Business Procedures in Rwanda

Visas & permits

Entry Visa

Rwanda will grant visa free of charge with 90 days validity to the following countries on reciprocal basis: Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Senegal, Seychelles and Sao Tome and Principe. This is in addition to Democratic Republic of Congo, East African Community Partner States, Mauritius, Philippines, and Singapore.

Entry visa

Rwanda now issues a 30-day visa upon arrival to citizens of all countries, after payment of the prescribed fee, where applicable; without prior application.

Crew pass

A crew pass shall be issued to to crew members. It shall be valid for 72 hours renewable once.

Visitors pass

A visitor’s pass is issued to a citizen of East African Community partner States at the border post at no cost. It is free of charge and it's given at border post by simply showing your valid travel document. The visitor's pass allows a person to enter for 6 months and if they wish to stay longer they must seek appropriate class of residence permit after they have entered Rwanda. Citizens of Uganda and Kenya can enter the Rwandan territory by showing their national ID card.

Tourist visa

There are 11 classes of tourist visa. These are: T1 - tourist, T2 - tourist, T3 - family, T4 - official diplomat, T6 - conference, T7 - business, T8 - medical treatment, T9 - group tourist, T10 - itinerant business person and T11- bridging. The validity and cost of the visa depend on the type of the visa.

T1 - tourist

Applies to citizens of the following countries: Benin, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ghana,Guinea (Conakry), Indonesia, Haiti, Senegal, Seychelles, Sao Tome and Principe, Mauritius, Philippines and Singapore visiting for holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational purpose or other short term non work purpose.

T2 - Tourist

Applies to person who is NOT a citizen of Benin, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Ghana,Guinea (Conakry), Indonesia, Haiti, Senegal, Seychelles, Sao Tome and Principe, Mauritius, Philippines and Singapore visiting for holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational purpose or other short term non work purpose.

T3 - Family

Eligible applicant is the one who wishes to visit a family member or a close relative residing and working in Rwanda.
The relatives who may visit are: spouse, parent, brother, sister, child, adopted child, aunt, niece, nephew, cousin, grandparent, grandchild and the ‘step’ equivalent of these.

T4 - Visiting diplomat

This class of visa is issued to a diplomat visiting for official purposes.

T5 - Job search

Eligible applicant is a skilled worker, whose occupation is on the Occupations in Demand List , seeking employment.

T6 - Conference

Applies to a person wishing to attend or speak at a conference, meeting, workshop or seminar.

T7 - Business

This class of visa is issued to a prospective investor, entrepreneur or trader to visit and explore business opportunities in Rwanda.

T8 - Medical treatment

Applies to a person who has need for and has confirmed medical treatment or medical consultations in Rwanda.

T9 – Group tourist

A person who is traveling as a member of a group of four to ten tourists individually or organized by a tour operator. The visa will be issued to each member of the group.

T10 - Itinerant business person

Applies to a business person who does not reside in Rwanda but has significant business activities in Rwanda and needs to regularly visit and work in the country.

T11 - Bridging

This visa is granted, in exceptional circumstances, to enable a person to stay temporarily in Rwanda pending receiving a substantive visa or permit or their departure from Rwanda.

T12 - East africa tourist visa

A foreigner who wants to visit simultaneously the Republic of Kenya, Republic of Rwanda and Republic of Uganda for tourism.
An East Africa Tourist Visa is multiple entries within the three countries and shall be valid for 90 days.

Temporary resident permits

Temporary resident are categorised according to the nature of the activity to be carried out by the applicant. Applicants may have up to 15 days from the time of arrival in the country to process their request. After that period, penalties will apply.

A - Prospecting and mining

A1 - Investor in prospecting and mining

Issued to a foreigner considered as an investor intending to engage in prospecting for minerals, mining or any other related activities in Rwanda. The investor must have been certified by Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

A2 - Enterpreneur in prospecting and mining

Issued to a foreigner considered as an entrepreneur intending or engaged on his or her account in prospecting and mining in Rwanda.

B - Agriculture, animal husbandry and related activities

B1 - Investor in agriculture, animal husbandry & related activies

Issued to a foreigner considered as an investor intending or engaged on his or her account in agriculture, animal husbandry and others related activities in Rwanda. The investor must have been certified by Rwanda Development Board (RDB).

B2 - Entrepreneur in agriculture, animal husbandry & related activities

Issued to a foreigner considered as an entrepreneur intending or engaged on his or her account in agriculture, animal husbandry and others related activities in Rwanda.

C - Prescribed professionals

C1 - Prescribed professionals

Issued to a foreigner with prescribed profession intending or engaged on his/her account or in partnership in exercising his/her profession in Rwanda.

C2 - Professional players / Artists

Issued to a professional player or artist intending or engaged in exercising his/her profession.

D - Diplomats

D1 - Diplomatic

Issued to a person accredited to Rwanda as a diplomat to represent his/her country.

D2 - Diplomat of international organisations

Issued to a foreigner who is working in an international organization and has a diplomatic status.

E - Government or Parastatal employee

E1 - Government or Parastatal employee

Issued to a person employed on government contracts including a person serving in tertiary institution or parastatal.

E2 - Technical assistance

Issued to a person providing technical assistance to Rwanda under a bilateral agreement with another country or with an International Organization.

F - Specific manufacturing and processing

F1 - Investor in specific manufacturing and processing

Issued to a foreigner considered as an investor intending or engaged on his or her account in specific manufacturing and processing in Rwanda.

F2 - Entrepreneur in specific manufacturing and processing

Issued to a foreigner considered as an entrepreneur intending or engaged on his or her account in specific manufacturing and processing in Rwanda.

G - Specific trade, businesses and services

G1 - Specific trade, businesses and services from the Region

Issued to a person who is a national from the country within East African Countries (EAC) and Communaute Economique des Pays de Grands Lacs (CEPGL) who engages in trade of goods or services.

G2 - Specific trade, businesses and services outside the Region

Issued to a person who is a national of the countries outside East African Countries (EAC) and Communaute Economique des Pays de Grands Lacs (CEPGL) who engages in specific trade of goods or services

H - Specific employement by specific employer

H1 - Skilled worker on an occupation on demand

Issued to a skilled worker who possesses the qualifications or relevant work experience on an Occupation in Demand List.

H2 - Skilled worker sponsored

Issued to a skilled worker sponsored by his/her employer and who possesses required qualifications or relevant work experience. The sponsor must prove that he/she have made a Labour Market Test current for 6 weeks from the date of the first advertisement and could not find an employee on the Rwanda Labour market.

H3 - Journalist or Media representative

Issued to a Journalist or a foreign media representative who holds an accreditation from the competent Rwandan Authorities.

H4 - Semi skilled or Artisans

Issued to a semi-skilled worker or artisan who is a national of one of the countries within the region.

H5 - International organization staff

Issued to foreign staff working in an international organization.

I - Approved religious activities

Issued to a foreigner engaged in approved religious activities.

J - Hospitality industry and related activities

J1 - Investor in hospitality industry and related activities

Issued to a foreigner considered as an investor intending or engaged in hospitality industry and related activities in Rwanda. The investor must have been certified by Rwanda Development Board.

J2 - Enterpreneur in hospitality industry and related activities

Issued to a foreigner considered as an entrepreneur intending or engaged on his or her account in hospitality industry and other related activities in Rwanda.

K - Person with assured income

Issued to a person with assured income including retired person who do not intend to be employed in Rwanda, the minimum age is 55 years of age. The applicant must have at least an income of 5,000 $ per month.

M - Dependent pass

M1 - Dependent of a Rwandan

Issued to any dependant of a Rwandan national upon request.

M2 - Dependent of a temporary resident permit holder

Issued to a dependant of a temporary resident holder.

M3 - Dependent of a permanent resident permit holder

Issued to a close relative or any other person who may be considered as a family member of a holder of permanent resident permit.

N - Student pass and occupational trainee

N1 - Student pass

Issued to a foreigner who is in Rwanda for study purposes. It shall have the same meaning as a student pass in the context of Easter African Community.

N2 - Occupational trainee

Issued to students who have just completed their studies in a recognized university within period of six months after completion.

P - Voluntary worker and holiday worker

P1 - Voluntary worker

Issued to a person who undertakes voluntary work with an organization in Rwanda which has an agreement with the government of Rwanda or an International Organization.

P2 - Holiday worker

Issued to a student of a recognized institution of higher learning working during his/her holidays or a student who has just completed studying.

R - Special pass

Issued to a foreigner who secures employment with a validity of not more than ninety days. It shall also be issued to a workers or a self employed persons who have not yet acquired a Resident Permit.

S - Frontier pass

S1 - Resident within the border area

Issued to a foreigner residing within the border area of a country bordering Rwanda who regularly enters and exits Rwanda to work or do business. This person normally exits Rwanda each working day to return to his/her place of residence.

S2 - Resident in Rwanda

Issued to a foreigner who resides in Rwanda within a frontier region but regularly exits Rwanda to work or do business in the border region of the bordering country.

W - Information technology and related activities

W1 - Investor in information technology and related activities

Issued to a foreigner considered as an investor intending or engaged on his or her account in information technology and related activities in Rwanda. The investor must have been certified by Rwanda Development Board.

W2 - Entrepreneur in information technology and related activities

Issued to a foreigner considered as an entrepreneur intending or engaged in information technology or related activities in Rwanda.

X - Transport and logistics

X1 - Investor in transport and logistics

Issued to a foreigner considered as an investor intending or engaged in transport and logistics in Rwanda. The investor must have been certified by Rwanda Development Board.

X2 - Entrepreneur in transport and logistics

Issued to a foreigner considered as an entrepreneur intending or engaged in transport and logistics in Rwanda.

Z - Other investments

Z1 - Investor in other investments

Issued to a foreigner considered as an investor intending or engaged in other investments in Rwanda. The investor must have been certified by Rwanda Development Board.

Z2 - Entrepreneur in other investments

Issued to a foreigner who is considered as an entrepreneur intending or engaged in other investments in Rwanda.