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Rwanda

Rwanda visit visa for Pakistan passport holders

VisitVisaInfo Editorial Team

Guides built from official government and embassy sources.

Last updated

On this page
  1. Document requirements
  2. Fees and timeline
  3. Fees
  4. Timeline
  5. How to apply
  6. Visa ratio
  7. FAQ
  8. Official sources
  9. Related guides

Rwanda · Kigali Convention Centre · Emmanuel Kwizera · CC BY-SA 4.0

Summary

Visa on arrival
Visa type
Free 30-day visa on arrival for Commonwealth citizens (or apply online through Irembo before you travel)
Stay limit
30 days on the free single-entry visa; a multiple-entry tourist visa (US$70) is valid for 90 days
Entries
Single (free visa); multiple entry available for a fee

Pakistani passport holders can get a visa on arrival in Rwanda, and for a standard 30-day visit it costs nothing. Rwanda’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration grants a visa on arrival to nationals of every country at Kigali International Airport and all land borders, and waives the fee for citizens of Commonwealth countries, a group that includes Pakistan. The free visa is single entry and does not allow work. If you prefer to sort it out before flying, you can apply online through Irembo, Rwanda’s official government services portal, or at a Rwandan mission in your country of residence.

Rwanda is a small, hilly country in the heart of East Africa, best known for mountain gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park, the shores of Lake Kivu and the capital, Kigali. The visa side is simple for Pakistani travellers. Rwanda gives every nationality a visa on arrival, and as a Commonwealth country, Pakistan qualifies for a 30-day visa with the fee waived.

The rule comes from Rwanda’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration. Since 1 January 2018, nationals of all countries have been able to get a visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and at every land border. Citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie countries pay nothing for a visit of 30 days. The Commonwealth Secretariat lists Pakistan as a member, so you fall into the free group.

If you would rather have your visa sorted before you leave, you can apply online through Irembo, the government’s official services portal, or at a Rwandan mission in the country where you live. Either way, the core rules stay the same. The free visa allows one entry and does not permit work. Anyone planning to cross into neighbouring countries and come back should look at the US$70 multiple-entry tourist visa, valid for 90 days, or the US$100 East Africa Tourist Visa covering Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda.

The paperwork is light. Bring a passport with at least six months of validity, and be ready to show that you have enough money for your stay, since immigration may ask for proof online, at a Rwandan mission or at the border. A vaccination certificate may also be requested at the border post, and stricter health checks can be introduced during a major disease outbreak, so check the latest health guidance before you fly.

Rwanda does not publish an official approval or refusal rate for Pakistani travellers. The immigration directorate warns that no agent is authorised to apply for you, and that agents may charge more than the real fee, which for a 30-day Commonwealth visit is nothing at all. If you want to stay longer, apply for an extension at the directorate’s offices before your visa runs out. A five-day grace period applies after expiry, after which penalties start.

Checklist

Document requirements

  • Pakistani passport valid for at least six months
  • Proof of enough money to cover your stay (immigration may ask for it online, at a Rwandan mission or at the border)
  • Vaccination certificate, if requested at the border post
  • If you applied online, the details of your Irembo application

Requirements from the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration. Pakistan is a Commonwealth member (Commonwealth Secretariat), so the 30-day visitor visa is free. The free visa is single entry, work is not permitted, and a change of status can be requested while the visa is valid. No agent is authorised to apply on your behalf.

Checklist source: migration.gov.rw, migration.gov.rw, thecommonwealth.org

Money and time

Fees and timeline

Fees

  • Official fee

    Free

    Free. Rwanda’s Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration waives the visa fee for citizens of Commonwealth countries, which include Pakistan, for a single-entry visit of 30 days. Paid options: a multiple-entry tourist visa costs US$70 and is valid for 90 days, the East Africa Tourist Visa (Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda) costs US$100, and a medical treatment visa costs US$30. Fees that are paid are not refunded if an application is refused or withdrawn.

    Fee source

Timeline

  • Processing and appointments

    The visa is issued on arrival at Kigali International Airport and every land border. The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration does not publish a fixed processing time for online applications through Irembo, so apply well ahead if you choose that route. Extensions must be requested before your visa expires.

Official links

How to apply

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Passport country first, then destination. Pages only show fees, timelines, and refusal rates that official sources have published.

Official statistics

Visa ratio

Not officially published

Rwanda does not publish an official approval or refusal rate for Pakistani travellers.

A percentage is shown only when an official source published one for this route. Blog tables and estimates are left out.

Quick answers

FAQ

Do Pakistanis need a visa for Rwanda?

Yes, but you can get it when you land. Rwanda grants a visa on arrival to every nationality at Kigali International Airport and all land borders. Because Pakistan is a Commonwealth member, the fee is waived for a 30-day visit.

Is the Rwanda visa really free for Pakistani passport holders?

For a single-entry stay of up to 30 days, yes. The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration waives visa fees for citizens of African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie countries. Pakistan is listed as a member on the Commonwealth Secretariat’s website.

Can I apply for the Rwanda visa before I fly?

Yes. Citizens of countries that are not visa-exempt can apply online through Irembo, the government’s services portal, or at a Rwandan diplomatic mission in their country of residence. Online applicants can pay on Irembo or on arrival, although the 30-day Commonwealth visa itself has no fee.

What if I want to leave Rwanda and come back during my trip?

The free visa allows one entry only. A multiple-entry tourist visa costs US$70 and is valid for 90 days. If you also plan to visit Kenya and Uganda, the East Africa Tourist Visa costs US$100 and allows multiple entries. Rwanda's immigration directorate says its validity and entries follow the agreement between the three countries, so check the period shown when you apply.

How does the East Africa Tourist Visa work?

It covers tourism in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda. You can apply on Irembo, at a Rwandan mission or on arrival. If you get it before travelling, your first entry must be through the country that issued it, so apply through Rwanda only if Rwanda is your first stop.

How long is my passport required to be valid?

At least six months. The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration asks visitors to hold a genuine, acceptable travel document with no less than six months of validity.

Can I extend my stay in Rwanda?

Extensions are handled at the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration offices and must be requested while your current visa is still valid. Rwanda allows a grace period of five days after expiry to leave or renew without a penalty. After that, a penalty applies and an extension may be refused.

Do I need a visa to transit through Kigali?

A transit visa is valid for up to 72 hours. It normally costs US$30, but it is free for nationals of Commonwealth countries, so Pakistani travellers do not pay. If a flight change or bad weather strands you, a free emergency transit visa is issued at the airport.

Can I work in Rwanda on a visitor visa?

No. The free 30-day visa and the tourist visas do not allow employment. You may ask to change to another visa class while you are in Rwanda and your current visa is still valid.

Should I use an agent to get my Rwanda visa?

There is no need. The Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration says no agent is authorised to apply on your behalf and warns that agents may mislead you and charge more than the official fees. Use Irembo or apply on arrival.

Checked against

Official sources

Last checked 6 October 2026. Rules change without notice, so confirm on the official pages before you apply or travel.