Rwanda has been ranked 20th among 199 countries in terms of facilitating entry for foreign visitors, highlighting the country’s approach to visa access and its growing tourism sector.
Figures from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) show that tourism generated $685 million, equivalent to about Frw1 trillion, in 2025. This was an increase from $647 million, or Frw953.9 billion, in 2024, representing a 6% rise. The number of visitors to Rwanda also increased by 9%, reaching 1.49 million in 2025.
Rwanda’s Position in the Global Ranking
The ranking is highlighted in the annual Henley Passport Index, which assesses passport strength and countries’ openness to foreign visitors.
Rwanda ranks 20th among 199 countries in terms of facilitating entry for foreign visitors, while the Rwandan passport ranks 128th globally in terms of travel access.
Among 159 World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries, Rwanda ranks 120th in facilitating entry for foreign visitors.
Rwanda ranks 45th among the 56 Commonwealth countries and 75th among the 132 G77 countries.
Among 60 countries where English is an official language, Rwanda ranks 48th. It ranks ninth among 29 French-speaking countries and third among the four countries where Swahili is an official language.Among 57 countries governed by presidents, Rwanda ranks 36th.
127 Countries Can Enter Rwanda Without a Visa
The report shows that passport holders from 127 countries can enter Rwanda without obtaining a visa in advance, with some eligible to use an electronic travel authorisation or obtain a visa on arrival.
However, Rwandan passport holders are required to obtain visas before travelling to many of these countries. They include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Japan.
Tuvalu is the only exception in this category. Its citizens are required to obtain a visa to enter Rwanda, while Rwandan citizens can travel to Tuvalu without a visa, use an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or obtain a visa on arrival.
Rwandan Passport Gives Access to 71 Destinations
The Rwandan passport has a score of 71 in terms of destinations accessible to its holders worldwide, equivalent to 35.9% of destinations globally.
Rwandan citizens can enter 33 countries without a visa, while 35 countries allow them to obtain a visa on arrival or use another simplified entry procedure.
Three other countries require Rwandan travellers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization. Meanwhile, 127 countries require Rwandan passport holders to obtain a visa before travelling.
Rwanda Ranks 17th in Africa
Within Africa, the Rwandan passport has a travel-access rate of 71.7%. Rwandans can enter 20 African countries without a visa, while 16 countries allow them to obtain a visa on arrival or use another simplified entry procedure.
Two African countries require an Electronic Travel Authorization, while 15 require Rwandan citizens to obtain a visa before travelling. These figures place Rwanda 17th among Africa’s 54 countries, the same position it holds among African Union member states.
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Kenya Offers the Longest Visa-Free Stay
Among African countries that facilitate entry for Rwandans, Kenya ranks first, allowing Rwandan citizens to stay for up to 180 days.
Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritius, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda allow stays of up to 90 days.
Angola, Nigeria, Somalia and Togo allow Rwandan citizens to stay for up to 30 days, while São Tomé and Príncipe allows stays of up to 15 days.
Ghana falls under the eTA category and allows Rwandans to stay for up to 60 days. Seychelles requires an eTA and tourist registration and allows travellers to stay for up to 90 days.
Europe and Central Asia Remain Difficult to Access
Europe remains the most difficult region for Rwandan passport holders to access without a visa.
The travel-access rate for Rwandans in Europe is 0.0%, with all 47 countries on the continent requiring Rwandan citizens to obtain a visa before travelling.
The situation is similar in Central Asia, where all five countries require Rwandan travellers to obtain visas in advance.
Overall, Oceania has a travel-access rate of 50% for Rwandan citizens, followed by the Caribbean at 43.8%, Asia at 34.0%, North America at 26% and South America at 25.0%. The Middle East stands at 17.6%, while Gulf countries have a travel-access rate of 16.7%.
Visa Access Varies Across Asia
In Asia, the Philippines, Palestine and Singapore are among the destinations that Rwandans can enter without a visa.
Singapore requires an arrival card and allows Rwandan citizens to stay for up to 30 days.
Sri Lanka is the only country in the region listed under the eTA category, allowing Rwandan travellers to stay for up to 30 days.
The rankings highlight the difference between Rwanda’s relatively open entry policy for foreign visitors and the more limited travel access available to Rwandan passport holders in many parts of the world.
