Rwanda: New visa rules from 01 November 2014

Rwanda is set to introduce new visa rules effective 01 November 2014. According to the new regulations, nationals from Australia, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States will have to pay a USD30 visa fee, valid for a period of 30 days. The visa fee can be paid upon arrival at any Rwandan entry point without prior application. According to Rwanda's Directorate of Immigration and Emigration, the country's border posts will have banking facilities that accept various currencies as well as effecting payments. Citizens of Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines and from Mauritius remain exempted from having to pay a visa fee for stays up to 90 days under a tourist visa. Also available for tourists is the East African Single Tourist Visa at a cost of USD100. The joint visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and is valid for up to 90 days for foreign tourists.

East African Single Tourist Visa info roundup!

update (23 December 2014): Foreign residents from Kenya, Uganda or Rwanda nolonger have to pay the $100 fee for the East African Single Tourist Visa that is valid for 90 days effective 15 December 2014.

The Heads of State of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda launched the East African Single Tourist Visa during the 4th Summit of the Northern Corridor Integration Summit (20 Feb 2014, Kampala). The new joint visa will allow travel between the three countries with the same multiple entry visa

• the  East African Single Tourist Visa will be issued:
• upon application at any diplomatic representation of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda
• at Immigration offices of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda
• online (where applicable)
• travellers applying for the  East African Single Tourist Visa must have an official and genuine international passport, valid for not less than 6 months from the time of visa application.
• Typical Requirements for the application (the application process currently varies by country, but the following items will typically be required)
• One clear coloured passport size photo with white background recently taken without eye glasses, caps or scarfs
• A completed application form
• Visa application letter addressed to the issuing authority of the country of application/country of first entry point. The letter should contain a formal request for the visa and include the expected length of stay and preliminary itinerary.
• the East African Single Tourist Visa costs USD100/person
• the East African Single Tourist Visa is a multiple-entry visa
• the East African Single Tourist Visa is valid for max 90 days and cannot be extened
• update (30 June 2014): Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have agreed to start issuing foreigners in possession of valid work or resident permit in any of the three states an East African Single Tourist Visa for six months. This implies that the East African Single Tourist Visa, which costs $100 and is valid for 90 days for a foreigner, will still cost the same but be extended for six months.
• the East African Single Tourist Visa allowes travellers to move out of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and return without having to pay for another visa (within 90 days).
• the East African Single Tourist Visa is  machine readable. The software for personalisation of the visa stickers enables Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda to share the fees, tourist information and tourism data.
• Rwanda has been tasked with the duty of setting up the  East African Single Tourist Visa and implementing it for the first one year. This will be on rotational basis each following year.
• visa for Kenya or Uganda or Rwanda only remain available at USD50/Person
• ... we'll keep you posted!