General Information

• The German Embassy is only responsible for processing your Schengen visa application if your main destination is Germany, if you are not a Rwandan citizen your residence must be in Rwanda.
• Schengen visas are issued for short-term stays for a particular purpose. They allow people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a six-month period.
• It is advised to apply well in advance (at least 1 month before your intended travel date)! It might take up to an average of 2 weeks to process your Schengen visa application.
• Submission of false documentation or incorrect information will result in a refusal of your application and possibly even a travel ban to Germany and all other Schengen States.
• Submission of incomplete documentation can also result in a refusal of your application.
• Please do not send the Visa Section any documents. In the case of documentation being sent by mail, email or fax, this documentation will and cannot be added to an existing application and will not be held until an application might be made. All relevant information pertaining to the visa application process can be found on our website.
• PLEASE BRING ALL THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WITH YOU TO YOUR APPOINTMENT (ORIGINAL + COPY)
• The German Embassy in Kigali only accepts documents in German, English or French. Documents in other languages must be translated by a certified translator prior submission

Preparing your application and checklist

1. Apply for your visa at least 1 months prior to departure. Otherwise it cannot be guaranteed that your application will be processed on time!
2. Please fill in the visa application form here and bring a print out to your appointment.
3. Please compile the documents you need to submit with your application. If documents or supporting documentation are missing, your application may be rejected. We have prepared CHECKLISTS for each type of visa.
4. Book your appointment at the Embassy.

Submitting your application

• Your application has to be submitted at the Embassy on the day and time of your booked appointment. Please show your email with the booking confirmation at the entrance.
• You have to submit your application in person. Only the applicant is allowed to enter for his/her appointment. During this appointment, we kindly ask you to submit all of your application documents, pay the fee and answer questions about your planned trip. Your photograph and fingerprints will also be taken on this occasion.

• The visa fee of 90 Euros is payable in Rwanda Francs cash or credit card (VISA or Mastercard)!

  _{Please note that the RWF amount is subject to change depending on the current exchange rate. The fee is a non-refundable administrative fee. In case your application is rejected you are not entitled to any refund!}

• Missing documentation can result in your application being rejected. You cannot submit any documents later.

During the process

• The Embassy will review your application and make a decision on whether or not to grant you a visa. To this end, it will assess whether your application meets the legal requirements.
• Processing generally takes 15 days.
• Please do not contact the mission abroad to check the status of your application during the normal processing period. Such inquiries are extremely time-consuming for the visa section and can thus not be answered.
  
• After that, enquiries can only be answered if they are made by the applicant, his/her legal representative or another person authorised in writing by the applicant.

Return of your passport

• As soon as the Embassy has decided on your application, you can collect your passport. You should collect your passport in person. If you are not able to collect it yourself, you can authorise another person to collect it for you. In order to do so, please fill out the following power of attorney. [Download here]
• There are various reasons why your visa application may be rejected. The reasons will be stated in the letter notifying you that your application has been rejected.
• You are welcome to submit a new application at any time with complete, informative and verifiable documentation.

Complaint about procedure

Applicants for a Schengen visa can complain about the behavior of the consular staff or the Schengen visa application procedure using our contact form. In the contact form please choose the addressee “complaint about the Schengen visa procedure”. Complaints can only be filed in German or English language. There will be no follow up for complaints in other languages.

Either

• Complaint about the behavior of the consular staff or
• Complaint about the Schengen visa application procedure.

We shall follow up your complaint.

Information for visa holders

• If all the information on your visa label is correct, you are free to travel. Please check the information on the label as soon as your passport is returned to you. You should let us know immediately if there are any mistakes so that we can issue you a new visa.
• Your visa will state your full name and passport number and include your photo. It will also state the period of validity. This is the time period in which you can travel. In addition, it will state the maximum number of days you can stay in the Schengen area during the period of validity of your visa. Our aim is to give you a certain amount of flexibility in planning your trip. In order to allow you to change your travel dates at short notice, visas are usually valid for 15 days longer than the maximum number of days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area.
• Please note that being granted a Schengen visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter the Schengen area. The final decision on whether or not you will be allowed to enter the Schengen area will be made by the border police on your arrival. When you arrive, the border police may ask you to present additional documentation alongside your passport and valid visa with information on your financial means, the length and purpose of your stay, and your health insurance cover. You should therefore take a copy of your visa documents (including an invitation from Germany, hotel reservation and travel health insurance) with you on your trip.

Have a good trip!