Guide to Obtaining Rwanda Visa Online

After the update of their website, Rwanda has finally one of the more user friendly websites for visa application I have seen so far! If you are looking to get Rwandan visa online, you will see the process for obtaining visa for Rwanda is simple, quick and very straight forward. Much better than few years ago. They even have a live chat support! If contacting them during working hours, online chat support is quick and responsive. Once on the page of Rwandan Immigration there is clear and easy navigation offering to choose the type of visa. By clicking the chosen type of visa the system you will be offered application depending on payment options. Users have a choice of paying Rwanda visa online or on arrival.

 

East Africa Visa online guide Rwanda DR Congo

Before applying for Rwandan Visa you Will have to Know:

  • what type of Rwanda visa you want to apply for
  • location where you plan to pick up visa
  • do you want to pay online or on arrival

Payments online can be paid be VISA or Mastercard credit cards.

On arrival along with VISA and Mastercard it is possible to pay with cash: USD bills.

Documents required for Rwandan Visa Online

Before applying for Rwanda visa online make sure you have all required documents like passport scan  and photos on your computer. The required files for uploading documents for Rwandan Visa online application need to be submitted in pdf file maximum size of 500kb and when the photo required in jpg of maximum 40 kb.

Depending on the type Rwanda visa you will need:

  • pdf file with scan of your passport (required for all types of  Rwanda visa)
  • invitation letter (optional for all visas)
  • pdf of any additional document or proof you want to present (optional for all Rwandan visas)
  • pdf file of travel itinerary (required for transit Rwandan visa)
  • jpg file max size 40 kb of recent passport size photo with white background (required for conference single visa and East Africa Visa)

 

Types Of Rwanda Visas

 

There are four types of Rwanda visa to choose from:

Entry Points to Collect Rwanda Visa

On application for Single entry visa you will have to choose the exact entry point to Rwanda:

  • Bugarama
  • Buziba
  • Bweyeye
  • Cyanika
  • Gatuna
  • Kabuhanga
  • Kagitumba
  • Kamembe International Airport
  • Kanyaru Bas
  • Kanyaru Haut
  • Kigali International airport
  • La corniche  (Gisenyi border to Goma)
  • Nemba
  • Nshili
  • Poids Lourds
  • Ruhwa
  • Rusumo
  • Ruzizi 1
  • Ruzizi 2

 

Online Application for  Rwandan Single Entry Visa

Single entry visa for Rwanda costs 30 USD. If you are visiting Rwanda only this is the visa you will need.

Single entry visa for Rwanda is issued to

  • A foreigner who wants to visit Rwanda for any purpose other than work and who is not a citizen of Hong Kong, Philippines, Mauritius, Singapore and Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • A person from any country who wants to enter Rwanda to seek a visa appropriate to the purpose of his stay. The purpose is other than visit, holiday, sightseeing, or recreation.

Nationals of Australia, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States of America will be issued with entry visa valid for a period up to 30 days and pay for a visa ($30) upon arrival without prior application.

Visa is valid for 30 days. Visa can not be extended after period of 30 days. Work is prohibited. Processing time for online single entry visa to Rwanda is three days.

 

Application for East African Visa

East Africa Tourist visa is great choice for travellers that plan to visit larger region of East Africa that includes travel to Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Visa costs 100 USD and is valid 90 days, allowing multiple entries between Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.

If trip to East Africa is starting in Rwanda, you should apply for East Africa visa on Rwandan immigration website.

Foreigners who reside in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda do not pay for this visa.

Travelling to DR Congo from Rwanda and Then Back to Rwanda?

rwanda-congo-border-gisenyi-goma

In case your plans include travel to DR Congo for a few days and then you wish to return  back to Rwanda and proceed with travel to Uganda and Kenya, there is a catch! In this case things are little bit more complicated since DR Congo is not member of East Africa.  If you buy only East Africa visa and enter Congo at any point of your travel, returning back to Rwanda, East Africa visa becomes void!

First buy single entry visa to enter Rwanda. Then order  East African Visa online if itinerary dates are set to stone. Otherwise,  go to DR Congo. Before departure to DR Congo order new visa and this time select East Africa Visa that will allow you to enter Rwanda again and enable further travel to Uganda and/or  Kenya. Assuming you will be crossing border in Gisenyi on lake Kivu, choose La Corniche border point in East Africa visa application.

East African Visa can not be extended. Work is prohibited. Online processing time is 3 working days.

Transit Visa for Rwanda

 

Transit visa for Rwanda is valid for 72 hours.  Applicants are required to have a confirmed onward booking from Rwanda to a third country or other acceptable plans to depart Rwanda within 72 hours of arrival. Travel itinerary is required as proof of onward travel out of Rwanda. Work is prohibited. Passport should be valid at least six months after the entry date to Rwanda.

You can pay transit visa fro Rwanda online or on arrival at selected border or airport. Processing time: 3 days. Price for transit visa for Rwanda is 30 USD.

Transit visa is possible to extend only under special circumstances for another 72 hours.

Guide-to-Rwanda-Visa-Online

 

Conference Visa Single Entry For Rwanda

 

Conference Single visa is the only visa that permits work on conference only. It is valid for 30 days and can be extended under special conditions. Online processing time is three working days, applicants must have valid passport at least six months after the entry to Rwanda. Visa cost 30 USD.

With January 2018 visa will be obtainable at arrival -“Nationals of Australia, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States of America will be issued with entry visa valid for a period up to 30 days and pay for a visa ($30) upon arrival without prior application,” according to a government portal.. Read more here

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