Do I need to provide valid passport or travel document?

A genuine, acceptable travel document, such as a passport, that is valid for at least 6 more months.

Do I need to provide permit fee?

The Student (U1) permit fee is 20,000 Rwandan francs. The permit is valid for 1 year.

Do I need to provide sponsorship letter?

A letter from whoever is paying for your studies and stay in Rwanda.

Do I need to provide recommendation letter from your school?

A letter from the school or university where you will study, recommending you for the student permit.

Do I need to provide free six-month entry pass for eac citizens?

Citizens of East African Community member states are given a pass or entry visa free of charge when they arrive, for a stay of up to six months. This covers entry only; the study permit page still lists the documents above.

Do I need to provide police clearance certificate (if you are 18 or older)?

If you are 18 or older, include a police clearance certificate. It is needed for a new application, not for a renewal.

Document checklist

Cape Verde → Rwanda: Student permit (Class U1)

What you need before you submit, checked against official requirements, not guesswork.

Checked by our automated verification on 20 Oct 2026: every source on this page resolves and the data is structurally complete. This does not confirm a person re-read the source text for accuracy.

Required documents

6 items

Identity

Valid passport or travel document
Required
A genuine, acceptable travel document, such as a passport, that is valid for at least 6 more months.
Source: Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Rwanda), Study & research permits

Financial

Permit fee
Required
The Student (U1) permit fee is 20,000 Rwandan francs. The permit is valid for 1 year.
Source: Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Rwanda), Study & research permits
Sponsorship letter
Required
A letter from whoever is paying for your studies and stay in Rwanda.
Source: Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Rwanda), Study & research permits

Purpose of travel

Recommendation letter from your school
Required
A letter from the school or university where you will study, recommending you for the student permit.
Source: Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Rwanda), Study & research permits

Travel

Free six-month entry pass for EAC citizens
Citizens of East African Community member states are given a pass or entry visa free of charge when they arrive, for a stay of up to six months. This covers entry only; the study permit page still lists the documents above.
Source: Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Rwanda), Visa issued under special arrangement

Other

Police clearance certificate (if you are 18 or older)
Required
If you are 18 or older, include a police clearance certificate. It is needed for a new application, not for a renewal.
Source: Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Rwanda), Study & research permits

Why applications on this route get refused

Passport valid for less than 6 months
The travel document must be valid for at least 6 more months. A passport close to expiry does not meet this rule.
How to avoid it: Renew your passport first if it has less than 6 months left.
Missing school recommendation or sponsorship letter
Both a recommendation letter from the school and a sponsorship letter are listed for every new application and renewal.
How to avoid it: Get both letters ready before you apply, and check that names and dates match your passport.
Missing police clearance (adults)
Applicants aged 18 or older must include a police clearance certificate with a new application.
How to avoid it: Ask for your police clearance early, since it can take time to get.

Sources

Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Rwanda), Study & research permits · checked 14 Sept 2026
Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (Rwanda), Visa issued under special arrangement · checked 14 Sept 2026

Check your documents against this list before you pay the Rwanda application fee.

Answer a few questions, add what you have, and get a report of what is missing or needs fixing. Documents you add are read on your device, never uploaded.

Check my documents