RwandaDR Congo: Visa-free

RwandaDR Congo

Do Rwanda passport holders need a visa for DR Congo?

Visa-free

No. Rwanda passport holders do not need a visa to visit DR Congo for tourism for stays of up to 3 months.

No visa is required for a short tourist stay. Travel on a valid passport alone.

Source: en.wikipedia.org (checked September 18, 2026).

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stay3 months

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-14

Distance1,657 km, straight line (~2h 27m nonstop)

Visa-free access to DR Congo8 of 242 nationalities tracked

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

Other visa-free destinations for Rwanda passport holders

See all Rwanda destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Rwanda passport holders need a visa for DR Congo?

No. Rwanda passport holders do not need a visa to visit DR Congo for tourism for stays of up to 3 months.

How long can Rwanda citizens stay in DR Congo without a visa?

Up to 3 months, for tourism, ordinary passport.

How far is DR Congo from Rwanda?

About 1,657 km in a straight line, roughly ~2h 27m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in DR Congo?

Congolese franc (CDF).

What is the emergency number in DR Congo?

113 / 114 / 118.

What time zone is DR Congo in?

Kinshasa (UTC+1).

What is the nearest airport to Kinshasa?

Maya-Maya International Airport (BZV), about 11 km away.

How many countries can enter DR Congo without a visa?

8 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter DR Congo 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 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 ≈ 1477.99 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	25.4°C	15.5°C	132mm	286h
February	26.5°C	15.6°C	107mm	301h
March	25.9°C	15.8°C	99mm	303h
April	24.7°C	15.9°C	165mm	277h
May	24.5°C	15.4°C	58mm	350h
June	25.1°C	15.4°C	19mm	323h
July	26.1°C	15.4°C	11mm	325h
August	27.9°C	16.1°C	19mm	337h
September	27.8°C	15.6°C	59mm	321h
October	26.1°C	15.4°C	169mm	317h
November	25.3°C	14.9°C	126mm	290h
December	25.8°C	14.7°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.

About DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo, and formerly named Zaire, is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is the second-largest country in Africa and the eleventh-largest in the world. With a population of about 124 million people, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the fourth-most populous country in Africa and the most populous Francophone country in the world. French is the official and most widely spoken language. There are over 200 indigenous languages, of which Lingala is the most widely spoken. The capital, largest city, and economic center is Kinshasa. The DRC is bordered by the Republic of the Congo, the Cabinda exclave of Angola, and the South Atlantic Ocean to the west; the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania to the east; and Zambia and Angola to the south. Centered on the Congo Basin, most of the DRC's terrain is covered by dense rainforests and is crossed by many rivers. The east and southeast are mountainous.

CapitalKinshasa

RegionMiddle Africa

Population112.8M

Area2,344,858 km²

CurrencyCongolese franc (1 USD ≈ 2311.14 CDF)

LanguagesFrench, Kikongo, Lingala, Tshiluba, Swahili

Calling code+243

Drives on theright

TimezoneKinshasa (UTC+1)

Nearest airportMaya-Maya International Airport (BZV), 11 km

Emergency number113 / 114 / 118

UNESCO sites5

Income levelLow income

GDP per capita$807 (2025)

Tourist arrivals351K (2016)

Climate in Kinshasa

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

Monthly climate normals for Kinshasa, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	29.7°C	23.5°C	199mm	276h
February	30.1°C	23.6°C	239mm	241h
March	30.6°C	23.9°C	255mm	278h
April	30.2°C	23.9°C	337mm	255h
May	29.8°C	23.6°C	111mm	302h
June	29.5°C	21.5°C	13mm	314h
July	30.2°C	20.8°C	1mm	336h
August	30.2°C	22°C	36mm	267h
September	31.1°C	22.8°C	41mm	283h
October	29.9°C	23°C	181mm	269h
November	28.9°C	22.9°C	255mm	259h
December	28.5°C	22.9°C	186mm	236h