1.  General 1.1  International flights into, from or over Rwanda territory shall be subject to the current Rwanda regulations relating to civil aviation. These regulations correspond in all essentials to the Standards and Recommended Practices contained in Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
 
1.2  Aircraft flying into or departing from Rwanda territory shall make their first landing or final departure from an international aerodrome. (see AIP RWANDA AD 1.3, AD 2)
 
1.3  All aircraft flying in or overflying any portion of Rwanda Airspace must have an authorization or clearance from Rwanda, must send a flight plan copy, departure message and must establish contact with ATS Unit.

2.  Scheduled flights
2.1  General 2.1.1 For regular international scheduled flights operated by foreign airlines into or in transit across Rwanda, the following requirements must be met: 
 
Aircraft of air transport companies of states which are signatories of ICAO Convention (Chicago, 7th December 1944) or entitled to equivalent rights under agreements concluded with Rwanda, may fly over the Rwanda territory under the conditions set in the forenamed agreements. In all cases an application for authorization shall be submitted to:
 
Director General of Civil Aviation
Kigali International Airport
P.O. Box 1122
Kigali - Rwanda
Tel 1: 00250 – 724 – 123 015
E-Mail: clearance@caa.gov.rw 2.2  Documentary Requirements for Clearance of Aircraft 2.2.1 It is necessary that the under mentioned aircraft documents be submitted by airline operators for clearance on entry and departure of their aircraft to and from Rwanda. All documents listed below must follow the ICAO standard format as set forth in the relevant appendices to Annex 9 and are acceptable when furnished in English or French and completed in legible handwriting. No VISAS are required in connection.
 
2.2.2 Aircraft Documents required (Arrival/Departure) Note.— If no passengers are embarking (disembarking) and no articles are laden (un-laden), no aircraft documents except copies of the General Declaration need be submitted to the above authorities.

3.  Non-scheduled flights 3.1 Advance Notification of Arrival
3.1.1 Normally, a request must be submitted to the Director General of Civil Aviation not less than three working days before the intended time of flight. The online application form can be found on the RCAA website, www.caa.gov.rw under online services.

3.1.2 No flight should be initiated before making sure that a formal authorization has been issued.
 
3.2  Procedures for clearance acquisition
 
3.2.1 Commercial Flights
Status applicable to aircraft or operators registered in ICAO member states: An authorization of these flights shall be requested from Director General of Civil Aviation at least three working days in advance. The request must include all following details:
 
a) Details for the aircraft:
i. name of operator and registered owner;
ii. nationality;
iii. radio callsign;
iv. type and registration mark;
v. maximum take-off weight (MTOW)
vi. airdropping capability and TCAS/ACAS equipped
vii. registration, insurance, airworthiness and noise certificate (s)
viii. routing, including dates and times in UTC of entry/exit in Kigali FIR;
ix. purpose of flight;
x. aerodrome and estimated time of departure
xi. estimated time leaving Rwanda and destination;
 
b) Other details
i. name of captain-in-command;
ii. billing address of the operator
iii. details of cargo and/or passengers
Note: — We require scanned passport copies for inbound and/or outbound passengers);
iv. ground handling information and address of local agent / contact person
v. payment information.
 
3.2.2 Overflights and Non-traffic stops.
Aircraft of airlines of ICAO member states or enjoying, through bilateral agreements concluded with Rwanda, rights equivalent to those mentioned in article 5 (paragraph 1) of the Chicago Convention, may fly over the territory of Rwanda under the conditions set in the forenamed convention or agreements, provided these countries accord the same facilities to Rwandan aircraft. However, an application for authorization shall be submitted to the Director General of Civil Aviation (see 2.1 above).

4.  Aircraft registered in non-ICAO member states. 4.1 All flights within Rwanda airspace and its aerodromes are subject to special permission to be negotiated through diplomatic means.

5.  Public health measures applied to aircraft. 5.1 No public health measures are required to be carried out in respect of aircraft entering Rwanda.

6.  Military flights / State aircraft 6.1 Advance Notification of Arrival Foreign military aircraft must obtain diplomatic and administrative clearance from the Government.
The Government will reply to the request with a copy to the Director General of Civil Aviation of Rwanda. Applications should be made to:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
P.O. Box 179, Kigali
Tel: 00250 - 252 - 573 797
E-Mail: info@minafet.gov.rw
 
Prior permission for both military and state aircraft should be made at least 14 days before the aircraft is due to overfly or land to Rwanda and should contain the following information:
a) type of aircraft;
b) registration or identity marks;
c) radio callsign;
d) itinerary;
e) place of landing in Rwanda, arrivals and departures or if overflying, estimated times of arrivals and departures from Rwanda and dates;
f) name of captain;
g) Purpose of flight.