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Mountain gorilla in the forest of Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorilla in the forest of Volcanoes National ParkPhoto: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Moving to Rwanda

15 ways to move to Rwanda in our guide: 1 pay-to-stay route, 9 business / startup routes, 3 work visas, 1 student visa, 1 spouse visa.

No digital nomad visa. Checked against official sources on .

Longest first stay3 yearsSkilled worker H1 (demand list)

Rwanda offers a clear set of temporary residence permits for people who want to live there without local employment, or who plan to run their own business in a specific sector. The routes are split between assured-income residents, entrepreneurs and investors, skilled workers, and students, so the first step is matching your situation to the right category.

Retirees and others with assured income who will not work locallyEntrepreneurs and investors in a named sector, from mining to ITSkilled workers with an employer or an occupation on the demand listStudents enrolling at a Rwandan school
Quick match

Retire or live on savings · 1

Business / Startup · 9

Work · 3

Student · 1

Student U1

First stay: 1 yr

Details

U1: Temporary residence permit - student

  • Renewable
  • Original police clearance is required for students above 18
  • A travel document valid for at least six months is required

Permit for a foreigner who is in Rwanda for study purposes. 1 2 3 4

What you must show and pay

  • A fee of RWF 20,000 (≈ $14) · Application fee for a new or renewed student permit. 1

Requirements

  • Original police clearance is required for students above 18. 1
  • A travel document valid for at least six months is required. 1
  • A recommendation letter from the school is required. 1
  • A sponsorship letter is required. 1

Stay

  • Valid for one year; renewable with the same documents.
  • Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
  • Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

EAC citizens do not pay for residence permits.

Family

Spouse and children may apply for a dependent permit (M2) with the same validity as the holder; the application fee is half of the holder's fee.

Checked against official sources on Change log

Official site ↗

Spouse visas · 1

For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident.

Free movement and visa-free stays · 2

Where each passport can live without a visa →

Tax

Rwanda taxes residents on both domestic and foreign-source income, with employment income taxed in monthly bands and business profit in annual bands. Tax residence is determined separately from your permit, so take advice on your own position.

Standard rules

Rwanda: personal income tax 0-30%; residents taxed on domestic and foreign-source income

30% tax

Details
  • On: Employment income (monthly bands): RWF 0-60,000 at 0%
  • Limit: RWF 60k/mo ≈ $41

A resident taxpayer is liable to personal income tax on all domestic and foreign-source income; employment income is taxed monthly at 0% to RWF 60,000, (≈ $41) 10% to 100,000, 20% to 200,000 and 30% above.

Taxed on

Employment income (monthly bands): RWF 0-60,000 at 0%; 60,001-100,000 at 10%; 100,001-200,000 at 20%; above 200,000 at 30%. Business profit (annual bands): RWF 0-720,000 at 0%; 720,001-1,200,000 at 10%; 1,200,001-2,400,000 at 20%; above 2,400,000 at 30%. These are the rates from the second year after commencement of Law 027/2022.

Who it applies to

  • Resident individual: permanent residence in Rwanda; or habitual abode in Rwanda; or a Rwandan representing Rwanda abroad; or presence of 183 days or more in the tax period; or presence averaging more than 122 days in each of the two preceding tax periods.

Exclusions

  • Non-residents are taxed only on Rwanda-source income.
  • Casual labourers are taxed at 15% (first RWF 60,000 (≈ $41) monthly at 0%).

Limits

  • RWF 60,000 a month (≈ $41) · Monthly employment income up to this amount is taxed at 0%.
  • RWF 720,000 a year (≈ $490) · Annual business profit up to this amount is taxed at 0%.

Days in the country

  • At least 183 days in the tax period · Presence in Rwanda in aggregate for 183 days or more makes an individual resident; permanent residence, habitual abode or a 122-day average over the two preceding periods are alternative tests.

Tax residence

Residents are liable to personal income tax on all domestic and foreign sources (Art. 12).

Visas

Tax residence follows the Law 027/2022 tests, not the immigration permit class.

Other taxes

Value added tax and social security contributions apply separately.

Checked against official sources on Change log

Full page →

Special regime

Rwanda: five-year exemption of foreign-source income for new residents working in the Kigali International Financial Centre

0% tax

Details
  • Who: Not resident in Rwanda in the five years immediately before becoming resident

A resident who was not resident in Rwanda in the five years before becoming resident, and who works as an expert or professional directly for an entity carrying out Kigali International Financial Centre licensed activities, is exempt from personal income tax on foreign-source income during the first five years after becoming resident.

Taxed on

Foreign-source income of the individual; Rwanda-source income remains taxable at the ordinary rates.

Who it applies to

  • Not resident in Rwanda in the five years immediately before becoming resident.
  • Works as an expert or professional directly for an entity carrying out Kigali International Financial Centre licensed activities.

Exclusions

  • Exemption runs for the first five years after the date of becoming resident only.

Tax residence

Applies after tax residence is acquired under the Law 027/2022 residence tests.

Visas

Not tied to a particular permit class.

Other taxes

Rwanda-source employment income, VAT and social contributions remain payable.

Checked against official sources on Change log

Full page →

Checked against official sources on Change log

Rwanda in pictures

The Virunga volcanoes above the green hills of northern Rwanda
The Virunga volcanoes above the green hills of northern RwandaPhoto: Nina R · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Sunrise over the forested ridges of Nyungwe National Park
Sunrise over the forested ridges of Nyungwe National ParkPhoto: Jonkmania · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
A golden monkey feeding in the bamboo of Volcanoes National Park
A golden monkey feeding in the bamboo of Volcanoes National ParkPhoto: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Aerial view of the Kigali Convention Centre dome and surrounding grounds
Aerial view of the Kigali Convention Centre dome and surrounding groundsPhoto: Emmanuelkwizera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

All photo credits

No digital nomad visa in Rwanda. Remote workers usually look at Assured income / retiree (K), or nomad visas elsewhere.

Arriving in Rwanda: first steps

  1. Arrange local medical insurance, which is required for the assured-income route and mentioned in its renewal.
  2. Open a bank account in Rwanda, since a bank statement from a Rwandan bank is required for the assured-income route.
  3. Prepare a detailed curriculum vitae and an application letter, which appear across the entrepreneur and worker routes.
  4. If you are applying as an entrepreneur or investor, contact the DGIE Field Inspection and Law Enforcement department to arrange a field visit before applying.

Questions people ask

Can I retire or live in Rwanda on my savings or pension?

Rwanda has 1 retirement or pay-to-stay route. Assured income / retiree (K) gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed.

Can I move to Rwanda by starting a business?

Rwanda has 9 business or startup routes. Entrepreneur A2 · Mining gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. Entrepreneur B2 · Farming gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. There is also Self-employed C1.

What work visas does Rwanda offer foreigners?

Rwanda has 3 work visas. Skilled worker H1 (demand list) gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed. Skilled worker H2 (employer) gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. Company transfer Q1 gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

How do I get a student visa for Rwanda?

Rwanda has 1 student visa. Student U1 gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

Can I join my spouse or partner in Rwanda?

Yes. Rwanda has 1 spouse visa. It is Spouse of a citizen.

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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about Rwanda AI

An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.

Sources (4)

Official sources

  1. DGIE permit services: study and research permits · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-12
  2. Dependent permits (M1, M2, M3) · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-12
  3. EAC Partner States · East African Community · checked 2026-10-11
  4. DGIE permit services: general information · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-10