Import & Export Guide: Rwanda

Comprehensive guide to trading with Rwanda. Import procedures, tariffs, customs regulations, and digital-first trade facilitation.

$8.2B

Total Trade Volume (2024)

6-12 hours

Avg. Customs Clearance

0-25%

Import Duty Range

Import Procedures

TIN Registration: Taxpayer Identification Number from Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA). Digital registration via RRA portal.
Electronic Single Window System: Register with Rwanda Electronic Single Window (eSW) for online import declarations.
Standards Compliance: Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) Certificate of Conformity for regulated products (electrical, food, construction materials).
Import License: Category-specific permits (FDA for pharmaceuticals/food, RURA for telecom, MINICOM for strategic goods).
Digital Documentation: All documents uploaded electronically via eSW platform before cargo arrival.

Register with RRA and obtain electronic certification for customs access
Submit electronic Customs Declaration via ASYCUDA World (integrated with eSW)
Upload documents digitally: Bill of Lading, invoice, permits, RSB certificate, insurance
RRA assigns risk profile: Green (auto-release within 6 hours), Yellow (document review), Red (physical inspection)
Electronic payment of duties via mobile money (M-Pesa, Airtel Money), bank transfer, or RRA online payment
Physical inspection at entry point if required (Gatuna, Rusumo, Kigali Airport, Rubavu)
Electronic Release Order generated automatically after payment and compliance verification

Green Channel (Low Risk): 4-6 hours (auto-release with electronic processing)

Yellow Channel (Medium Risk): 8-12 hours (document verification)

Red Channel (High Risk): 1-2 days (physical inspection + valuation assessment)

AEO/Gold Card Status: 2-4 hours priority fast-track clearance

Rwanda applies the East African Community Common External Tariff structure:

0%: Essential raw materials, strategic inputs (pharmaceuticals, educational materials, capital machinery)
10%: Semi-finished goods, intermediate materials for manufacturing
25%: Finished consumer goods, manufactured products
35%+: Sensitive sectors (used clothing banned, dairy products 60%, sugar 100%, motor vehicles 25%)

Tax Type	Rate	Applied To
Import VAT	18%	CIF + Duty
Excise Duty	Varies (5-150%)	Alcohol (70%), tobacco (150%), fuel (varies), vehicles (5-40% by engine)
Infrastructure Levy	1.5%	CIF + Duty (non-EAC goods)
Withholding Tax	5%	Imports by non-VAT registered traders

EAC Rules of Origin: 0% duty for EAC-origin goods (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, DRC from 2024)
COMESA Free Trade Area: 0% duty for COMESA-origin products with approved Certificate of Origin
AfCFTA: Progressive tariff elimination with 90% of goods duty-free by 2034
Special Economic Zones (SEZ): 100% duty exemption on inputs, machinery, equipment for export-oriented manufacturers
Manufacturing Incentives: Capital goods and raw materials for registered manufacturers receive duty waivers
Digital Services: No import duties on software, digital products (part of digital economy strategy)

Absolute Ban: Used clothing and footwear (banned since 2018 to protect local industry)
Plastic Bags: All plastic bags banned (environmental policy since 2008)
Vehicle Age: Vehicles over 8 years old (15 years for heavy commercial vehicles)

Gatuna/Katuna Border (Uganda-Rwanda): Busiest border crossing. OSBP operational (joint Uganda-Rwanda processing). 300+ trucks/day. 4-hour average clearance.
Rusumo Border (Tanzania-Rwanda): OSBP facility. Central Corridor connection. 150+ trucks/day. Access to Dar es Salaam port.
Kigali International Airport: Modern cargo hub. 45K+ tons/year. Cold chain facilities. RwandAir Cargo operations. 24/7 customs clearance.
Rubavu/Goma Border (DRC-Rwanda): OSBP operational. Trade gateway to Eastern DRC. Small-scale trade hub.
Inland Container Depot (Kigali Logistics Platform): Under construction. Will handle consolidated cargo from Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.

Route	Mode	Transit Time	Est. Cost (20ft)
Mombasa → Kigali	Road Truck	5-7 days	$3,200-4,000
Kampala → Kigali	Road Truck	10-14 hours	$800-1,100
Dar es Salaam → Kigali	Road Truck	4-6 days	$3,000-3,800
Kigali → Bujumbura	Road Truck	4-6 hours	$400-600
Kigali → Goma (DRC)	Road Truck	3-4 hours	$350-500

Digital Trade: Rwanda Electronic Single Window integrates all government agencies, reducing paperwork by 90%.
OSBP Network: One-Stop Border Posts at all major crossings reduce transit time by 50%.
Northern Corridor Transit: Mombasa-Kigali corridor prioritized by EAC. 1,700 km, 5-7 day transit.
Central Corridor Alternative: Dar es Salaam route via Rusumo. Reduces Kenya dependency.
Cargo Tracking: RCTMS (Rwanda Cargo Tracking Management System) with GPS for real-time visibility.

Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA): Customs operations, tax collection, ASYCUDA World, electronic single window integration.→ rra.gov.rw
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB): Product certification, standards enforcement, Certificate of Conformity issuance.→ rsb.gov.rw
Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM): Trade policy, import/export permits, EAC/COMESA/AfCFTA coordination.→ minicom.gov.rw
Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (FDA): Food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics regulation, import permits.
Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA): Environmental impact assessments, permits for chemical/hazardous goods.
Private Sector Federation (PSF): Business advocacy, certificate of origin issuance, trade facilitation support.
Rwanda Development Board (RDB): Investment incentives, SEZ administration, business registration.→ rdb.rw

Experience Africa's fastest customs clearance with digital-first processing, OSBP efficiency, and expert Northern/Central Corridor routing.