EthiopiaRwanda: Visa on arrival

EthiopiaRwanda

Do Ethiopia passport holders need a visa for Rwanda?

Visa on arrival

A visa is not required in advance. Ethiopia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Rwanda.

A visa is issued at the border on arrival, usually for a fee, with no advance application.

Source: migration.gov.rw (checked July 18, 2026).

RequirementVisa on arrival

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-21

Distance1,554 km, straight line (~2h 20m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Rwanda242 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Rwanda passport holders visiting Ethiopia: Visa on arrival.

Other visa-free destinations for Ethiopia passport holders

See all Ethiopia destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Ethiopia passport holders need a visa for Rwanda?

A visa is not required in advance. Ethiopia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Rwanda.

How far is Rwanda from Ethiopia?

About 1,554 km in a straight line, roughly ~2h 20m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Rwanda?

Rwandan franc (RWF).

What is the emergency number in Rwanda?

112 / 912.

What time zone is Rwanda in?

Kigali (UTC+2).

What is the nearest airport to Kigali?

Kigali International Airport (KGL), about 9 km away.

How many countries can enter Rwanda without a visa?

242 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Rwanda visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About Ethiopia

Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE), is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the southeast, Kenya to the south, South Sudan to the west, and Sudan to the northwest. Ethiopia covers a land area of 1,104,300 km2 (426,400 sq mi). As of 2026, it has around 138 million inhabitants, making it the 10th-most populous country in the world and 2nd most populous country in Africa. The national capital and largest city, Addis Ababa, lies several kilometres west of the East African Rift that splits the country into the African and Somali tectonic plates.

CapitalAddis Ababa

RegionEastern Africa

Population135.5M

Area1,104,300 km²

CurrencyEthiopian birr (1 USD ≈ 161.29 ETB)

LanguagesAmharic

Calling code+251

Drives on theright

TimezoneAddis Ababa (UTC+3)

Nearest airportAddis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), 8 km

Emergency number907 / 911 / 939 / 991

UNESCO sites14

Income levelLow income

GDP per capita$933 (2025)

Tourist arrivals518K (2020)

Climate in Addis Ababa

Warmest March, coolest December, driest December, sunniest October.

Monthly climate normals for Addis Ababa, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	21.6°C	8.9°C	10mm	335h
February	22.4°C	10.2°C	11mm	311h
March	23.2°C	11.6°C	53mm	325h
April	22.3°C	11.6°C	147mm	304h
May	21.7°C	10.4°C	134mm	338h
June	19.8°C	10.1°C	245mm	302h
July	18.2°C	10.6°C	331mm	229h
August	18.4°C	10.8°C	265mm	253h
September	18.7°C	9.7°C	216mm	306h
October	19.9°C	8.4°C	11mm	348h
November	21.1°C	7.7°C	4mm	345h
December	20.8°C	7.3°C	1mm	344h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Travelers to Ethiopia experience a country divided into two: in the north and east the focus is on cultural heritage, while in the south there are several national parks and lakes in the area of the East African Rift with their flora and fauna as well as the habitat of several indigenous peoples.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Axum
Bale Mountains National Park
Fasil Ghebbi
Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town
Konso Cultural Landscape
Lalibela Cross
Lower Valley of the Awash
Melka Kunture
Monolithic churches in Lalibela
Omo River

Upcoming public holidays

January 7, 2027ልደተ-ለእግዚእነ/ ገና

January 19, 2027ნათლისღება

March 2, 2027የዓድዋ ድል በዓል

Full source list on About.

About Rwanda

Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Its geography is dominated by mountains in the west and savanna in the southeast. The largest and most notable lakes are mainly in the western and northern regions of the country, and several volcanoes that form part of the Virunga volcanic chain are primarily in the northwest. The climate is considered tropical highland, with two rainy seasons and two dry seasons each year. Its capital and largest city is Kigali, located at the centre of the country, at 1,567 metres above sea level. Rwanda lies a few degrees south of the Equator in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa. Rwanda is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. With a population of about 14 million people living within a total area of 26,338 square kilometres (10,169 sq mi), of which land accounts for about 93.7%, Rwanda is the 21st most densely populated country in the world, with an average of about 578 people per square kilometre.

CapitalKigali

RegionEastern Africa

Population14.6M

Area26,338 km²

CurrencyRwandan franc (1 USD ≈ 1477.84 RWF)

LanguagesEnglish, French, Kinyarwanda

Calling code+250

Drives on theright

TimezoneKigali (UTC+2)

Nearest airportKigali International Airport (KGL), 9 km

Emergency number112 / 912

UNESCO sites2

Income levelLow income

GDP per capita$1,124 (2025)

Tourist arrivals1.6M (2019)

Climate in Kigali

Warmest August, coolest November, driest July, sunniest May. Best time to visit: March, May, June, July, August, September, December.

Monthly climate normals for Kigali, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	25.5°C	15.4°C	133mm	286h
February	26.5°C	15.5°C	106mm	301h
March	25.9°C	15.7°C	99mm	303h
April	24.7°C	15.7°C	165mm	277h
May	24.6°C	15.3°C	58mm	350h
June	25.1°C	15.3°C	19mm	323h
July	26.1°C	15.3°C	11mm	325h
August	27.9°C	16°C	19mm	337h
September	27.9°C	15.5°C	59mm	321h
October	26.1°C	15.2°C	169mm	317h
November	25.3°C	14.8°C	126mm	290h
December	25.8°C	14.6°C	101mm	331h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Rwanda is an East African country known as the land of a thousand hills. It is easily accessible from Kenya and Uganda, and is one of the safest and most organised countries on the continent. The rolling green highlands, volcanic mountains, and ancient rainforests make it a striking destination. Rwanda is best known for mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, but also offers savannah wildlife in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks in Nyungwe National Park, and a vibrant capital in Kigali. The country is compact, well connected, and easy to travel around.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero
Nyungwe Forest

Upcoming public holidays

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

December 26, 2026Boxing Day

January 1, 2027New Year's Day

Full source list on About.