FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION AT THE VISA AND PERMIT RECEPTION

FAQ-Visa & Permit Responses

Entry visa

1. How to get a Rwandan Entry visa?
Rwandan entry visa can be applied online by
simply filling the form available on
https://www.migration.gov.rw/singleform.php,
After successfully submitting your application, you
get a tracking number which start with RWA
followed by 09 digits, Later after approval you get
an acceptance letter certifying that your visa will
be issued at the point of entry. The online entry
visa is for single entry and fee is USD 30 or
equivalent accepted foreign currency is currently
paid at the point of entry.

Alternatively Rwandan entry visa can be applied

through the Rwandan Missions Abroad
2. How long does it take to get an entry Within 03 working days
visa?

3. Is employment allowed on an entry Employment prohibited (EP)

visa?
4. When do you apply for a work permit A foreigner issued with entry and tourists visas, if
after entering on the country on an their intention is to work or conducts business;
entry visa? should apply for an appropriate permit within
15days after signing the work contract or
registering the business.
5. How to know the status of your online Write your tracking number in the e-tracking
entry visa application? system at the website
https://www.migration.gov.rw/tracking.php

All visas issued at the Rwanda Mission Abroad

1. Does a visa issued in the Rwanda All visas obtained from the Rwandan Missions
mission Abroad allow the bearer to work Abroad does not allow the bearer to work in
in Rwanda? Rwanda but he/she is allowed to change the status
to the appropriate permit that allow him/her to
work at the head office of the Directorate General
of Immigration and Emigration.
2. Is Tourist visa-T1 bearer allowed to T1 Tourist is required to apply for a temporary

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 work? resident permit upon deciding to reside in the
T1 (Tourist visa) is issued to a person country even though it may be before the 90 days
who is a national of a country with issued are not over.
which Rwanda has a visa waiver regime,
to visit for a holiday , sightseeing, social
or recreational purpose or other short
term non work purpose.
3. When does a foreigner have to change A foreigner has to apply for a resident permit 15
his/her status if he/she arrive in the days after securing a job or opening a business.
country on an entry/tourist visa?
4. Who is entitled to T10-Itinerant This visa is issued to business persons registered in
Business visa? RDB as an investor.
Temporary residence permit
1. Who is entitled to be a volunteer? Volunteer should be defined by the bilateral
agreement with the government of Rwanda
represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Are dependants allowed to work? Dependants are allowed to work but they are
required to seek approval before starting the work.
3. Who are the International Organization These are staff of UN organisations, NB:
Staff that can apply for H5? International Non Governmental Organisation’s
staff are not concerned in this type of permit.
4. What are the Labour Market obligations Employers who intend to employ a foreigner in
for employers? Rwanda, are required to advertise the job in the
local newspaper and attract primarily qualified
Rwandans. When they could not find a suitable
Rwandan candidate. Should inform the Directorate
General of Immigration and Emigration and to hire
qualified ones from outside the country.
5. How does the Labour Market test work? Employers may sponsor skilled workers through a
Class H2 Employer Sponsored Skilled Worker
permit in cases where a person’s occupation is not
on the ODL.

Employers are required to demonstrate that they

are unable to find a suitable employee in the
Rwandan labour market. Having so demonstrated
the employer may lodge a sponsorship for a foreign
worker to fill a nominated position.

Employers are required to take the following

action to demonstrate the non availability of a local
worker

 Advertise the vacancy in a national

newspaper on 2 separate occasions over a 6

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 week period prior to lodging the
sponsorship.
 Advertise the vacancy once in a second
location such as on the website of the
Rwanda Private Sector Federation or
through an employment agency. This
advertising may be done concurrently with
the national advertising.
 Consider all applications received from
Rwandans. If none of the Rwandans are
suitable document why each is not suitable

Advertisements must accurately reflect the duties

of the position and the salary and employment
conditions offered. The advertisements must be
prominently displayed to attract as big a response
as possible.

A labour market test is current for 6 months from

the date of the first advertisement.

When Employer Lodges a Sponsorship

When lodging sponsorships the sponsors are

required to provide original copies of the
advertisements lodged including the dates of the
advertisements.

The sponsor must also provide details of all

Rwandan applicants, including copies of their
applications and the reasons why each was not
suitable.

At the time the employer lodges a sponsorship

based on the outcome of labour market testing
he/she should also lodge an application from the
skilled foreign worker he/she proposes to sponsor
for the nominated position.

The sponsorship and application should be lodged

with the Director General’s Client Service Centre in
Kigali.

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Penality for the delay of visa/residence permit application or renewal

A foreigner, who delays to submit an application or extension of his/her Visa/Residence

permit, shall commit a fault and shall be liable to anadministrative penality as stated below:

Any foreigner who overstays from one (1) day up to five (5) days shall be liable to a verbal
warning.

Dates of delay Penality charge

From 6 to 15 days 20,000 Rwf
16 days to 30 days 50,000 Rwf
31 days to 03 months 100,000 Rwf
03 months to 06 months 200,000 Rwf
06 months to 09 months 300,000 Rwf
09 months and above 500,000 Rwf

- Regardless of paying the penalty as charged, a defaulter may also be expelled from
Rwanda.
- Any foreigner who re-commits one of the faults as mentioned in this Article may be
declared undesirable person.