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Republic of Rwanda · investor · Leads to settlement

Investor Permit (Class A-1 / B-1)

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

For foreign investors backing a company in Rwanda: the investor permit (such as Class A-1 or B-1) lets you reside on the basis of your investment, and it requires your company to hold an investment certificate, which is issued through the Rwanda Development Board.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyIssued for a period tied to the investment class and renewable; can support a longer-term residence pathway. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Processing time
Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration page and the IremboGov portal.
Government fees
Indicative only - government fees apply and minimum investment thresholds are set for the classes; confirm current amounts on the official page.
Typical duration
Issued for a period tied to the investment class and renewable; can support a longer-term residence pathway. Confirm current validity on the official page.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration ↗

In short

As of 10 July 2026, the Investor Permit (Class A-1 / B-1) for Republic of Rwanda is an unsponsored Rwanda immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Rwanda government pages, reviewed 10 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/rwanda/investor-permit#answer

What is the Investor Permit (Class A-1 / B-1) in Republic of Rwanda?

Investor Permit (Class A-1 / B-1) is an unsponsored Rwanda route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees apply and minimum investment thresholds are set for the classes; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration page and the IremboGov portal; typical duration is Issued for a period tied to the investment class and renewable; can support a longer-term residence pathway. Confirm current validity on the official page. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration on 1 June 2026.

Overview

If you are putting money into a Rwandan company, this is the residence permit built around your investment. The investor classes (for example A-1 and B-1) are issued by the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration to foreign nationals investing in sectors recognised by Rwanda, and a central requirement is that the company holds an investment certificate, which is obtained through the Rwanda Development Board. The application is made online through IremboGov. Because investor permits sit within the residence framework that can lead on to a permanent residence permit, this route is treated as leading to settlement. Good to know: the investment certificate is a separate step you sort out with the Rwanda Development Board before or alongside the permit.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Identify the investor class that matches your planned investment and confirm the requirements on the official page.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Obtain the company investment certificate through the Rwanda Development Board and gather the business registration and investment evidence.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply online through the IremboGov portal, attaching the investment certificate and supporting documents.

  4. After approval

    Maintain the qualifying investment, keep the permit valid, and consider the permanent residence pathway over time.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Investor Permit (Class A-1 / B-1), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Investor Permit (Class A-1 / B-1) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Rwanda

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Rwanda. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Investor Permit (Class A-1 / B-1) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Investor Permit (Class A-1 / B-1).

    Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need an investment certificate for the investor permit?+

Yes. A core requirement is that your company holds an investment certificate, which is obtained through the Rwanda Development Board, and you attach it to the permit application on IremboGov. Confirm the current requirements on the official Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration page.

How much do I need to invest?+

Rwanda sets minimum investment thresholds for the investor classes, and they differ by class and sector. We do not quote a fixed figure - confirm the current threshold for your class on the official page and with the Rwanda Development Board.

How do I get the investment certificate needed for the Rwanda investor permit?+

The investment certificate is held by the company and is obtained through the Rwanda Development Board as a separate step before or alongside the permit; you then attach it to your application on IremboGov. Confirm the current process on the official Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration page and with the Rwanda Development Board.

Which Rwanda permit can lead to permanent residence: the investor permit or the entrepreneur permit?+

The investor permit sits within the residence framework that can lead on to a permanent residence permit and is treated as leading to settlement, while the entrepreneur permit is renewable but does not by itself lead to settlement. Confirm the current pathways for each on the official Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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