Rwanda customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• For travelers aged 18 or older: spirits (including liqueurs) or wine up to 1 L, or wine up to 2 L.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff up to 250 g in total.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: perfume and toilet water up to 0.5 L in total, of which no more than 0.25 L may be perfume.
• Other goods worth up to USD 500 per traveler, carried in accompanied baggage and declared to customs, if you have been outside the East African Community for more than 24 hours. Alcohol, tobacco and perfume above the limits above, fabrics in the piece and goods for sale or business are not covered.
• Clothing and personal effects for your own use. Visitors staying up to 3 months may also bring non-consumable items for use during the visit (to be taken out again when they leave) and reasonable amounts of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Duty-free allowances apply only to goods in accompanied baggage.
• Every arriving traveler must declare all goods carried to customs, orally or on Form 126 Bis. Goods worth more than RWF 500,000 need a full customs declaration made through a licensed customs agent. Undeclared goods can be seized and lead to a fine or prosecution.
Currency
• There is no fixed limit on the amount of money you may bring in.
• Cash and bearer negotiable instruments (such as traveler's cheques) worth RWF 10,000,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be disclosed truthfully to customs on arrival when asked. Amounts carried by accompanied children under 18 are added to those of the accompanying adult.
• A false disclosure or failure to disclose leads to an immediate administrative fine of 5% of the amount, in addition to any criminal penalties.
Prohibited
• Narcotic drugs
• Counterfeit money and counterfeit goods of all kinds
• Pornographic and obscene material in any media
• Plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items: they are confiscated on arrival, and importing them can lead to a fine.
• Vapes and e-cigarettes, including for personal use: they are confiscated and you may be fined.
• Soaps and cosmetics containing mercury
• Used tyres for cars and light commercial vehicles
• Hazardous waste
Restricted
• Firearms, ammunition and their parts need prior authorization from the Rwandan authorities.
• Drones must be declared on arrival; they may be confiscated or held by customs until you leave Rwanda.
• Live animals, including pets, need an animal transport permit from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), applied for online (arpms.rab.gov.rw) before travel.
• Endangered species of plants and animals and products made from them (CITES), including ivory, rhino horn and tortoise shell, may not be imported without a valid permit or certificate. Breaking this rule is a criminal offence punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison and a heavy fine.
• Psychotropic medicines under international control, unwrought precious metals and precious stones, genetically modified products and historical artefacts are also restricted.
• Goods for sale or business use carried in your baggage must always be declared to customs.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: spirits (including liqueurs) or wine up to 1 L, or wine up to 2 L.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff up to 250 g in total.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: perfume and toilet water up to 0.5 L in total, of which no more than 0.25 L may be perfume.
• Other goods worth up to USD 500 per traveler, carried in accompanied baggage and declared to customs, if you have been outside the East African Community for more than 24 hours. Alcohol, tobacco and perfume above the limits above, fabrics in the piece and goods for sale or business are not covered.
• Clothing and personal effects for your own use. Visitors staying up to 3 months may also bring non-consumable items for use during the visit (to be taken out again when they leave) and reasonable amounts of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Duty-free allowances apply only to goods in accompanied baggage.
• Every arriving traveler must declare all goods carried to customs, orally or on Form 126 Bis. Goods worth more than RWF 500,000 need a full customs declaration made through a licensed customs agent. Undeclared goods can be seized and lead to a fine or prosecution.
Currency
• There is no fixed limit on the amount of money you may bring in.
• Cash and bearer negotiable instruments (such as traveler's cheques) worth RWF 10,000,000 or more (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be disclosed truthfully to customs on arrival when asked. Amounts carried by accompanied children under 18 are added to those of the accompanying adult.
• A false disclosure or failure to disclose leads to an immediate administrative fine of 5% of the amount, in addition to any criminal penalties.
Prohibited
• Narcotic drugs
• Counterfeit money and counterfeit goods of all kinds
• Pornographic and obscene material in any media
• Plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items: they are confiscated on arrival, and importing them can lead to a fine.
• Vapes and e-cigarettes, including for personal use: they are confiscated and you may be fined.
• Soaps and cosmetics containing mercury
• Used tyres for cars and light commercial vehicles
• Hazardous waste
Restricted
• Firearms, ammunition and their parts need prior authorization from the Rwandan authorities.
• Drones must be declared on arrival; they may be confiscated or held by customs until you leave Rwanda.
• Live animals, including pets, need an animal transport permit from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), applied for online (arpms.rab.gov.rw) before travel.
• Endangered species of plants and animals and products made from them (CITES), including ivory, rhino horn and tortoise shell, may not be imported without a valid permit or certificate. Breaking this rule is a criminal offence punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison and a heavy fine.
• Psychotropic medicines under international control, unwrought precious metals and precious stones, genetically modified products and historical artefacts are also restricted.
• Goods for sale or business use carried in your baggage must always be declared to customs.