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Work Permits in Rwanda

What you need to hire foreign talent or relocate staff

~2 wks

Processing Time

From complete submission

1 year

Typical Validity

Renewable with employment

100%

Required

All non-Rwandan nationals

EOR

Sponsorship Available

Employer or EOR required

Permit Types

Category	Use Case	Typical Validity
Skilled Worker	Professional roles requiring qualifications	1 year (renewable)
Investor/Entrepreneur	Setting up or managing a business	Up to 2 years
Specialist/Consultant	Short- to mid-term assignments	Project-based
Intra-Company Transfer	Transfers from a foreign affiliate	1 year

Core Requirements

Employee

Passport valid 6+ months, 1+ blank page
Passport photo
Police clearance
Medical certificate
Academic/professional credentials

Employer

Signed employment contract
Company registration & TIN
Job description and justification
Proof of tax compliance

Submission

Online application portal
Attach all supporting documents
Pay applicable fees

Process Overview

Prepare Documents

Submit Online

Processing ~2 Weeks

Collect & Comply

1) Prepare documents

Confirm role, salary, and start date
Collect employer registration documents
Gather employee credentials, police clearance, medicals
Ensure passport validity 6+ months

2) Submit online application

Create account on immigration portal
Upload forms, contracts, and supporting files
Pay the required fee
Receive acknowledgement/receipt

3) Processing (about 2 weeks)

Immigration reviews documents
May request clarifications or additional evidence
Approval issued electronically

4) Collection & compliance

Permit tied to the sponsoring employer
Register with tax/social security as required
Renew before expiry to avoid overstay penalties

Fees & Timelines

Item	Typical Range	Notes
Government fee	RWF 120,000 - RWF 240,000	Varies by category
Processing time	~2 weeks	After complete submission
Validity	1 year (common)	Renewable with valid employment

You Cannot Work on a Tourist or Business Visa

A work permit is required before employment begins. The permit is employer-specific — a new employer requires a new permit. Overstaying can result in fines, detention, or deportation.

How Umurimo Global Helps

We sponsor work permits for all employees hired through our EOR
Document preparation and submission on your behalf
Tracking and escalation to keep timelines on track
Renewal management and dependent support