Travel Alerts

1. Every person entering or leaving South Africa must submit a declaration, regardless of whether they have goods to declare or not. The declaration form can be found here
2. Before entering or leaving South Africa, travellers must complete an online declaration on the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) unless SATMS is unavailable or offline.
3. Obligations under Section 15 also apply to crew members.
4. Travellers declaring both personal goods and informal trade or commercial goods, must submit two separate declarations:

i) Personal or informal trade goods, and

ii) Commercial goods using a Goods Declaration.

5. Travellers in transit through South Africa are exempt from submitting declarations if they do not leave:

i) The designated transit area, or

ii) The mode of transport on which they arrived.

6. Travellers who qualify as diplomats or Very Important Persons (VIPs) must, as a general principle, remain subject to Customs control in terms of Section 15 of the Customs and Excise Act.

7. Non-resident travellers carrying Krugerrand coins into South Africa must declare such coins as part of their declaration.

8. Failure to declare goods, understate values, or submit false documents may result in seizure, prosecution, or penalties.

Due to public health measures, strict entry restrictions are in place for passengers traveling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Passengers are not permitted to board flights to the UAE if they:

• Are traveling directly from:
  • South Sudan
  • Uganda
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
• Are traveling via another country but have originated from or transited through any of the above countries
• The following passengers are exempt from this restriction:
  • UAE citizens
  • Holders of diplomatic passports

In response to outbreaks of Ebola in Republic of Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.

Health screening

• Travelers who have been in these countries within the last 21 days will undergo enhanced health screening upon arrival in the U.S.

• All flights carrying such travelers may be subject to additional medical checks at U.S. ports of entry

Boarding & Entry Restrictions

• CDC temporarily restricts entry for certain travelers who were recently in DRC, Uganda or South Sudan

Exemptions

This does not apply to:

• U.S. citizens and nationals

• U.S. armed forces, government personnel, and eligible dependents

• Travelers approved on humanitarian, public health, or security grounds

• Individuals entering under DHS-approved processes with CDC-compliant protocols

RwandAir will gradually resume flights to and from Dubai and Doha from 1 June 2026. We recognise the importance of these routes to our customers.

As services resume, the safety, security, and comfort of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority. Customers may book, manage, or update their travel arrangements via www.rwandair.com or contact our reservations team at reservations@rwandair.com for assistance.

We look forward to welcoming our customers back on board.

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has introduced new entry requirements as part of Ebola Virus (EBV) preventive measures.

All passengers originating from the following countries must complete the prescribed health declaration form here before arriving to Kenya.

• Rwanda
• Uganda
• Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
• Ethiopia
• Burundi
• Angola
• Tanzania
• Zambia
• South Sudan
• Somalia

Important Note
Passengers are advised to complete the form prior to travel to avoid delays upon arrival.

In line with Nigerian health regulations, enhanced screening measures are in place.

• All passengers traveling to Nigeria are required to complete the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Health Declaration Form prior to arrival. The form can be found here
• Passengers unable to complete the online form before departure shall be provided with paper-based Health Declaration Forms upon arrival for completion and submission to the Port Health Services personnel.

Following the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the Uganda Ministry of Health has implemented enhanced public health measures.

Mandatory Health Declaration

All travellers are required to complete an online health declaration form prior to departure or arrival in Uganda.

The form is here:
https://poes.health.go.ug/declare 

Important Information

• Completion of the declaration form is mandatory for all passengers entering and exiting Uganda.
• Travellers may be requested to present proof of submission upon arrival or departure.
• These measures are part of strengthened health surveillance at all ports of entry and exit.

Travel Advisory

We encourage all passengers to:

• Complete the form before arriving at the airport to avoid delays.
• Monitor official health updates from the Uganda Ministry of Health.
• Follow all health and safety guidelines issued by authorities.

In line with the Rwandan Ministry of Health, RwandAir is implementing temporary entry measures:

1. Foreign nationals who have been in or transited through the DRC within the last 30 days will not be allowed entry into Rwanda.
2. Rwandan nationals and foreign residents with valid residency may enter Rwanda, but if they have been in the DRC within the last 30 days, they will undergo mandatory quarantine.

These measures protect our passengers and crew. For travel adjustments, contact your travel agent or reservations at reservations@rwandair.com

Due to the continued situation in the Middle East, all RwandAir flights to and from the region remain suspended until further notice:

• Doha (WB300/WB303 & WB302/WB301)
• Dubai International Airport (WB304/WB305)
• Dubai World Central (DWC)
• Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)

While these services are affected, the rest of the RwandAir network continues to operate as scheduled. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our top priority.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available. Affected passengers may reschedule their tickets for a later date.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding.

For further assistance, please contact our reservations team at
reservations@rwandair.com or reach out to your preferred travel agent.

To help you prepare for your upcoming flight, please take note of the recommended airport arrival and check-in timelines.

Check-in counters close 60 minutes before departure for domestic flights and 90 minutes before departure for international flights. Passengers who complete online check-in are also required to report to the airport before the check-in counters close to complete all necessary airport formalities.

All passengers are kindly advised to arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before departure to allow sufficient time for processing.

Please ensure you are in possession of all required travel documents, including a valid passport, applicable visas, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate, where required.

Portable electronic devices including Power banks, spare batteries, electronic cigarettes and vapes have the potential to overheat, emit fumes and smoke, or self-ignite and catch fire. To ensure a safe journey for everyone, please follow the safety guidelines below when travelling on RwandAir:

1. Using or charging power banks, irrespective of their capacity or certification, is strictly prohibited onboard all RwandAir flights.

2. Power banks, spare batteries, and electronic cigarettes are strictly not allowed in checked luggage (e-cigarettes are not permitted on RwandAir flights)

3. Power banks and spare batteries (Lithium-ion batteries not included in a device) are prohibited in overhead compartment storage and must be carried on your person; in the seat pocket in front of you, or underneath the seat.

4. Do not charge power banks, or spare batteries while on board. These items must remain switched off and safely stored when not in use.

5. Do not travel with damaged or recalled lithium batteries, or with devices showing signs of swelling, overheating, or leaking.

6. If an electronic Device Is Lost or fall in Your Seat do not attempt to move the seat. Inform a cabin crew member immediately.

7. Use in-seat USB ports or power outlets to charge your portable devices (excluding power banks, e-cigarettes, and vapes). Keep your devices in sight at all times and avoid placing them under pillows, blankets, or seats while charging.

8. If You Notice Smoke, Heat, or a Burning Smell Immediately alert a member of the cabin crew for assistance. Our crew are trained to manage such situations safely.
9. A passenger may carry no more than two (2) power banks, which must be kept in carry-on baggage only.

Important Note: As of 2019, Electric cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes, or vape pens, are strictly prohibited in Rwanda. In line with national regulations, RwandAir strictly prohibits the carriage of e-cigarettes on board any of its flights, regardless of the departure or destination points. This prohibition applies to all passengers, including those traveling to or from Rwanda or transiting through RwandAir’s hubs.

Your cooperation helps us keep every flight safe and comfortable for all passengers.

RwandAir would like to remind all passengers traveling to the Republic of Zimbabwe to complete a mandatory online travel declaration form before their arrival in the country. 

To ensure a smooth travel experience, all passengers must fill out this declaration form prior to departure. The form gathers essential travel and health information to facilitate the entry procedures upon arrival in Zimbabwe. 

Before your flight, please complete the Zimbabwe Travel Declaration Form by visiting the official portal: https://evisa.gov.zw/app/index.html#/standby-kiosk 

This requirement applies to everyone, including Zimbabwean citizens, residents, and visitors.