Visa Requirements for Rwandan Citizens

Visa requirements for citizens of Rwanda are policies put in place by authorities that control the entry of Rwandan passport holders into the country.

The Henley Passport Index ranks a Rwandan passport as the 87th most powerful passport in the world. This means that as of 2021, a citizen of Rwanda can travel to over 60 destinations without needing to apply for a visa in advance.

The visa requirements differ depending on the country they are wishing to travel to, how long they intend to stay there, and the purpose of their visit.

Before planning a trip, it is always necessary to check a country’s visa requirements for Rwandan citizens to familiarize yourself with their policies.

Various destinations require Rwandan visitors to apply online for an electronic visa (eVisa) or electronic travel authorization (eTA).

These are quick and easy to apply for, usually taking a matter of minutes.

Some countries offer a visa on arrival service, where you can obtain a visa when you arrive in the country.

However, this can be a lengthy process and a successful visa application is not guaranteed.

Rwandan passport holders can also apply for certain visas at an embassy or consulate. This can be complicated compared to online options and is necessary to do in person.

Nationals of Rwanda can also enter some countries visa-free for short visits.

To learn what the visa requirements for Rwanda are, browse the information below.

List of Visa Countries for Rwandan Passport Holders

Current visa requirements for Rwandan citizens state that over 220 destinations require Rwandans to organize a visa or travel authorization before entering.

Almost 40 of these countries allow Rwandan travelers to apply for an eVisa or electronic visa waiver before traveling.

These options eliminate the lengthy process of waiting in a long queue to get a visa on arrival, or the often complicated procedure of going to an embassy in person.

Simply fill in an online form with your personal details and travel information, and your eVisa or electronic visa waiver will be sent to you by email.

Sometimes the eVisas and electronic visa waivers are only valid for short-term visits, ranging from 30 to 90 days, so it is advised to check visa requirements for longer stays, such as for business or to study.

Additionally, there are around 170 countries that require Rwandans to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate.

Further information can be found below about the visa requirements for Rwandan citizens.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization policies are set by certain countries to allow Rwandan citizens to quickly and easily be granted access into around 40 territories. There are 2 types: electronic visas (eVisas) and electronic travel authorizations (eTAs).

An eVisa for Rwandans is a visa that can be obtained online.

An eTA for Rwandan nationals is a digital visa waiver that allows the traveler to avoid having to apply for a visa at all.

Depending on the destination, Rwandans with an eVisa or eTA can stay for between 30 and 90 days.

These programs are completely online, allowing travelers to apply for an eVisa or visa waiver without having to travel to an embassy, or attempt to obtain a visa on arrival.

The traveler simply enters their personal information into the basic online form, along with any additional information required by the country of issue.

In line with current COVID-19 restrictions, some countries require visitors to provide proof of vaccination or a relevant negative test result, as well as answer some basic health questions.

Once completed and approved, the travel document is then automatically sent to the email address provided.

This ensures easy access and avoids the risk of losing a physical document.

Find out if you qualify for an Electronic Travel Visa Authorization for Rwanda by browsing the list of destinations below.

Visa On Arrival

Over 20 destinations worldwide offer a visa on arrival service for Rwandan passport holders who wish to visit.

The length of permitted stay ranges from 7 days to 3 months, depending on each country’s specific visa requirements for citizens of Rwanda.

To obtain a visa on arrival, Rwandan citizens are required to go straight to an immigration checkpoint when they have arrived in the country. At the checkpoint, passengers must wait in a queue until they are given an application form by border authorities.

In addition to a completed form, the applicant will also need to provide any relevant documentation to support their application.

In most cases, there is a mandatory visa processing fee which must be paid in cash in the local currency. This can be a problem for anyone arriving without the local currency, especially if cash machines are not available.

Many Rwandan passport holders choose to obtain an Electronic Travel Visa Authorization when it is available. This reduces wasting time at the border, and avoids the risk of missing documentation or payment

To check if a destination offers a visa on arrival service for Rwandans, see the list below.

Bangladesh
Bolivia
Comoros
Congo
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Macau
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Nicaragua
Pakistan
Palau
Samoa
Senegal
Somalia
Timor-Leste
Tuvalu
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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Embassy Visa Required

Over 160 territories worldwide require Rwandan citizens to apply for a visa through an embassy or consulate. These requirements remain the same regardless of the length of the visa required, or the intention of the stay.

Those wishing to visit solely for tourism are required to apply through this process, as well as those who intend to stay for a long period of time, for purposes such as work or residency.

To obtain a visa through an embassy or consulate, applicants may be required to make an appointment at their nearest diplomatic government office.

Before the visa appointment, all Rwandan travelers need to complete the relevant application form. This completed form must be brought to the appointment, along with all the supporting documentation that is required.

Once the application has been processed, it can still take a significant amount of time for the visa to be approved compared to online visas.

Applying for a visa this way is often a lengthy process. It is advisable to start the application process well in advance.

Browse the list of territories below that require an embassy visa for Rwandan citizens.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Antarctica
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Curacao
Czech Republic
Denmark
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gambia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guyana
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jersey
Kiribati
Latvia
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mayotte
Monaco
Montenegro
Montserrat
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Netherlands
New Caledonia
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Norway
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Republic of Cyprus
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Korea
Spain
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Taiwan
Thailand
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
United States Virgin Islands
Uruguay
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

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Visa Not Required

Around 20 countries do not require Rwandan citizens to apply for a visa to enter. To travel to these visa-exempt countries, Rwandans just need to show a valid passport at border control.

The duration of permitted stay in these countries without a visa varies from 30 days to 6 months, depending on the destination.

Visa exemption for Rwandans usually only applies for tourism and, in some cases, for business and/or transit.

To visit these countries for a longer period of time Rwandan citizens would need to apply for an embassy or consulate visa.

The same is true for Rwandans who plan to emigrate to or work in a foreign country. In this case, they should inquire about the necessary visas and permits at a diplomatic mission.

Find out the visa free countries for Rwandan passport holders in the list below.