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Rwanda

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
5,100
Top destination, 2023
United States
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
2,689
UK visas issued, 2025
1,431
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
32.4%
NationalityRWISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<RWRWANDA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
RW5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Rwanda need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongVisa requiredImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Rwanda move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. United States1,560
  2. Germany1,008
  3. Canada1,005
  4. Belgium453
  5. France342
  6. South Korea138
  7. Japan105
  8. Italy98
  9. Sweden86
  10. Netherlands72
  11. Finland60
  12. Switzerland44
  13. Norway23
  14. Austria23
  15. Australia23

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

2,5505,100200020032006200920122015201820212023
2,5505,1002000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,018
2001910
20021,045
20031,014
20041,026
20051,386
20061,593
20071,514
20081,804
20092,057
20102,359
20112,466
20122,493
20132,102
20142,141
20152,079
20162,318
20172,413
20182,512
20193,120
20202,104
20212,898
20224,555
20235,100
Share going to the top destination
30.6%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Rwanda who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. ZR286,208
  2. Burundi85,969
  3. Uganda79,149
  4. Republic of the Congo24,825
  5. Belgium15,445
  6. Zambia12,201
  7. Canada9,317
  8. Malawi6,128
  9. Kenya5,208
  10. South Africa3,172
  11. China1,400
  12. Australia1,338

Living abroad by year

1.05M2.11M19901995200020052010201520202024
1.05M2.11M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990584,280
19952,109,879
2000346,850
2005293,186
2010334,656
2015496,392
2020486,754
2024539,046
Living abroad, 2024
539,046
Change since 2000
+55.4%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
53.1%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Rwanda by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B21,661
  2. F1392
  3. A2197
  4. J199
  5. H1B70
  6. G440
  7. C1/D37
  8. B129
  9. K128
  10. F228

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

2,0564,112201720182019202020212022202320242025
2,0564,11220172019202120232025
Data table
20171,703
20183,338
20193,751
20201,257
2021856
20222,473
20232,875
20244,112
20252,689
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV415
  2. IR1116
  3. IR249
  4. IR544
  5. GV317
  6. FX14
  7. F2A13
  8. CR111
Immigrant visas, FY2025
702
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
33
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Rwanda who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Rwanda with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

9251,8502015201620172018201920202021202220232024
9251,850201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015730
20161,360
20171,390
20181,620
20191,510
20201,080
2021780
20221,540
20231,850
20241,500
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Refugees and asylees870
  2. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens280
  3. Diversity visa lottery280
  4. Employment-based preferences40
  5. Family-sponsored preferences30
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Specialty occupations (H-1B)380
  2. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)30
  3. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)30
  4. Spouses and children30
  5. Other temporary workers30
  6. Intracompany transferees (L-1)20
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Rwanda)
1,500
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Rwanda)
880
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
8,300
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Rwanda (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Rwanda (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor1,224
  2. Study100
  3. Other40
  4. Family37
  5. Work30

Visas issued by year

7921,584201020122014201620182020202220242025
7921,584201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010796
2011646
2012644
2013944
2014927
2015871
2016737
20171,196
20181,168
20191,118
2020415
2021353
20221,294
20231,584
20241,560
20251,431
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
125
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Rwanda, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202503358001,080185
202454001,0651,245160
2023105152,1151,01575
202202559601,03025
2021026067071040
2020018544529520
2019014071054510
20180905654555
20170554653455
20160253653650
20150252253550
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Rwanda, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

352019–202024–252025–26
352019–202024–252025–26
Data table
2019–201
2023–243
2024–252
2025–265
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills3
  2. Labour Agreement1
  3. Specialist Skills1
Granted, 2025–26
5
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Rwanda living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

771542012201420162018202220242025
771542012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201238
201346
201464
201566
201692
2017110
2018101
201991
2022119
2023130
2024152
2025154
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student54
  2. Dependent39
  3. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services20
  4. Permanent Resident12
  5. Spouse or Child of Japanese National11
  6. Long-Term Resident7
  7. Designated Activities5
  8. Highly Skilled Professional3
  9. Religious Activities1
  10. Instructor1
Residents, December 2025
154
In work-related statuses
26
Share in work-related statuses
16.9%
Students
54
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Rwanda

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Rwanda, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Belgium9,9856,8373,06230.7%
France4,1792,6061,56137.4%
Germany119991411.8%
Netherlands10900.0%

Applications by year

7,14714k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
7,14714k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20093,656
20104,212
20114,947
20124,627
20134,866
20145,678
20157,034
20166,709
20177,567
20189,427
201910,892
20202,109
20213,412
202210,112
202311,668
202414,293
Refusal rate, 2024
32.4%
Refusal rate, 2019
19.3%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Rwanda in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education820
  2. Other reasons637
  3. Family518
  4. Work475
First permits by country
  1. Germany581
  2. France487
  3. Poland435
  4. Belgium246
  5. Italy133
  6. Sweden102
  7. Netherlands79
  8. Finland72
  9. Hungary63
  10. Spain51
  11. Romania33
  12. Switzerland29
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card7
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)36
  3. Researchers17
  4. Other paid activities415
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
21
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
737
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
2,417
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
15
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
14,513
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
696
Changed status into work, 2025
191
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Rwanda in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark20251626800
Sweden2025560183233
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland202552250
Austria202527819
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Rwanda

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Rwanda, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
Denmark1——
France1——
Germany1——
Guinea1——
Japan1——
Kenya1——
Morocco1——
Netherlands1——
Poland1——
Russia1——
Sweden1——
Türkiye1——
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1——
Countries
15
Missions
15
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Rwanda, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

25951820002003201120142017202020232024
259518200020042013201720212024
Data table
20007
20018
20027
200310
200410
2010106
2011174
2012182
2013170
2014184
2015159
2016173
2017215
2018261
2019261
2020280
2021391
2022474
2023518
2024517
Remittances received, 2024
US$517 million
Share of GDP, 2024
3.4%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Rwanda, 2023
5.8%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

All corridors from Rwanda

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Rwanda → Belgium
  • Rwanda → United States
  • Rwanda → Germany
  • Rwanda → Canada
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more