Rwanda
Ministerial Order relating to Rwandan Nationality
Ministerial Order 7 of 2022
- Published in Official Gazette special on 25 March 2022
- Assented to on 23 March 2022
- Commenced on 25 March 2022
- [This is the version of this document from 25 March 2022.]
Chapter One
General provisions
Article One – Purpose of this Order
This Order determines the following:1ºthe conditions and modalities for applying for Rwandan nationality by origin;2ºthe conditions and procedure for applying for Rwandan nationality by acquisition;3ºthe format of the Rwandan nationality certificate;4ºthe competent authority to administer the oath to a person granted Rwandan nationality by acquisition and the procedure for administering the oath;5ºidentification details of the person who is granted the Rwandan nationality by acquisition to be published;6ºthe procedure for revoking Rwandan nationality by acquisition;7ºthe conditions and procedure for applying for renunciation of Rwandan nationality;8ºthe procedure and requirements to apply to renounce or recover Rwandan nationality by origin;9ºthe fees paid for application provided for by this Order;10ºthe procedure for declaring dual nationality.Article 2 – Definition of the term “Organ”
In this Order, the term “Organ” means the Directorate General in charge of Immigration and Emigration in Rwanda.Chapter II
Conditions and modalities of applying for Rwandan nationality
Article 3 – Application for Rwandan nationality by origin
A person who applies for Rwandan nationality by origin submits to the Organ the following:1ºproof that the person was born to a Rwandan parent who is a Rwandan national not through acquisition but by virtue of Rwandan ancestry;2ºindication of a foreign country where the person was born from and that he or she has never been legally recognised as a Rwandan;3ºwritten testimony of the person or of another person corroborated with evidence proving the relationship linking him or her with Rwanda, or the proof of a relative who is Rwandan national by origin;4ºproof of payment of application fee.Article 4 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of birth on the territory of Rwanda
A person who applies for Rwandan nationality on grounds of birth on the territory of Rwanda submits to the Organ the following:1ºapplication letter;2ºbirth record;3ºproof of payment of application fee;4ºpassport copy or copy of residence permit if the person resides in Rwanda.Article 5 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of residence in Rwanda
A foreigner applies for Rwandan nationality on grounds of residence in Rwanda submits to the Organ the following:1ºa birth certificate;2ºhis or her personal profile;3ºproof of payment of application fee;4ºproof of lawful residence in Rwanda at least for the last fifteen (15) consecutive years.Article 6 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of adoption
A person who applies, on behalf of an adopted child, for Rwandan nationality on grounds of adoption, submits to the Organ the following:1ºapplication letter by the adopting person;2ºcopy of identity card of the adopting person;3ºdocument issued by the competent organ proving that the applicant is accepted to be the adoptive parent of the child whose Rwandan Nationality is requested.Article 7 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of marriage
A person who applies for Rwandan nationality on grounds of marriage submits to the Organ the following:1ºapplication letter;2ºmarriage certificate;3ºproof of payment of application fee;4ºcopy of identity card of the Rwandan spouse;5ºpassport copy or copy of residence permit, if the person resides in Rwanda.Article 8 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of foundling
A person who applies for Rwandan nationality, on behalf of and on the ground of a foundling, submits to the Organ the following:1ºapplication letter;2ºa written summary on circumstances and place where the foundling was found.Article 9 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of statelessness
A person who applies for Rwandan nationality on grounds of statelessness submits to the Organ the following:1ºapplication letter;2ºrecommendation letter by the local administrative entity.Article 10 – Application for Rwandan nationality by an immigrant
An immigrant who applies for Rwandan nationality submits to the Organ the following:1ºa birth certificate;2ºhis or her personal profile;3ºa copy of residence permit, if the immigrant resides in Rwanda;4ºproof of payment of application fee;5ºa written statement of his or her personal circumstances which details the inability to fulfil the requirements for applying for Rwandan nationality by acquisition on the other admissible grounds.Article 11 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of national interest
A foreigner who applies for Rwandan nationality on grounds of national interest submits to the Organ the following:1ºa birth record;2ºhis or her personal profile;3ºa copy of residence permit, if the foreigner resides in Rwanda;4ºproof of payment of application fee;5ºa letter from a relevant organ addressed to the Organ, describing the national interest that justifies the granting of Rwandan nationality to the applicant.Article 12 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of sustainable investment or activities
A foreigner who applies for Rwandan nationality on the basis of sustainable investment or activities submits to the Organ the following:1ºa birth certificate;2ºhis or her personal profile;3ºa copy of residence permit, if the foreigner resides in Rwanda;4ºproof of payment of application fee;5ºproof of properties owned;6ºproof of registration as an investor in Rwanda;7ºproof of sustainable activities in Rwanda.Article 13 – Application for Rwandan nationality on grounds of special skills or talent
A foreigner who applies for Rwandan nationality on grounds of special skills or talent submits to the Organ the following:1ºa birth certificate;2ºhis or her personal profile;3ºa copy of residence permit, if the foreigner resides in Rwanda;4ºproof of payment of application fee;5ºa commitment letter that affirms the applicant shall use the special skills or talent in the interest of Rwanda.Article 14 – Request for additional information
The Organ assesses the application and may request for additional information from the applicant if considered necessary.Article 15 – Application modalities
The applicant for Rwandan nationality submits the application, in writing or electronically, to the Organ or to the diplomatic mission of Rwanda in a foreign country.Article 16 – Rwandan nationality certificate
A person granted with Rwandan nationality by origin or by acquisition is issued a certificate of Rwandan nationality which contains the following:1ºcertificate number;2ºa passport photo of the person who is granted the nationality;3ºnames of the person who is granted the nationality;4ºdate of birth of the person who is granted the nationality;5ºplace of birth of the person who is granted the nationality;6ºtype of nationality granted;7ºeffective date of nationality;8ºlegal basis of granting the nationality;9ºsignature and stamp of the issuing authority.The format of the Rwandan nationality certificate is in Annexed to this Order.Chapter III
Administration of oath and identification details to be published
Article 17 – Taking oath by a person granted Rwandan nationality by acquisition
A person granted Rwandan nationality by acquisition takes oath in one of the Rwandan official languages.A person granted Rwandan nationality by acquisition takes oath in public by holding the National flag with the left hand and raising the right hand.A person who is not able to respect provisions of Paragraph 2 of this Article is facilitated to take oath in a favourable manner.Article 18 – Competent authority that administers the oath
The District Mayor, the District Executive Administrator in the City of Kigali and the diplomat in charge of consular services in Rwanda Diplomatic Missions are the competent authorities to administer the oath of a person who is granted Rwandan nationality by acquisition.Article 19 – Identification details to be published
Identification details of a person who is granted Rwandan nationality by acquisition published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda are the following:1ºthe person’s names;2ºparents’ names;3ºplace of birth;4ºdate of birth.Chapter IV
Revoking Rwandan nationality by acquisition
Article 20 – Procedure for revocation of Rwandan nationality by acquisition
The Head of the Organ writes to the person who has Rwandan nationality by acquisition stating the intention and grounds for revoking the nationality.The person who has Rwandan nationality by acquisition who is notified of the intention of revocation of the nationality has the right to present the grounds why the nationality should not be revoked within a period of fifteen (15) working days from the date of reception of the notice. When the grounds the person presented in defence against the intended revocation of nationality are inadmissible, the Head of the Organ prepares a document with a summary of grounds for revocation of Rwandan nationality by acquisition for submission to relevant institution.A person whose Rwandan nationality by acquisition is revoked ceases to be Rwandan from the date on which the Head of the Organ notified the person, in writing, of the Cabinet Meeting decision revoking his or her nationality.The documents proving Rwandan nationality that were previously issued to the person whose nationality is revoked become invalid from the notification of the decision revoking the nationality and the person surrenders them to the Organ.Article 21 – Publication of identification details of a person whose nationality is revoked
If the Rwandan nationality by acquisition is revoked, the following identification details of a person whose nationality is revoked are published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda:1ºnames of the person whose Rwandan nationality is revoked;2ºnames of his or her parents;3ºplace of birth;4ºdate of birth.Chapter V
Renunciation and recovery of Rwandan nationality
Article 22 – Application for renunciation of nationality
A Rwandan national who applies for renunciation of Rwandan nationality submits to the Organ the following documents:1ºa copy of a document proving his or her Rwandan nationality;2ºa written statement motivating renunciation of nationality;3ºproof of possession or assurance of acquisition of another nationality.Article 23 – Submission of application for renunciation to Cabinet
After the Organ has examined the application for renunciation of Rwandan nationality, the competent authority submits the application with sound basis to the Cabinet for approval.Article 24 – Notification of approval of renunciation of nationality
The Organ notifies the successful applicant for renunciation of Rwandan nationality of the approval by the Cabinet of the application, and requests the applicant to return any official Rwandan nationality document to the Organ within a period not exceeding two (2) months from the date of notification.Article 25 – Issuance of a certificate of renunciation of nationality
The Organ issues a certificate of renunciation of Rwandan nationality to the successful applicant upon return of all official Rwandan nationality documents.Article 26 – Publication of identification details of a person who renounced nationality
The Organ publishes in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda identification details of a person who renounced Rwandan nationality.Article 27 – Application for recovery of Rwandan nationality by origin
A person who applies for recovery of Rwandan nationality by origin submits to the Organ the following documents:1ºa birth certificate;2ºa copy of certificate of renunciation of Rwandan nationality;3ºa written statement on the reasons for application for recovery of Rwandan nationality;4ºproof of current nationality.Article 28 – Submission of application for recovery of Rwandan nationality by origin to the Cabinet
After the Organ has examined an application for recovery of Rwandan nationality by origin, the competent authority submits the application with sound basis to the Cabinet for approval.Article 29 – Notification of approval of recovery of Rwandan nationality by origin
The Organ notifies the successful applicant for recovery of Rwandan nationality by origin of the approval by the Cabinet meeting of his or her application within a period not exceeding two (2) months from the date of approval.Article 30 – Publication of identification details of a person who recovered Rwandan nationality by origin
The Organ publishes in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda details of a person who recovered Rwandan nationality by origin.Chapter VI
Application fees and processing fee
Article 31 – Application fees for nationality
An applicant for Rwandan nationality by origin pays five thousand Rwandan francs (FRW 5,000) or its equivalent in foreign currency.An applicant for Rwandan nationality by acquisition pays ten thousand Rwandan francs (FRW 10,000) or its equivalent in foreign currency.Article 32 – Processing fee for nationality
A person who acquires Rwandan nationality pays a processing fee of one hundred thousand Rwandan francs (FRW 100,000) or its equivalent in foreign currency.A person who acquires Rwandan nationality on the ground of foundling, honour, statelessness or adoption does not pay the fee provided for in Paragraph One of this Article.Article 33 – Application fee for renunciation of nationality
An applicant for renunciation of Rwandan nationality pays one hundred and fifty thousand Rwandan francs (FRW 150,000) or its equivalent in foreign currency.Article 34 – Exemption from payment of application and processing fees
The Head of the Organ may exempt an applicant from payment of application fee or processing fee, after consulting relevant institutions.Article 35 – Payment of application fees
The application fees mentioned in this Chapter are paid in the Public Treasury.Chapter VII
Miscellaneous and final provisions
Article 36 – Modalities for declaration of dual nationality
A person who declares dual nationality fills a relevant form and submits it with proof of acquired nationality of another State.A Rwandan who resides in Rwanda declares dual nationality at the Organ.A Rwandan who resides abroad declares dual nationality at the nearest Rwandan diplomatic mission. The head of the diplomatic mission submits the declaration of dual nationality made to the diplomatic mission of Rwanda to the Organ within a period not exceeding thirty (30) working days from the date of the declaration.Article 37 – Commencement
This Order comes into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.History of this document
25 March 2022 this version
Commenced
23 March 2022
Assented to