Practical info for Rwanda
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
- Single emergency number112
- Police112
- Police113
- Medical emergencies112
- Medical emergencies114
- Medical emergencies912
- Fire brigade111
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British High Commission KigaliEmbassy
- Address
- KG 7 AveKacyiru-Sud, Kigali, Kigali, PO Box 576, Rwanda
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/rwanda/british-high-commission-kigali
- British Embassy Office BujumburaEmbassy
- Address
- Old East Building, (1st Floor)Place de L’Independence, Bujumbura, Bujumbura, Burundi
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/burundi/british-embassy-office-bujumbura
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 04/09/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country.
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the parts of Rusizi District which are within 10km of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the Rwandan islands in Lake Kivu and Kamembe Airport.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Rwandese franc (RWF).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for RWF.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+02:00, +2 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You’ll need to have both the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.”
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Airtel (Sirocco); TIGO (Sirocco); Tigo Ruwanda (Airalo).
eSIM prices for Rwanda
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Rwanda?
Single emergency number: 112 ; Police: 112 ; Police: 113 ; Medical emergencies: 112 ; Medical emergencies: 114 ; Medical emergencies: 912 ; Fire brigade: 111
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Rwanda?
British High Commission Kigali, KG 7 AveKacyiru-Sud, Kigali, Kigali, PO Box 576, Rwanda ; British Embassy Office Bujumbura, Old East Building, (1st Floor)Place de L’Independence, Bujumbura, Bujumbura, Burundi. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for Rwanda?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 04/09/2026.
What is the travel advice for Rwanda?
Highest level according to GOV.UK (FCDO): FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the parts of Rusizi District which are within 10km of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the Rwandan islands in Lake Kivu and Kamembe Airport.
What currency is used in Rwanda?
Currency: Rwandese franc (RWF). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for RWF.
What is the time difference in Rwanda?
Local time: UTC+02:00, +2 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Rwanda?
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You’ll need to have both the 1949 version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.”
Which mobile networks operate in Rwanda?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Airtel (Sirocco); TIGO (Sirocco); Tigo Ruwanda (Airalo).