Rwanda travel advice
A summary of the UK government’s (FCDO) travel advice for Rwanda, last updated by the FCDO on 4 September 2026. The full advice on GOV.UK is the authoritative version.
FCDO status
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country
Latest FCDO update (4 September 2026): New information about vapes and e-cigarette bans in Rwanda and updated information about border measures introduced by the Rwandan Government in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo ('Entry requirements' and 'Safety and security' pages).
FCDO notice
Rwanda-DRC border
Risks associated with the proximity of potential fighting in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may affect people on the Rwandan side of the border. International borders are often not well marked in remote areas, and you could unknowingly cross into DRC. You may see a presence of military personnel on both sides of the border.
See Democratic Republic of the Congo’s travel advice for more information. Keep up to date with developments through local media.
The border crossings between Rwanda and DRC could close at short notice.
Warnings (from the FCDO, word for word)
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
Rusizi District
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the parts of Rusizi District which are within 10km of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the Rwandan islands in Lake Kivu and Kamembe Airport.
Passport validity
To enter Rwanda, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page for entry stamps.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
From FCDO: entry requirements. Written for British passport holders.
Recent FCDO updates
- 4 September 2026: New information about vapes and e-cigarette bans in Rwanda and updated information about border measures introduced by the Rwandan Government in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo ('Entry requirements' and 'Safety and security' pages).
- 10 June 2026: Addition of information about travel between Rwanda and DRC for humanitarian missions and essential travel (‘Entry requirements’ page).
- 22 May 2026: Addition of information about new border measures announced by the Government of Rwanda in response to the Ebola outbreak (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Plan your trip
This page shows the FCDO’s headline status and quotes its text word for word; we don’t reword safety advice. It refreshes automatically, so it can lag GOV.UK by up to a day. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: FCDO foreign travel advice on GOV.UK. FCDO advice is written for British nationals; other nationalities should also check their own government’s advice.