Prepare for your arrival visa
Check the accepted arrival points, documents and payment arrangements before departure.
Choose online or arrival issuance
Holiday visa applications are accepted online, at border posts and through Rwandan diplomatic missions. Select the correct visa category.
Use an eligible entry point
Use Rwanda Immigration visitor visa service. Check the current instructions and total government charges before paying.
Check the permission you receive
Check the passport details, dates and entry conditions on the permission you receive.
Check your trip dates
Count your travel days.
What to prepare for your trip
Check each item as you prepare it. Labels show which documents are required, conditional, or recommended.
Your circumstances may require additional documents. Ticks track preparation, not eligibility or admission.
Costs & timing
Government charges and decision times for this route. Check the official service for your final fee.
Government fees
- Single-entry V1 holiday visa
- USD 50
- Multiple-entry V1 holiday visa (valid 90 days)
- USD 70
Details that can change your plans
Check whether your nationality qualifies for a fee waiver
The holiday visa lists USD 50 for one entry and USD 70 for multiple entries. Single-entry fee waivers include African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie nationals, as well as bilateral arrangements.
Official guidanceApply for an extension while your visa is valid
Only some visa categories can be extended. Check your category and apply before the current permission expires.
Official guidanceRwanda issues visitor visas on arrival
All nationalities may obtain a visa on arrival without applying beforehand. Commonwealth citizens receive a fee-waived 30-day visitor visa on arrival. Singapore citizens may visit for up to 90 days without a visa.
Official guidanceU.S. advice specifies six months after arrival
Rwanda Immigration requires at least six months of passport validity but does not state the counting date on its visitor page. The U.S. Department of State advises six months beyond arrival and one blank page. Check your airline and Rwanda Immigration if your passport is close to either limit.
Official guidanceOne visa can cover a Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda trip
The East Africa Tourist Visa covers tourism in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda for 90 days with multiple entries and costs USD 100. Apply online, on arrival or through a Rwandan mission. If you obtain it before travel, your first entry must be the country that issued it.
Official guidanceRwanda at a glance
- Capital
- Kigali
- Currency
- RWF
- Calling code
- +250
Questions for this route
Do travelers with an ordinary passport from the United States need a visa for Rwanda?
For tourism in Rwanda, travelers using an ordinary passport from the United States should prepare for a visa on arrival. Holiday visa applications are accepted online, at border posts and through Rwandan diplomatic missions. Select the correct visa category. The published short-visit limit is 30 days per visit; follow any shorter period on your granted permission.
How long can I stay in Rwanda?
The short-visit limit is 30 days per visit. Your actual permission can be shorter; check the dates and conditions you receive.
How much is the government fee?
Single-entry V1 holiday visa: USD 50 for one entry for a 30-day stay. Multiple-entry V1 holiday visa (valid 90 days): USD 70 for multiple entries. Check the official payment page for exemptions and any additional charges.
What if I’m going to work, study or stay longer?
This guide is for a short tourist visit on an ordinary passport. It does not establish eligibility for employment, study or residence. Use the destination’s official guidance for your actual purpose.
Does my country of residence change the answer?
Passport nationality and legal residence are different. This page starts with your passport. Residence can change where you apply and which application channel is available; an existing visa or residence permit may also create an exception. Check the official eligibility guidance for your circumstances.
Official websites
Use these government websites to confirm requirements and complete any application.
Open Rwanda Immigration visitor visa service
Holiday visa applications are accepted online, at border posts and through Rwandan diplomatic missions. Select the correct visa category.
Check Rwanda’s visa guidance
Visa categories and official visitor guidance.
Read the official travel advice
Rwanda's Ministry of Health says foreign nationals who travelled to or transited through the Democratic Republic of the Congo within the 30 days before travel will be denied entry. Health screening is also in place. This temporary measure can change; check Rwanda's latest notice and your government's advice before departure.
U.S. State Department advice for Rwanda
Read current U.S. visa, passport, health and entry guidance.
About this guide
This guide covers short tourist visits on an ordinary passport. Your nationality, residence, travel document and purpose can affect the entry conditions. Check the linked official guidance before travel; the border authority decides admission and your permitted stay.
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