Sending a parcel to Rwanda: Customs, VAT and delivery time
From Germany to Kigali: What companies should consider regarding shipping and imports
Rwanda is located in the heart of East Africa and is increasingly developing into a regional economic, technology and logistics hub.
- Shipping from Germany to Rwanda
- Parcel, express and freight solutions
- Shipping to Kigali and other regions
- Electronic customs clearance via ReSW
✓ Regular 18% import VAT
✓ Check EAC customs tariff according to HS code
✓ Importer's TIN required
✓ Consider inland location when planning freight
10.000+
Shipments / Month
220+
Countries worldwide
< 2 seconds
per label
Up to 80%
günstiger
Rwanda combines regional customs rules with digital clearance
For a business shipment, the goods description, HS code, value of goods and country of origin should be determined before collection.
The importer or their customs agent transmits the import data electronically via the Rwanda Electronic Single Window.
The more complete this information is, the lower the risk of unnecessary follow-up questions.
18% VAT included
The standard Rwandan VAT rate is 18 percent. It generally also applies to taxable imported goods.
Check EAC Common External Tariff
Rwanda uses the common external tariff of the East African Community with regular tariff levels of 0, 10, 25 and 35 percent. Higher rates may apply to sensitive goods.
Inland location changes the freight calculation.
Rwanda does not have its own seaport. Containers predominantly reach the country via Mombasa in Kenya or Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and are then transported further overland.
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Important information about customs and import duties
DAP or DDP to Rwanda: Clarify importer and duties beforehand
In the case of a business shipment, it should be determined who will act as the importer in Rwanda before shipping.
For DAP The seller organizes the transport to the agreed destination.
The recipient generally assumes:
- Import clearance
- Import duty
- 18% VAT
- further import duties
- Permits (if applicable)
- Customs broker fees
For DDP In contrast, the seller assumes further obligations and the agreed import costs.
Therefore, the following should be checked before calculating DDP:
- HS code
- EAC customs rate
- cart value
- Import VAT
- further charges
- Import license
- Product standards
- local importer
In the case of Rwanda, it should also be taken into account that additional regional and national import duties may apply.
A structured Landed Cost Calculation helps to calculate transport, customs and taxes together.
duty_info
What is the import duty in Rwanda?
Rwanda is part of the East African Community.
For goods from countries outside the EAC, the country uses:
East African Community Common External Tariff.
The regular customs tariff operates with four central tariff levels:
- 0% for certain raw materials and capital goods
- 10% for certain intermediate products that are not regionally available
- 25% for certain regionally available intermediate products
- 35% for numerous finished goods
Customs duties exceeding 35 percent may apply to so-called sensitive products.
Rwanda may also apply so-called stay-of-application rules to certain goods.
This means:
The standard EAC rate is not automatically the rate actually applied for every tariff item.
Therefore, for a binding calculation, the current tariff for the specific customs tariff number should always be checked.
Additional import duties
In addition to the actual import duty, further charges may apply.
This could currently include:
- 18% VAT
- 1,5% Infrastructure Development Levy
- 0,2% African Union Levy
- Excise duty (if applicable)
- Withholding tax (if applicable)
Not every clause applies to every product or importer.
The correct CIF or customs value is therefore an important basis.
You can find out more at Calculate customs value correctly.
What is the value-added tax (VAT) rate in Rwanda?
The standard Rwandan VAT rate is:
18% VAT
This principle also generally applies to taxable imported goods.
The Rwanda Revenue Authority does not calculate import VAT solely on the basis of the invoice value.
The basis of assessment can include, among other things:
- CIF value
- Import duty
- Excise Duty
- certain other taxes
This can result in the actual tax being higher than a simple calculation using 18 percent of the value of the goods.
For certain goods:
- VAT exemptions
- Zero sentences
- special tax regulations
Regular VAT: 18%
Rwanda Electronic Single Window: Customs clearance via a central system
Rwanda uses this:
Rwanda Electronic Single Window, ReSW for short.
The platform connects customs and other authorities involved in imports.
Technically, the system works with ASYCUDAWorld, among other things.
Among other things, the following can be processed via ReSW:
- Customs declarations
- Import licenses
- Exemption applications
- Product approvals
- Transport data
- Inspection processes
This allows importers or their clearing agents to use a single electronic registration for various regulatory requirements.
The Rwanda Revenue Authority is currently developing the system into a more comprehensive Single Transactions Portal.
For companies that regularly export to Rwanda, this is a good reason to keep product and customs data in a structured manner.
You can find out more at Paperless trade and digital customs clearance.
Sending a package to Rwanda: What companies should know before pickup
Rwanda is located in East Africa and has no access to the sea.
The capital city Kigali is by far the most important economic, trade and logistics center in the country.
Other relevant cities include:
- Flees
- Find out
- Ribs
- Rusizi
- Condemn
Kigali plays a central role for international parcels and express shipments.
For larger freight shipments, however, the transport from the East African seaport to Rwanda must also be taken into account.
What documents do I need for Rwanda?
The following are typically required for a normal commercial import:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing List
- Air Waybill or Bill of Lading
- Import Declaration Form
- HS code
- cart value
- Country of origin
- Importer's TIN
- VAT number (if applicable)
- Import license (if applicable)
- Product certificate (if applicable)
The Import Declaration Form is now generally processed electronically via the Electronic Single Window.
Paper forms are only intended for exceptional cases.
Tax exemptions are also applied for and processed electronically.
This reduces paper usage, but at the same time increases the importance of clean digital data.
How does commercial customs clearance work?
For regular commercial imports, the importer usually works with a clearing agent.
The process is simplified:
- Prepare documents
- Appoint a clearing agent
- Submit customs declaration via ReSW
- Calculate customs duties and taxes
- Pay taxes
- Goods inspection, if necessary
- Received Release Order
- Create Exit Note
The responsibility for the correct information lies with the importer or the appointed customs agent.
For the German shipper, this means:
The commercial invoice and product information must be precise enough for the local partner to create a correct import declaration.
Is there a free trade agreement between Rwanda and the EU?
There is currently no applicable EU mutual preference scheme for German exports.
The EU and the East African Community had indeed negotiated a regional Economic Partnership Agreement.
Rwanda signed this agreement in 2016.
However, the regional agreement could not be applied because it was not signed and ratified by all the required EAC states.
There is now a separate EU Economic Partnership Agreement with Kenya.
However, this does not automatically apply to Rwanda.
Therefore, for a normal German delivery to Rwanda:
No general EU preferential tariff is planned.
What does Everything But Arms mean for Rwanda?
Rwanda remains one of the Least Developed Countries and benefits from the following in its exports to the European Union:
Everything But Arms, EBA for short.
This means that qualified Rwandan originating products can, in principle, be imported into the EU duty-free and without quotas.
Weapons and ammunition are excluded.
For German exporters, the direction is crucial:
EBA applies to Rwanda → EU.
This does not mean that a German machine is automatically duty-free when imported into Rwanda.
Goods from Germany are generally subject to the EAC external tariff.
Are there any customs advantages within East Africa?
Yes.
Goods with corresponding EAC origin can benefit from customs concessions within the customs union.
However, the actual origin of the goods is decisive.
A machine from Germany does not become an EAC-origin product simply because it is first unloaded in Kenya and then transported to Rwanda.
Transit and origin of preference are two completely different things.
That sounds obvious. However, customs law has the remarkable ability to make obvious things surprisingly expensive.
How long does it take for a package to arrive in Rwanda?
DHL Parcel currently states a delivery time estimate of:
8 to 14 working days.
For DHL Express Worldwide, the current transit time table for key destinations lists:
3 working days.
The actual runtime depends on several factors, including:
- destination
- Customs clearance
- Type of goods
- Product inspections
- Recipient accessibility
These delivery times do not apply to freight deliveries.
Additionally, the transport from the respective seaport to Rwanda must be taken into account.
English or French for the customs declaration?
DHL accepts delivery to Rwanda:
- English
- French
English is generally particularly well-suited for international B2B communications.
The product description should be as specific as possible.
Not:
“Machine Parts”
but for example:
“Stainless steel impeller for industrial centrifugal water pump”
This makes the product, material, and intended use much easier to identify.
Write the address for Rwanda correctly
DHL Parcel has one important special feature for Rwanda:
The recipient address must include a PO box number.
One possible format is:
Example Engineering Ltd.
PO Box 3425
KIGALI
RWANDA
Phone number and email address should also be provided.
For parcel destinations outside the post offices listed by DHL, the nearest served location must also be specified.
This should be clarified with the recipient before the label is created.
Which goods require additional permits?
Not all goods can be imported with just a commercial invoice and customs declaration.
Additional documents may be required, for example, for:
- Pharmaceuticals (self manufacturing)
- medical products
- Plants and seeds
- agricultural products
- Food products
- used vehicles
- certain regulated technical products
Pharmaceutical products require electronic approval from the relevant Rwandan authority.
Phytosanitary certificates may be required for agricultural products.
Since August 2025, imported vehicles have also been required to provide proof of compliance with the Euro 4 emissions standard.
Check product standards before shipping
The Rwanda Standards Board is responsible for numerous technical standards and conformity requirements.
Rwanda uses both:
- national standards
- harmonized East African Standards
- ISO and IEC standards
- other international standards
For technical or regulated products, it should therefore be checked whether a local standard, inspection or certification is relevant.
This applies particularly to recurring B2B deliveries.
These errors are delaying shipments to Rwanda
Rwanda's digital customs clearance works well as long as the information transmitted is also good.
Typical errors are:
- Import Declaration Form not prepared
- The importer's TIN is missing.
- incorrect HS code
- general product description
- The commercial invoice and packing list contradict each other.
- Product approval is lacking
- EAC preference incorrectly assumed
- PO Box number missing
- The nearest delivery location was not specified.
Especially for recurring items, product description, customs tariff number and origin should be maintained centrally.
We explain how companies can automatically acquire this data below. Automate shipping documents.
What goods are imported into Rwanda?
Rwanda relies on imports for many technical products and capital goods.
Key import categories include machinery, vehicles, electrical appliances, pharmaceutical products and other industrial goods.
The following may be of particular interest to German companies:
- Machines and production facilities
- Machine spare parts
- Medical Technology
- Laboratory and diagnostic equipment
- Electrical Engineering
- IT and network technology
- Measurement and testing technology
- Solar and energy technology
- Pumps and water technology
- Vehicle and commercial vehicle parts
Rwanda continues to invest, particularly in the health sector, in modern infrastructure, digitalization and medical care.
The energy sector also offers opportunities in:
- Solar technology
- Mini-grids
- Network expansion
- control systems
- Storage technology
For technical products, the customs tariff number should be determined before the shipment is booked.
Our guide explains how companies can Determine the correct customs tariff number.
Shipping information: Rwanda
Standard, express or freight to Rwanda
For smaller, less time-critical business goods, an international standard service may suffice.
DHL Parcel currently states:
8 to 14 working days.
For time-critical spare parts or medical products, express delivery can be significantly faster.
DHL Express Worldwide currently lists the following for key destination areas:
3 working days.
Air and sea freight solutions are suitable for machinery, pallets, or larger quantities of goods.
Since Rwanda does not have a seaport, sea freight always consists of several transport segments.
You can find more information about major international shipments at Freight shipping for international goods.
Mombasa and Dar es Salaam connect Rwanda to maritime trade
Rwanda is a landlocked country.
Two international transport corridors are therefore particularly important for containers and larger quantities of goods.
Northern Corridor:
via Mombasa in Kenya and then via Uganda to Rwanda.
Central Corridor:
via Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and then overland to Rwanda.
The choice of route can have a significant impact on:
- Transport costs
- Runtime
- Border clearance
- Availability of capacities
- Onward transport to Kigali
Rwanda currently has no direct connection to the regional railway network.
Therefore, most international land transport is carried out by truck.
Current market analyses indicate that Rwandan transport and logistics costs are significantly above the regional average.
Therefore, land transport should be included in the calculation from the outset for machine and project deliveries.
What import costs can be incurred in Rwanda?
A commercial import may involve several duties.
Depending on the product, the following may be included:
- 0, 10, 25 or 35% regular EAC import duty
- over 35% for certain sensitive goods
- 18% VAT
- 1,5% Infrastructure Development Levy
- 0,2% African Union Levy
- Excise duty (if applicable)
- Withholding tax (if applicable)
- Customs broker and storage costs
Not every position applies to every import.
For certain goods, special EAC rates or national variations may also apply.
Therefore, a flat percentage should not be applied to the value of the goods for DDP offers.
How much does a parcel to Rwanda cost?
The transport price depends in particular on:
- Weight
- Dimensions
- Volumetric weight
- destination
- Shipping service
- Type of goods
- Carrier
For light but large boxes, the volumetric weight can determine the value relevant for invoicing.
We explain how this is calculated below. Understanding and correctly calculating volumetric weight.
For freight, the costs of regional land transport are added.
Therefore, the total cost of shipping a pallet to Kigali differs significantly from that of a normal express parcel.
Online trade to Rwanda: Don't hide import costs
For B2C deliveries, additional import costs may apply besides the shipping cost.
Depending on the product, this includes:
- EAC import duty
- 18% VAT
- further import duties
- Carrier and handling fees
Online retailers should therefore not only display the shipping cost.
Especially with higher-value goods, a transparent presentation of the potential total costs is advisable.
For more information, please visit Display shipping and import costs at checkout.
For recurring shop orders, complete product data should also be automatically transferred to labels and customs documents.
Rwanda connects EAC, COMESA and AfCFTA
Rwanda is strongly integrated into regional trade structures economically.
The country is part of, among other things:
- East African Community
- LIKE THIS
- African Continental Free Trade Area
This allows goods of a corresponding regional origin to receive customs benefits under certain conditions.
However, for German companies, the following is important:
Transport via an African partner country does not change the origin of a German product.
A machine manufactured in Germany remains of EU origin even if it is transported to Rwanda via Mombasa.
Accordingly, the EAC external tariff generally applies to imports.
Rwanda is developing into a regional technology and health hub.
Rwanda is investing heavily in digitalization, health, energy and infrastructure.
Current growth priorities include, among others:
- Medical Technology
- pharmaceutical production
- digital health solutions
- ICT
- Automation
- renewable energy
- Network and storage technology
Therefore, for German companies with technical B2B products, the current import market is not the only interesting factor.
The growing industrial and medical infrastructure can also create new sales opportunities in the long term.
Which carrier is suitable for Rwanda?
Several criteria should be considered when comparing carriers:
- Price
- Runtime
- Customs service
- Target region
- Tracking
- Weight limits
- Package dimensions
- Insurance
DHL Parcel currently states a delivery time of 8 to 14 working days.
Additional insurance is not currently offered for DHL Parcel International to Rwanda.
Bulky goods, on the other hand, are possible within certain maximum dimensions.
For destinations outside of regularly served post offices, the nearest served location must also be indicated in the address.
Especially for time-critical or high-value business goods, it is therefore worthwhile to compare different carriers.
A Multi-carrier solution This simplifies the selection process based on price, delivery time, and shipment characteristics.
Frequently Asked Questions about Shipping
Can I send a package from Germany to Rwanda?
Yes. Parcels, express shipments, and business goods can be sent from Germany to Rwanda. Since Rwanda is outside the EU, complete customs information is required.
How long does it take for a package to arrive in Rwanda?
DHL Parcel currently estimates a delivery time of 8 to 14 working days. DHL Express Worldwide indicates approximately three working days for key destinations.
What is the value-added tax (VAT) rate in Rwanda?
The standard Rwandan VAT rate is 18 percent. The tax is generally also levied on taxable imported goods.
What are the customs duties in Rwanda?
Rwanda uses the common external tariff of the East African Community. The regular tariff rates are 0, 10, 25, and 35 percent. Higher rates may apply to certain sensitive goods.
What is the Rwanda Electronic Single Window?
The Rwanda Electronic Single Window, or ReSW for short, is the central digital platform for customs and foreign trade processes. It is used to exchange customs declarations, permits, and other import information, among other things.
What is a TIN in Rwanda?
TIN stands for Taxpayer Identification Number. The importer's tax identification number is one of the important pieces of information required for commercial imports.
Is there a free trade agreement between Rwanda and the EU?
The regional EU-EAC Economic Partnership Agreement was signed by Rwanda, but is not applied to Rwanda. Therefore, there is currently no general EU preference for imports of ordinary German goods into Rwanda.
What does Everything But Arms mean for Rwanda?
Everything But Arms (Everything But Arms) generally grants qualified Rwandan products duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market. This preference does not automatically apply in the opposite direction to German exports to Rwanda.
Do I need a EUR.1 for Rwanda?
For a normal shipment of goods from Germany to Rwanda, there is currently no applicable EU preferential arrangement where an EUR.1 certificate would result in a reduced Rwandan import duty.
What documents do I need for Rwanda?
Typically, a commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, import declaration form, HS code, goods value, TIN, and origin information are required. Depending on the product, additional permits and certificates may be necessary.
Which language should I use for the customs declaration?
DHL accepts English and French for Rwanda. For international business shipments, English is generally the most practical.
Do I need a PO box number for a DHL parcel to Rwanda?
Yes. DHL currently advises that the recipient address for parcel shipments to Rwanda must include a post office box number. For other destinations, the nearest post office served by DHL may also be required.
