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Rwanda customs regulations

It is important to know about customs regulations before traveling to Rwanda to avoid legal issues and potential fines. As you know, customs regulations widely depend on the country. Before traveling to (or from) Rwanda make sure to check the allowance and limits for the next things:

  • Alcohol and tobacco
  • Currency
  • Medicines (especially those containing drugs)
  • Animals
  • Cultural artifacts
  • Plants, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products

Check the information below to be sure that you are complying with Rwanda customs regulations.

Import regulations in Rwanda

Duty-free allowance

Tobacco limit

  • Restricted to travellers 18 years and over;
  • 250 grams total of any tobacco products.

Bringing alcohol

Restricted to travellers 18 years and over. One of the following:

  • 1 litre of spirits;
  • or 2 litres of wine.

Other goods

  • Perfume and eau de toilette up to 500mL, of which 125mL may be perfume.
  • Personal goods up to the value of RF500,000.

Prohibited items

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

  • Counterfeit currency and goods.
  • Pornographic and obscene media.
  • Matches manufactured with white phosphorus.
  • Any article made without proper authority which bears the Armorial Ensign or Coat of Arms of a partner state.
  • Distilled beverages containing essential oils or chemical products which are injurious to health.
  • Narcotic drugs under international control.
  • Hazardous wastes and their disposal.
  • Any product containing mercury.
  • Used tyres for light commercial vehicles and passenger cars.
  • Some agricultural and industrial chemicals.

Restricted items

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival:

  • Postal franking machines require a permit granted by a competent authority.
  • Traps capable of killing or capturing game animals require a written permit.
  • Unwrought precious metals and precious stones.
  • Arms and ammunition specified under Chapter 93 of the Customs Nomenclature.
  • Ossein and bones treated with acid.
  • Other bones and horn - cores unworked, defatted, simply prepared, and waste of these products.
  • Ivory, elephant unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape.
  • Teeth, hippopotamus, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape.
  • Other ivory unworked or simply prepared but cut to shape.
  • Ivory powder and waste.
  • Tortoise shell, whalebone and whalebone hair, horns antlers, hooves, nails, claws and beaks, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste of these products.
  • Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared but not otherwise worked shells of molasses, crustaceans or echinoderms and cattle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape powder and waste thereof.
  • Natural sponges of animal origin.
  • Spent, irradiated fuel elements of nuclear reactors.
  • Worked ivory and articles of ivory.
  • Ozone depleting substances.
  • Genetically modified products.
  • Non-indigenous species of fish or egg of progeny.
  • Psychotropic drugs under international control.
  • Historical artefacts.
  • Telescope sights or other optical devices suitable for use with arms.
  • Bows, arrows, fencing foils, or toys under Chapter 95 of the Customs Nomenclature.
  • Collectors' pieces or antiques guns and ammunition.
  • Endangered animals, plants, and their derivative products protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) may require protected species permits.
  • Pets are subject to certain import requirements.

Information has been updated: .