Please note: Due to increased travel demand, appointments are limited.

Schedule your appointment as soon as possible to ensure travel protection.

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunizations:

• Hepatitis A –
  Food & Water –
  Recommended for most travellers
• Hepatitis B –
  Blood & Body Fluids –
  Accelerated schedule available
• Typhoid –
  Food & Water –
  Shot lasts 2 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator.
• Yellow Fever –
  Mosquito –
  Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission
• Rabies –
  Saliva of Infected Animals –
  High risk country. Vaccine recommended for long-term travellers and those who may come in contact with animals.
• Meningitis –
  Airborne & Direct Contact –
  Recommended for minors and those with additional risk factors.
• Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) –
  Various Vectors –
  Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended.
• TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) –
  Wounds & Airborne –
  Only one adult booster of pertussis required.
• Chickenpox –
  Direct Contact & Airborne –
  Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox.
• Shingles –
  Direct Contact –
  Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles.
• Pneumonia –
  Airborne –
  Two vaccines given seperately. All 65+ or immunocompromised should receive both.
• Influenza –
  Airborne –
  Vaccine components change annually.
• Polio –
  Food & Water –
  May be recommended for some regions. Single adult booster recommended.

See the tables below for more information:

Recommended Travel Vaccinations for Rwanda
VACCINE	HOW DISEASE SPREADS	DETAILS
Hepatitis A	Food & Water	Recommended for most travellers
Hepatitis B	Blood & Body Fluids	Accelerated schedule available
Typhoid	Food & Water	Shot lasts 2 years. Oral vaccine lasts 5 years, must be able to swallow pills. Oral doses must be kept in refrigerator.
Yellow Fever	Mosquito	Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission
Rabies	Saliva of Infected Animals	High risk country. Vaccine recommended for long-term travellers and those who may come in contact with animals.

 

Routine Vaccinations for Rwanda
VACCINE	HOW DISEASE SPREADS	DETAILS
Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR)	Various Vectors	Given to anyone unvaccinated and/or born after 1957. One time adult booster recommended.
TDAP (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis)	Wounds & Airborne	Only one adult booster of pertussis required.
Chickenpox	Direct Contact & Airborne	Given to those unvaccinated that did not have chickenpox.
Shingles	Direct Contact	Vaccine can still be given if you have had shingles.
Pneumonia	Airborne	Two vaccines given seperately. All 65+ or immunocompromised should receive both.
Influenza	Airborne	Vaccine components change annually.
Meningitis	Airborne & Direct Contact	Recommended for minors and those with additional risk factors.
Polio	Food & Water	May be recommended for some regions. Single adult booster recommended.

Sources: PHAC, WHO and ISTM

 

 

Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Rwanda?

A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the expected departure date from the country. A visa is required for all business and tourism purposes. Tourist visas are valid for 30 days but if you plan on staying longer than that you must seek another class of visa before your visa expires. A business visa is valid for 90 days but may be extended once.

Rwanda Entry Requirements
Do I Need A…	For My Trip to Rwanda?
Passport
Tourist Visa
Business Visa
Vaccinations

Sources: Embassy of Rwanda and Canadian Travel and Tourism

Proof of yellow fever vaccination is also required for entry.

Visit the Canadian Travel and Tourism website for more information on entry and exit requirements.

What is the Climate Like in Rwanda?

Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate due to its high elevation. Rwanda’s temperatures vary throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging from 10 to 27 degrees.

The rainy seasons are from March-April and October-December. During the rainy season, downpours occur daily and are heavier in the mountains.

How Safe is Rwanda?

Travellers should be cautious around border areas. An armed militant group (The Democratic Forces of the Liberation of Rwanda) operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are near the border. Rape, pillaging and kidnapping can occur in the North and South Kivu provinces.

Also be cautious at Volcanoes National Park, for DRC militant groups also operate on the DRC border, though sometimes the borders are not marked.

The most common crimes that are reported are robbery. Don’t display cash, avoid walking at night, and drive with your doors and windows locked.

 

Genocide Memorial in Rwanda

In 1994, one million Tutsis and Hutus were murdered in the span of 100 days by the Interahamwe. A memorial to the victims of this genocide can is in the capital city of Kigali.

The memorial honors the 250,000 victims that were buried in a mass grave where the memorial is now placed. The memorial tells the history of colonization in Rwanda and the events that led up to the genocide. A particular section of the memorial is dedicated to the murdered children. The section showcases children’s stories using life-sized photographs and biographies of the children. The memorial also calls for justice through the court system.

This memorial not only remembers the genocide that occurred in Rwanda, but also takes a look at other genocides that have occurred throughout the world.

What Should I Pack for Rwanda?

Here are some essential items to consider for your trip to Rwanda:

• Bring light layers of clothing. It can be hot during the day, but it can get cooler at night.
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. Sunscreen is available here, but it may be quite expensive.
• Insect repellent and mosquito nets are important to have. Practice all precautions against mosquito bites to avoid malaria and zika.
• Comfortable walking shoes make exploring much easier. Roads can be muddy and uneven. Simple sandals won’t cut it.

Canadian Embassy in Rwanda

Canadian consular services can help travellers with many issues they may face including passport services. Once in Rwanda, the information for the Canadian consulate is:

Canadian Embassy Kigali
59, KN16 Ave, Kiyovu,
Kigali, Rwanda
Telephone: (+250) 252 573-210

Stay safe abroad with Passport Health. Call or book online now and start travelling safely today!

 

On This Page:
Do I Need Vaccines for Rwanda?
Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Rwanda?
What is the Climate Like in Rwanda?
How Safe is Rwanda?
Genocide Memorial in Rwanda
What Should I Pack To Rwanda?
Canadian Embassy in Rwanda