WHAT TO DO SOON AFTER ARRIVAL TO RWANDA

 1. APPLY FOR THE TYPE OF PERMIT RELATED TO THE PURPOSE OF STAY

WHERE TO APPLY

         DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION

The Directorate General is your contact point for all matters concerning permits, foreigner’s identity cards and Rwandan nationality.

PERMITS FOR RWANDA

Enquiries can be made at the Directorate General’s offices in Kigali – located at Kacyiru, Ministerial building near to the US Embassy.

The Directorate General has offices located in the headquarters office of every District in Rwanda

Directorate General Website: www.migration.gov.rw

Directorate General Telephone enquiries +250 788152222 and Fax (250) 0252585292

People coming to settle temporarily in Rwanda are required to come with the police clearance or police criminal record from the country of residence of the last 6 months.
For more details about the permits in Rwanda, please visit the following page,
click here

Office opening hours to all,
Monday – Friday    7.00am to 5.00pm

FOREIGNER’S IDENTITY CARDS

All foreigners temporarily (one year and above) or permanently resident in Rwanda, not tourists, are required to hold a Foreigner’s Identity Card also known in Rwanda as GREEN CARD.  The cards must be produced to any person in authority who requests to see them.

It is advisable to carry the card with you whenever you are outside your home.
Cards are obtainable at the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration and cost 5000 Rwf, after being issued with work/resident permit.

Foreigners can acquire the foreigner’s registration card at the same time as they acquire their temporary resident permit. The validity of the card is equal to the length of their permit.
A foreigner holding an entry or visitor visa (as distinct from a temporary residence permit) does not require a foreigner’s identity card but is advised to carry their passport with them when traveling away from home.

DETAILED PROCESS OF APPLICATION:

*Pay the prescribed amount  at the Rwanda Revenue Authority bureau which is in the same building with the Immigration office but at the back side

*Put all the document together

*Take a number at the front desk of Visa and wait for your turn

Any copy documents (e.g. qualifications) must be stamped and authorized by a public notary.

 RWANDAN CITIZENSHIP

The provisions for acquiring Rwandan nationality are set out in the Organic Law Relating to Rwandan Nationality 2008.

Nationality can be acquired by naturalization (after five years residence), by marriage, by descent and by adoption.  Dual nationality is also recognized.

Information about nationality is available at www.migration.gov.rw and from the Directorate General’s Client Service Centre in Kigali.

3.2 REGISTER AS A RESIDENT AT THE UMUDUGUDU (VILLAGE)

Foreigner’s residing in Rwanda like Rwandans are expected to:
*Register at the head of the community in the neighbourhood. 

*Participate in the activities organized by the community at the Umudugudu E.g. Umuganda which is a monthly community activity, where the community clean their Umudugudu and discuss development of their umudugudu. In most places the discussions are held in Kinyarwanda but neighbours will translate for foreigners. The day of Umuganda all the businesses close until lunch time.

*To know the head of Umudugudu one will have to ask the neighbours where does the head of Umudugudu live so as to register.

Source: www.migration.gov.rw