Living in Rwanda as a French National: Kigali, Visa, Residence Permit, Safety and School

France Diplomatie describes Rwanda as a country where crime is low, with a low terrorist risk and reinforced checks at Kigali airport, in the parks and in public places. Visa and Mastercard cards are widely accepted there, which limits the need for cash. The administration is accessible online, and permit procedures go through a government portal.

The points of caution concern the road and health: road accidents are the main risk, roads outside Kigali are often poorly lit and rescue services may be slow. Malaria, dengue, chikungunya and Marburg virus disease are among the health risks described. See the guide to the Rwandan healthcare system.

Kigali, the capital, is home to the French embassy (KN 33 St) and the École francophone Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry (KN 41 St). France Diplomatie reports burglaries, above all in Kigali, and bag snatching in shopping streets and near craft shops; it recommends not walking alone at night in poorly lit or deserted streets.

Border zones call for caution: on the borders with the DRC, movements of rebel groups are reported and the Gisenyi/Goma and Cyangugu/Bukavu crossings open only during the day and may close without notice; on the border with Burundi, cross-border incidents have been reported. Hikes in Nyungwe National Park are done with professional operators or according to the park’s registration procedure (safety map).

According to France Diplomatie, the tourist visa is free, issued on arrival for 30 days for a single entry and to be renewed on each exit. A 30-day extension costs USD 50 and can be renewed twice, for 90 days at most without leaving the territory. The East Africa visa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda) is valid for 90 days with multiple entries for USD 100, to be requested on arrival, at the borders, at the Rwandan embassy in Paris or online. The passport must be valid for at least six months after entry. Yellow fever vaccination is not required of a traveller coming from France, unless passing through an endemic country.

• Residence permit: the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration distinguishes temporary and permanent permits, to be applied for online; first-time applicants benefit from a 15-day grace period after arrival, after which penalties apply.
• Documents: the police certificate, diplomas and civil-status records are officially translated into English or French; the police certificate must be an original.
• Work or residence permit for an employee: see the page on working in Rwanda.
• Consular registration: France Diplomatie recommends registering with the Ariane system.

The “Economic reference points” block above presents inflation and the Rwandan franc exchange rate. The official pages consulted publish no rent scale: amounts are requested from local agents and the employer, and checked in writing before signing a lease. The choice of neighbourhood is made according to the journey to school, the workplace and access to care.

France Diplomatie recommends keeping valuables and travel documents in a safe and carrying only a photocopy of the passport. As burglaries are reported in Kigali, the security of the housing (guarding, fencing, locking) enters into the choice. For families, insurance is chosen at the same time as housing: expat family insurance.

The École francophone Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry, located at KN 41 St in Kigali, has 645 pupils across 15 levels, from the first nursery year to the final year, all approved and none followed through the CNED (AEFE record). The school’s logo indicates a status under agreement. Enrolment, tuition fees and grants are requested from the school and the consular section of the embassy.

For children, insurance is chosen with a paediatrics and vaccination component: France Diplomatie notably recommends rabies for young children in rural areas and tuberculosis for children under fifteen on a long stay. The page on healthcare reimbursement in Rwanda compares the cover solutions.

France Diplomatie places the whole country under heightened vigilance. The advice is as follows:

• avoid driving at night outside Kigali and prefer taxis to motorbike taxis;
• keep valuables and documents in a safe, carry a photocopy of the passport and little cash;
• do not walk alone at night in poorly lit or deserted streets;
• follow the instructions of the security forces and the authorities’ guidance during demonstrations;
• use a guide in nature parks and stay on marked trails.

The national police emergency numbers are 112, 111 for the fire brigade, 113 for road accidents and 110 for the sea. For a medical emergency, the SAMU answers on 912, with nearly 600 ambulances spread across the country.

France Diplomatie considers imperative an assistance contract covering medical costs and medical repatriation; without cover, access to care may be refused, even in a life-threatening emergency, and the embassy cannot cover any costs. The vaccinations of the French schedule must be up to date; hepatitis, typhoid, meningitis ACWY, rabies, chikungunya and dengue are discussed with a doctor. Malaria is prevented by protection against mosquitoes and preventive treatment. Marburg virus disease, with no specific treatment or vaccine, is prevented by avoiding bushmeat and contact with the secretions of sick people.

For medicines, France Diplomatie advises bringing only what is strictly necessary, in the original packaging, with a prescription in international non-proprietary names, and never buying medicines in the street. See also repatriation and assistance.