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Rwanda Visa for Gorilla Trekking: On Arrival, Online and the East Africa Visa
Every traveller gets a Rwanda visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and all land borders, and a single-entry tourist visa costs $50. For a trek that adds Uganda, the East Africa Tourist Visa at $100 covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya for 90 days.
Quick answer Visa on arrival for all nationalities, tourist visa $50 single entry
Yes. Nationals of all countries get a Rwanda visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and every land border, with no prior application. A single-entry tourist visa costs $50 for 30 days, and the online route on Irembo takes 4 days if you want it in hand before you fly.
Key takeaways
- A single-entry tourist visa costs $50 for 30 days and the 90-day multiple entry version $70, per the Rwanda Embassy in the USA. The fee table below compares every type.
- For treks that cross into Uganda, the 3 Days gorilla trekking Safari tour in Uganda pairs best with the East Africa Tourist Visa, which costs $100 and lasts 90 days.
- Trekking only Volcanoes National Park? The 1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour In The Volcanoes National Park fits a single-entry visa.
- Compare permit prices and park rules on our rwanda vs uganda gorilla trekking homepage.
Do I need a visa to travel to Rwanda?
Rwanda lets nationals of every country take a visa on arrival, so for a gorilla trip the question is not whether you need a visa but which one fits your itinerary.
Rwanda lets nationals of every country take a visa on arrival, so for a gorilla trip the question is not whether you need a visa but which one fits your itinerary. Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost $1,500 per person, so it is worth sorting the visa early so the trek day itself runs smoothly. The list below covers the practical options for trekkers, and the sections that follow explain each route step by step. A short list of nationalities skips the visa entirely. Citizens of Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Sierra Leone, State of Qatar and Saint Christopher and Nevis holding ordinary passports do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie member countries get a free visitor visa on arrival, valid 30 days, single entry. East African Community citizens receive a pass or entry visa free of charge on arrival for a six-month stay. Whatever your nationality, your passport must be valid for at least six months. Visitors also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate for entry to the region. One arrival rule catches trekkers out. Plastic bags are banned in Rwanda, and bags brought to the country are confiscated at Kigali airport. Empty your daypack of any plastic bags before you fly in for the trek. Source: Rwanda Embassy in the USA, Irembo Support, Visit Rwanda Immigration and Visas.
Source: Irembo.
Which Rwanda visa should a gorilla trekker choose?
Choose the single-entry tourist visa at $50 for a Rwanda-only trek and the East Africa Tourist Visa at $100 if you also visit Uganda or Kenya.
There are four routes worth knowing for a gorilla trip. The table compares them, then the sections below walk through each one. Special national park offers can change the cost side of the trip too: nationals pay $200 and foreign residents $500 under that scheme, per Visit Rwanda special national park offers. Source: Rwanda Embassy in the USA, Irembo Support, Visit Rwanda special national park offers, DGIE.
Visa options compared
The East Africa Tourist Visa is the one that matters most on this site, because many of our trips start in Kigali and cross into Uganda for Bwindi or Mgahinga. A $50 single-entry visa would need buying twice in that case, once per country. The Irembo fee list also shows a group tourism visa at $150 and a transit visa at $30 (up to 3 days) for travellers just passing through.
| Visa | Cost | Validity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa V1, single entry | $50 | 30 days | A Rwanda-only trek such as a day trip from Kigali |
| Tourist visa V1, multiple entry | $70 | 90 days | Repeat entries within three months |
| East Africa Tourist Visa V11 | $100 | 90 days, multiple entry | Trekking Rwanda plus Uganda or Kenya |
| Visitor visa, AU, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens | Free | 30 days, single entry | Citizens of member countries on short trips |
| Long-term visitor visa V12 | $160 | Up to 10 years, US citizens only | Frequent US visitors, via the Washington DC embassy only |
Sources: Irembo, Visit Rwanda, Uganda Wildlife Authority.
How much does a Rwandan visa cost for US citizens?
US citizens pay the standard fees, $50 single entry or $70 multiple entry, plus a $160 ten-year long-term option through the embassy.
Americans do not get special treatment at the border. The visa on arrival costs the same as for everyone else, and the ten-year visa exists for frequent visitors who apply in advance in Washington DC. Source: Rwanda Embassy in the USA, US Embassy in Rwanda, Irembo Support.
Costs for US citizens
For a one-week gorilla trip, the $50 single-entry tourist visa is the normal pick. The $160 long-term visa only makes sense if you plan several trips over years, and it cannot be bought at the airport. Embassy applications need a passport valid at least six months, one colour photo on a white background, a flight itinerary, a hotel reservation, an invitation letter, a money order or cashier's check and a prepaid FedEx return envelope.
Most US trekkers skip all that and take the visa on arrival at Kigali, paying in cash or by card at the desk. The fee schedule at the airport matches the embassy list.
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival, single entry | $50 | 30 days, paid at Kigali airport or a land border |
| Visa on arrival, multiple entry | $70 | 90 days |
| East Africa Tourist Visa | $100 | 90 days, covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya |
| Long-term visitor visa V12 | $160 | Up to 10 years, embassy in Washington DC only, stays up to six months renewable, no work |
Source: Irembo.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Rwanda?
This is the main way trekkers enter Rwanda.
This is the main way trekkers enter Rwanda. Since the start of 2018 the rule has applied to every nationality, and the service is run by the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration. Land borders matter on this site, because trips such as the 2 Day Gorilla Trekking Bwindi From Kigali cross the Uganda border by road. The fee cap on arrival is $50 single entry or $70 multiple entry, and AU, Commonwealth and La Francophonie citizens get a free 30-day visa. At Kigali airport, join the visa desk queue before immigration, state your visa type and pay the fee in dollars or by card. Keep the receipt with your passport. The same process works at the Gatuna and Cyanika borders used for Uganda treks. Bring a passport valid for at least six months and a yellow fever certificate. If the border officer is unsure about your visa type, the DGIE answers questions at visa@migration.gov.rw or +250 722 17 29 74. Source: Rwanda Embassy in the USA, Irembo Support, Visit Rwanda Immigration and Visas.
Source: Irembo.
How do I apply for a Rwanda visa online on Irembo?
Apply on IremboGov with a photo, passport biodata page and application letter, pay online, and the visa processes in 4 days.
The online route suits trekkers who want the visa confirmed before departure, for example when a permit date is fixed and flights cannot move. Attachments must be JPG or PDF, each file at most 500KB, so prepare your scans before you start. Source: Irembo Support.
Step by step on Irembo
Create an account, choose the visa service, select your visa type, upload the three attachments and submit. Payment can be offline through Bank of Kigali or online with Visa or MasterCard, in dollars or Rwandan francs. Processing takes 4 days, so apply at least a week before you travel.
Already in Rwanda and need more time? Use the Renew Visa or Permit service rather than applying for a new visa. If you are unsure which visa type fits your trek, email visa@migration.gov.rw or call +250 722 17 29 74.
There is no visa application form pdf to hunt for. The form is the Irembo web form itself, filled in online with the three attachments listed below.
| Attachment | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application letter | JPG or PDF, max 500KB | Brief letter stating the purpose and dates of your visit |
| Passport biodata page copy | JPG or PDF, max 500KB | Clear scan of the photo page |
| Photo, white background | JPG or PDF, max 500KB | Standard passport-style photo |
Source: Irembo.
What about a Rwanda visa on arrival for Indian nationals?
India is not on the visa-exempt list and is not an African Union, Commonwealth or La Francophonie member, so there is no free-visa shortcut.
India is not on the visa-exempt list and is not an African Union, Commonwealth or La Francophonie member, so there is no free-visa shortcut. Indian trekkers simply take the visa on arrival or apply on Irembo in advance. Bring a passport valid six months and your yellow fever certificate, and if the trek continues into Uganda check that country's e-visa rules separately because the East Africa Tourist Visa, when issued by Rwanda, covers the three partner states. Source: Rwanda Embassy in the USA, Irembo Support.
Source: Irembo.
Which visa fits a Rwanda and Uganda gorilla itinerary?
This is the decision most of our readers face.
This is the decision most of our readers face. Several of our trips start in Kigali, where flights are cheaper, then drive to Bwindi or Mgahinga in Uganda. Buying a Rwanda single-entry visa for that trip means buying a Ugandan visa too, while the East Africa Tourist Visa covers both borders in one purchase and allows multiple entries for 90 days. Uganda permits cost $800 for foreign non-residents in Bwindi and Mgahinga under the UWA tariff, versus $1,500 in Rwanda, which is exactly why the cross-border itineraries are popular. The 4 Day Rwanda and Uganda Gorilla Trekking trip is the classic example of an itinerary that needs the multi-country visa. Kenya counts too. If your route runs Kigali, Bwindi, then a flight from Entebbe to a Masai Mara safari, the East Africa visa keeps every border crossing covered. Note the visa allows entry to the three states but each park's permits are bought separately, as always. Source: Rwanda Embassy in the USA, Uganda Wildlife Authority tariff, Visit Rwanda Come Visit the Gorillas.
Source: Irembo.
Which countries are visa-exempt for Rwanda?
Nineteen countries, mostly African plus Indonesia, Haiti, Singapore, Qatar and Saint Christopher and Nevis, enter visa-free for up to 90 days.
If your passport is from one of these countries, skip the visa queues entirely and go straight to immigration with your passport and yellow fever certificate. Everyone else follows the on-arrival or online routes above. Citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie member countries are a separate group: they still stop at the visa desk but receive a free 30-day visitor visa. Source: Irembo Support, DGIE.
The visa-free list
Ordinary passport holders from the following countries need no visa for stays up to 90 days: Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Haiti, Mauritius, Philippines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Sierra Leone, State of Qatar and Saint Christopher and Nevis. East African Community citizens get a free pass or entry visa on arrival valid six months.
| Group | Entry rule | Stay |
|---|---|---|
| The 19 listed countries | No visa | Up to 90 days |
| AU, Commonwealth and La Francophonie members | Free visitor visa on arrival | 30 days, single entry |
| East African Community citizens | Free pass or entry visa on arrival | Six months |
| Everyone else | Visa on arrival, $50 single entry | 30 days |
Source: Irembo.
What should you prepare before flying in for the trek?
Bring a passport valid six months, a yellow fever certificate, dollars in cash for the visa desk, and no plastic bags.
The visa is easy. The things around it are what delay trekkers at Kigali airport, so run through this list before your flight. Source: DGIE, GOV UK travel advice, Visit Rwanda Come Visit the Gorillas.
Arrival checklist for trekkers
Passport valid at least six months. Yellow fever vaccination certificate. $50 or $100 in cash for the visa desk, or a card. Printed or offline copies of your gorilla permit confirmation, since documents are verified at park entry gates and a wrong application can mean denied entry even with a paid permit.
No plastic bags anywhere in your luggage, because they are confiscated on arrival. Remember the permit rules that interact with your travel dates. Briefing at Kinigi is at 7:00 AM on trek day, and no refund is made for late arrivals or flight delays, so land in Kigali the day before, not the morning of, the trek.
Rescheduling a confirmed permit costs 20 percent of the fee, automatic more than 7 days out and subject to RDB approval within 7 days.
Source: Irembo.
Tours That Fit
Trips that match the visa you just chose, from a single-country day trek to a two-country itinerary.
1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour In The Volcanoes National Park
A private 12 hour Kigali day trek with 4x4 transport and meals included, but the mandatory gorilla permit is paid for separately.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Universal Ventures
Rwanda Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
A private day trek from Kigali with a culture tour and lunch, rated 4.9, but the gorilla permit is paid separately and the operator helps arrange it.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Vista Safaris
3 Days gorilla trekking Safari tour in Uganda
Private three day Uganda gorilla safari with the permit, two nights lodging, meals, a Batwa tour and a Lake Bunyonyi canoe ride for $2600 per person.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Dav Safaris
3 Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking and Batwa Pygmies Experience
A private 3 day Uganda gorilla trek with a Batwa cultural experience, permit of $800 included in the $1860 price, from Entebbe or Kampala.
- Cancellation
- Full refund 6 days ahead, 50% between 2 and 6 days, no refund within 2 days
- Operator
- Eco Adventure Safaris
Rwanda Visa FAQ
Do Americans need a visa to visit Rwanda?
Yes, but Americans get a visa on arrival at Kigali airport and all land borders with no advance application. A frequent visitor can instead apply for a 10-year visa at $160 through the embassy in Washington DC.
How much does a Rwandan visa cost for US citizens?
The same as everyone else: $50 single entry for 30 days, $70 multiple entry for 90 days, or the East Africa Tourist Visa at $100 for trips adding Uganda or Kenya.
Do I need a visa to travel to Rwanda?
Yes for almost everyone, though 19 countries including Singapore, Qatar and the Philippines enter visa-free for up to 90 days, and AU, Commonwealth and Francophonie citizens get a free 30-day visa.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Rwanda?
Yes, nationals of all countries can, at Kigali International Airport and all land borders, which is why road crossings to Uganda work so well on our rwanda vs uganda gorilla trekking itineraries.
What about a Rwanda visa on arrival for Indian nationals?
Indian nationals take the standard visa on arrival at $50 single entry, or apply online on Irembo with 4-day processing.
Is there a Rwanda visa application form pdf?
No paper form is needed. The application is the online form on IremboGov, with a photo, passport biodata page and application letter attached as JPG or PDF files up to 500KB each.
Does the gorilla permit include the visa?
No, they are separate. Rwanda permits cost $1,500 per person per day and Uganda permits $800 for foreign non-residents, and the visa is paid at the border or online on top of that.
What documents do I show at the border for a gorilla trek?
A valid passport, an East African visa or a country-specific visa, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate, plus your permit confirmation which is checked again at the park entry gate.
More Guides
- Best Time to Visit Uganda for Gorilla Trekking
Plan the best time to visit Uganda in 2027. Two dry seasons, June to September and December to February, See the month table and book.
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Gorilla Trekking in Uganda Compared With Rwanda
Plan Bwindi in 2027: 4 sectors, treks of 2 to 7 hours, permits and how Uganda compares with Rwanda. See tours and book.
- East Africa Tourist Visa for Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda
The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya for 90 days in 2027 on one $100 visa. See how to apply for your gorilla trek.