Rwanda COVID-19 Travel Protocols & Updates – DEC 17th, 2021
December 21, 2021 - 7 minutes read
In a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Rwanda, the following resolutions were put forward by the cabinet on 14th December 2021.
All arriving passengers must take a PCR test upon arrival and thereafter quarantine for 3 days at a designated available hotel at their own cost while they wait for their COVID 19 negative results. A second and third test are required to be taken on the day 3 and day 7 respectively.
Tourists visiting national parks will be exempted from the 3 day/72 hour quarantine but will be required to take a mandatory Rapid Antigen or RT -PCR test on a daily basis at their own cost (Daily rapid test is $5 per person). A facilitation request accompanied by guest identification details as well as their travel itinerary is required to be submitted by the tour operator or hotel to visitrwanda@rdb.rw 72 hours prior to your arrival.
The ministry of health has continuously encouraged the public to take immediate preventative measures such as avoiding crowds, wearing masks and encouraging vaccination as well.
Important to note is that these measures keep changing and sometimes at last minute, so we recommend that you get in touch with our team (sales@adventureconsults.com) or check updates on this link https://www.adventureconsults.com/news/stories-updates.html for more up-to-date information.
Other guidelines as earlier issued on 10th December 2021.
- Direct flights between Rwanda and Southern Africa are temporarily suspended.
- A seven-day quarantine at the traveler’s cost will be request for passengers traveling from, or those with a recent history of travel in, countries of concern. On November 29, 2021, the Rwandan Ministry of Health announced that passengers traveling from countries of concern are required to quarantine for seven (7) days at the own cost as a designated quarantine hotel. This measure applies to passengers who have visited any of these countries within seven (7) days of arrival to Rwanda. Travelers from the following countries are subject to this requirement: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
General information;
- Kigali International Airport remains open.
- Negative RT-PCR test results taken within 72hours of departure are required to board a plane to Kigali.
- Travelers departing Rwanda must test negative for COVID-19 within 72hours before departure.
- Masks/face coverings are required in public.
- The Government of Rwanda has a zero-tolerance policy for exporting positive COVID-19 cases. If you test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival or during your time in Rwanda (even if you are fully vaccinated), the severity of your symptoms will determine whether you are isolated in a government-run treatment center or a hotel at your own cost. You will not be permitted to leave Rwanda until you receive a negative PCR test result, which could take several weeks from the first detection of your infection.
- Your vaccination status does not change these protocols.
- All travelers arriving in Rwanda must complete the Passenger Locator Form and upload the negative COVID-19 test certificate before their departure to Rwanda. The Passenger Locator Form is available on the left side of RBC’s website here https://www.rbc.gov.rw/index.php?id=188
- All travelers arriving in Rwanda are required to have a negative COVID-19 certificate. The only accepted test is a SARS-CoV2 Real Time Polymerase (RT-PCR) performed within 72 hours prior to departure for Rwanda. All other forms of COVID-19 tests are not permitted.
- COVID-19 testing is not required for accompanied children under 5 years old.
- Health screening procedures are in place at airports and other ports of entry.
- Travelers will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. The payment for the test at the airport is $60. The payment is to be made online or by cash upon arrival.
- Transit passengers who are not leaving the airport will be screened upon entry and are not required to test upon arrival.
- If a traveler’s test result is positive for COVID-19 (even if asymptomatic or if the traveler is already vaccinated) while in Rwanda, they will be treated as indicated in the National COVID-19 Management Guidelines until they have fully recovered. All treatment is at the expense of the traveler.
- Travelers departing Rwanda must test negative for COVID-19. The only accepted test is a SARS-CoV2 Real Time Chain Polymerase (RT-PCR) performed within 72 hours before departure. All other tests are not permitted. Travelers are encouraged to book and pay for their tests at least two days prior to departure through the online platform here.
- Tourism activities continue normally but in strict adherence to COVID-19 health guidelines. Highly recommend to book through a registered and licensed tour operator for smooth execution of your trip.
- Tourists, including children, visiting the National Parks will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours. please get in touch (sales@adventureconsults.com) for more details.
- A negative RT-PCR test result is required for Volcanoes, Nyungwe, and Gishwati-Mukura National Park.
- A negative antigen rapid COVID-19 test result is accepted for Akagera National Park.
Other than the directive in the first section of this document, all other protocols and guidelines remain the same as earlier communicated. Refer to Question & Answer document dated November 2021; https://www.adventureconsults.com/news/covid-travel-protocols-uganda-and-rwanda.html
We continue to provide Premier safari experiences and welcome you to Rwanda!
