KIGALI – Rwanda will starting next year, be giving visas to all travelers to the country at the entry into the country following a new visa regime.
Before the introduction of the new visa regime, only African passport holders and a few other countries could receive at Rwanda entry points without.
The move is intended to boost tourism in the country by allowing easy access to country by foreigners.
According to New Times, Rwanda reinstated payment of visa fee upon arrival to citizens of Hong Kong that were getting free visa upon arrival. It comes after Hong Kong re-introduced visa requirements to Rwandans since April 29, 2016.
The new arrangement will also see Rwandans living abroad with dual nationality use their IDs on entry. This will waive visa fees for Rwandans coming into the country traveling on foreign passports.
In the past, Rwandans traveling into the country with foreign passports were only granted visa free entry only if they were in possession of a valid Rwandan passport.
The new visa regime will also enable foreign residents in the country use their resident ID cards for entry. Previously, foreigners living in Rwanda would have to produce their passports on entry into the country.
The country’s directorate general of Immigration and Emigration said Rwanda will with immediate effect grant a free 90 day visa on reciprocal basis to the following countries: Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Senegal, Seychelles and Sao Tome and Principe. This is in addition to DR Congo, East African Member Community Partner States, Mauritius, Philippines, and Singapore.
The Rwandans with diplomatic and service passports will not require visa when traveling to select countries following a move by the government to enter into visa waiver agreements. The countries include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, India, Israel, Morocco and Turkey.
Nationals of these countries will also not require visa while traveling to Rwanda using diplomatic and service passport.
