Rwanda · Business / Startup
Rwanda Trader G2
G2: Temporary residence permit - trader in goods and services from outside the EAC/CEPGL region
Checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Trader G2 is a business / startup route for Rwanda. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- RWF 150k ≈ $100 · RWF 250k ≈ $170
- Processing
- Up to 10 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; decision: up to 10 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesRWF 150k ≈ $100 · RWF 250k ≈ $170
- RWF 150,000 (≈ $100)Application fee for a new or renewed permit.
- RWF 250,000 (≈ $170)Application fee for a recurring five-year permit, for applicants who held a similar permit twice.
RenewalRenewable
Permits can be renewed on request; renewal needs a copy of your trade licence. After holding the same type of permit at least twice you can apply for a five-year recurring permit.
Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, RwandaGovernment of Rwanda
Permanent residenceAfter 10 years of residence
A permanent residence permit (class L-1) may be issued to a foreigner who has legally lived in Rwanda for a total of ten years.
CitizenshipAfter 15 years of residence
You can apply for Rwandan nationality by residence after legally living and physically residing in Rwanda for at least 15 years, which the Directorate asks you to show with residence permits covering 15 consecutive years, with good conduct and knowledge of Rwandan culture.
Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and EmigrationDirectorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda
ProcessingUp to 10 days
Once you submit the required documents, the permit is to be granted within ten days of applying.
Where to applyInside the country
You apply for the residence permit after you arrive: within 15 working days of entering Rwanda if your business is already registered, or of registering it if you register after arrival.
Government of RwandaDirectorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to passports from Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and 4 more
What you'll need
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of RWF 150,000 (≈ $100) · Application fee for a new or renewed permit.
- A fee of RWF 250,000 (≈ $170) · Application fee for a recurring five-year permit, for applicants who held a similar permit twice.
Documents5
- A detailed curriculum vitae is required.
- The full business registration certificate is required.
- An original police clearance from the country of previous residence (six months) is required.
- An application letter is required.
- A valid recognised travel document of at least six months is required.
After you arrive2
- A recurring five-year permit is available after holding a similar permit twice.
- The recurring permit needs Rwanda Revenue Authority tax clearance.
What happens at day 183
How Rwanda decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in the tax periodPresence 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.
- Foreign-source income
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.
All tax rules for Rwanda Tax records checked
Full official text
Permit for a foreigner from a country outside the region who intends to trade in goods or services. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of RWF 150,000 (≈ $100) · Application fee for a new or renewed permit. 1
- A fee of RWF 250,000 (≈ $170) · Application fee for a recurring five-year permit, for applicants who held a similar permit twice. 1
Requirements
- A detailed curriculum vitae is required. 1
- The full business registration certificate is required. 1
- An original police clearance from the country of previous residence (six months) is required. 1
- An application letter is required. 1
- A valid recognised travel document of at least six months is required. 1
- A recurring five-year permit is available after holding a similar permit twice. 1
- The recurring permit needs Rwanda Revenue Authority tax clearance. 1
Stay
- The Directorate's page prints the first validity as "Up to years", with the number missing; five years for recurring applicants.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Traders from outside the EAC and CEPGL region; EAC and CEPGL nationals use the G1 permit. Not open to: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda.
Work
Trade in goods or services under the registered business.
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.
Official sources
- DGIE permit services: business investor and entrepreneur permits · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-12
- DGIE permit services: general information · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-10
- Dependent permits (M1, M2, M3) · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-12
- EAC Partner States · East African Community · checked 2026-10-11
- Ministerial Order N°06/01 of 29/05/2019 relating to Immigration and Emigration · Government of Rwanda · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2019-05-30
- Organic Law No 002/2021.OL of 16/07/2021 relating to Rwandan nationality · Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Official Gazette) · checked 2026-10-12
- Citizenship: required documents for Rwandan nationality by acquisition · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-12
Trader G2 and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trader G2 | – | – | – |
| Entrepreneur A2 · Mining | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur B2 · Farming | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Self-employed C1 | – | – | – |
| Entrepreneur F2 · Manufacturing | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Trader G2?
A fee of RWF 150,000 (≈ $100). Application fee for a new or renewed permit. A fee of RWF 250,000 (≈ $170). Application fee for a recurring five-year permit, for applicants who held a similar permit twice.
How long can I stay on the Trader G2?
The Directorate's page prints the first validity as "Up to years", with the number missing; five years for recurring applicants.
How long does the Trader G2 take to process?
Once you submit the required documents, the permit is to be granted within ten days of applying.
Can I work on the Trader G2?
Trade in goods or services under the registered business.
Can I bring my family on the Trader G2?
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.
Who can apply for the Trader G2?
Traders from outside the EAC and CEPGL region; EAC and CEPGL nationals use the G1 permit. Not open to: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda.
Does the Trader G2 lead to permanent residence in Rwanda?
Time on the Trader G2 counts toward permanent residence in Rwanda, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence. Time on the Trader G2 counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 15 years of residence.
How are Trader G2 holders taxed in Rwanda?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Trader G2. The standard rules apply: 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.
More in Rwanda
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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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.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 7 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- DGIE permit services: business investor and entrepreneur permits · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-12
- DGIE permit services: general information · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-10
- Dependent permits (M1, M2, M3) · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-12
- EAC Partner States · East African Community · checked 2026-10-11
- Ministerial Order N°06/01 of 29/05/2019 relating to Immigration and Emigration · Government of Rwanda · checked 2026-10-10
- Organic Law No 002/2021.OL of 16/07/2021 relating to Rwandan nationality · Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Official Gazette) · checked 2026-10-12
- Citizenship: required documents for Rwandan nationality by acquisition · Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, Rwanda · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.