Visa fees must be paid either by international credit card (Visa / Mastercard) or in cash in RWF at the current exchange rate.

The duration of the entire visa process varies significantly: it can take from a few working days to several months. We cannot guarantee a specific processing time, as domestic German authorities must be involved during the process, and the German Embass in Kigali has no influence over their processing times. The final review and decision by the German Embassy can only take place after the feedback from Germany has been received. Please plan for a processing time of approximately three months. In individual cases, it may take longer.

The Embassy in Kigali reviews and decides on your application. In doing so, the legal requirements are always examined on a case-by-case basis based on the submitted application documents. Depending on the purpose of the stay, this review may take from a few working days to several months. The processing time increases if documents require more intensive scrutiny or if further research regarding the applicant or the actual purpose of the stay is necessary.

Regarding inquiries: For data protection reasons, detailed information can only be provided to the applicant, their legal representative, or a representative with written power of attorney. Other inquiries from third parties unfortunately cannot be answered. We ask for your understanding that the visa section is not reachable by telephone due to capacity constraints. However, you may send us a message at visa@kiga.diplo.de.

Exception: For applicants participating in the accelerated procedure for skilled workers, the processing time is generally three weeks after the application has been submitted. The processing time may be extended if additional documents are requested or if further questions must be clarified.

As a general rule, you must collect your passport in person.

Once a decision has been made on your application, you will be informed about the collection either via an email through the Consular Services Portal or by telephone.

Please check the website for information regarding public holidays on which the Embassy is closed.

Upon receiving your passport, please check that all details on the visa label are correct. Please notify us immediately of any errors so that we can issue a new visa. With a national visa, you may travel within the Schengen area. Everyone residing in Germany must be registered. You should do this at the residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) or citizens' office (Bürgeramt) no later than two weeks after moving in. Please contact the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) in your place of residence in Germany well before your visa expires to apply for your residence permit.

If your visa application has been rejected, this may be for various reasons. These reasons will be stated in the notice of refusal.

The overview of required documents indicates whether you must provide a language certificate. Currently recognized providers of language certificates are:

• Language certificates from the Goethe-Institut e.V.
• Language certificates from telc Gmbh
• Language certificates from the Austrian Language Diploma (ÖSD)
• “TestDaF” from the TestDaF-Institut e.V. (Institute of the FernUniversität in Hagen and the Ruhr-University Bochum, examination level from B2 CEFR onwards)
• Language certificates from the ECL Examination Centre

The certificate must not be older than 12 months at the time of application. If you have taken the examination in various modules/partial exams, all modules must have been completed with the same provider. Evidence of different exam parts from different providers is not sufficient.

The Embassy is aware of cases where language certificates have been issued or obtained fraudulently. The Embassy reserves the right to verify your German language skills. Insufficient German language proficiency may be a ground for the refusal of a visa application.

In your application form, you provide all information regarding your entry and your stay in Germany. Please fill out this form completely, print it, and sign it yourself.

Link to the form: “VIDEX”

Two current biometric passport photos (45mm x 35mm). Information on biometric passport photos can be found here.

Please paste only one passport photo onto the application form and attach the second one separately.

You must prove that you possess basic knowledge of the German language. To do this, please provide a language certificate at level A1 from a recognized examination provider. Please note the information on German certificates at the top of the article.

Exceptions: If you obviously speak German fluently, you do not need to provide a language certificate. In this case, your German language skills will be verified at the counter of the diplomatic mission when the application is submitted.

Further information – including other possible exceptions – can be found here: Link

If you or your spouse were previously married before your current marriage: all German or foreign divorce decrees from previous marriages; foreign divorces must be provided in legalized form.

Attention, if one of the divorced persons was a German or third-country national at the time of the divorce:

If your spouse's previous marriage was dissolved in Rwanda or in a third country and your spouse or their spouse at the time was a German national or also (additionally) a third-country national, the foreign divorce must be recognized for the German legal area in accordance with § 107 FamFG. Recognition according to § 107 FamFG is carried out upon application by the state justice administration of the federal state in which one spouse has their habitual residence. Please therefore contact the competent authorities in Germany directly. Further information can also be found on the internet.