees cover processing and are not refunded if an application is denied or withdrawn 1.
Official visa fees
DGIE publishes the following fees on its visitors visa page. Nationals of visa waiver countries pay nothing for a single-entry holiday visa 2.
| Visa | Fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday visa (V1) 2 | US$50 single, US$70 multiple 2 | 30 days single, 90 days multiple 2 |
| Job search (V4) 2 | US$50 2 | 90 days, multiple entries 2 |
| Conference or meetings (V5) 2 | US$50, free for waiver countries 2 | 30 days 2 |
| Business survey (V6) 2 | US$50 single, US$70 multiple 2 | 90 days, renewable once 2 |
| Medical treatment (V7) 2 | US$30 2 | 90 days, renewable 2 |
| Group tourist (V8), 4 to 10 people 2 | US$150 2 | 30 days 2 |
| Itinerant business (V9) 2 | US$200 2 | 2 to 10 years, renewable 2 |
| East African tourist visa (V11) 2 | US$100 2 | Set by the agreement between the parties 2 |
| Reciprocity visa (V12) 2 | US$160 2 | Up to 10 years 2 |
East Africa Tourist Visa
DGIE says the East Africa Tourist Visa allows tourism in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda 1. It costs US$100, is valid for 90 days and allows multiple entries within the three countries 1. It can be obtained online, on arrival or at a Rwandan mission. If it is obtained before travel, the first entry must be through the country where the traveller applied 1.
The DGIE visitors visa page gives the same US$100 fee but says validity and number of entries depend on the agreement between the parties 2.
Transit visas, extensions and overstays
The transit visa lasts up to 72 hours and is single entry. It is for travellers passing through Rwanda who must continue their journey 3. The DGIE transit page gives an application fee of US$30, free for nationals of visa waiver countries including African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie members 3. The visa fees section of the same page says free of charge, and the page does not explain the difference 3. The visa is issued at the entry point on arrival, and the page links to an online application on Irembo 3.
Extensions must be requested before the current visa expires 1. DGIE allows a 5-day grace period after expiry, after which a penalty may apply 1. Under the immigration law a person who stays after a visa expires is an irregular foreigner and may be required to leave 4.
Common questions
How much is a Rwanda tourist visa?
DGIE lists the holiday visa (V1) at US$50 for a single entry and US$70 for multiple entries 2.
Is Rwanda visa-free for Africans?
DGIE says citizens of African Union member countries get a visa on arrival with fees waived for 30 days, and nationals of 19 listed countries get 90 days free 1.
Can I pay the Rwanda e-visa on arrival?
Yes. DGIE says online applicants through Irembo can pay online or on arrival 1.
How long is the East Africa Tourist Visa valid?
DGIE says it is valid for 90 days with multiple entries in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda 1.
What happens if I overstay my Rwanda visa?
DGIE gives a 5-day grace period after expiry, after which a penalty may apply 1.
Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].
Sources
- Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Visa issued under special arrangement (undated, seen 24 October 2026)
- Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Visitors visa (undated, seen 24 October 2026)
- Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Transit visa (undated, seen 24 October 2026)
- Official Gazette of Rwanda: Law N°57/2018 of 13/08/2018 on Immigration and Emigration in Rwanda (20 September 2018)
Related
- Rwanda entry requirements
Documents, passport validity, visa rules, health checks and border rules for travellers entering Rwanda, with links to the official sources.
- 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.
- Irembo government services
What IremboGov offers in Rwanda, how it started, agents and payments, and what the Auditor General found about the platform, with dated sources.
- Kigali International Airport arrival and departure
Immigration, visa on arrival, health checks, departure fees, passenger data and services at Kigali International Airport, from official sources.