- Rwanda International Moving Services
- How Much Does It Cost To Move To Rwanda?
- Nature Of Destination
- Legal Fees
- Moving To Rwanda Cost & Time Examples
- Will You Pay Duty On Household Belongings?
- What Documents Will You Need For Household Belongings?
- Will You Pay Duty On Vehicle Imports?
- What Documents Will You Need For Vehicle Imports?
- Tips On How To Make Your International Move Easier
- Why You Need A Professional Moving Company When Relocating Overseas
- How To Find The Best International Moving Company
- Our Rwanda International Moving Services
- Why A-1 Auto Transport?
- Get In Touch!
- Sources

Rwanda International Moving Services
Rwanda is an East African country that is known for being one of the smallest countries in Africa. Despite the problems that the country had in the 1994 Genocide, its economy has shown a steady growth ever since.
How Much Does It Cost to Move to Rwanda?
The cost of moving internationally to Rwanda can range anywhere from $2,000-$12,000 depending on a variety of factors such as the size of move, total distance, route, transportation method, and current market trends.
Officially called the Republic of Rwanda, Rwanda is a landlocked country in the central part of Africa. If you are moving from a two-bedroom to Rwanda, you might pay from $4,000 to $11,000. If it is a three-bedroom you are moving out of, you will pay more.
Many factors influence the cost of moving, so there is not a single fixed amount. These factors vary from situation to situation. Examples of such factors include the nature of the destination and the amount you pay for legal fees.
Nature of Destination
The nature of the destination you are moving to will influence the moving costs.
Countries with complicated shipping routes will cost more to move to. This is because the moving company will spend more time and resources moving to such locations. The moving cost will be higher if the destination country has complicated logistics at the port.
For example, Rwanda is a landlocked country, which means that your things will be offloaded at another country’s seaport and then transported through a land border to Rwanda. The cost of moving household goods in such a case will be higher than if the country wasn’t landlocked.
Legal Fees
Your final moving cost will be affected by the amount of money you spend on legal fees.
In some cases, legal fees are optional and can be avoided if you know what you are doing. However, in other cases, they cannot be avoided because of the laws the destination country has put in place or the type of items you are moving.
The effect of legal fees can be minimal, causing an increase of $100, or can be the opposite, increasing moving costs by thousands of dollars.
Moving to Rwanda Cost & Time Examples
To/From | 2BR | 4BR | Estimated Time |
---|---|---|---|
Boston to Butare | $4,500- $7,600 | $8,500- $14,000 | 5-8 weeks |
New York to Kigali | $4,500- $7,600 | $8,500- $14,000 | 5-8 weeks |
Philadelphia to Kigali | $4,600- $7,600 | $8,600- $14,100 | 5-8 weeks |
Dallas to Kigali | $5,000- $8,300 | $9,400- $15,300 | 5-8 weeks |
Los Angeles to Kigali | $5,000- $8,300 | $9,500- $15,500 | 6-10 weeks |
Seattle to Butare | $5,000- $8,300 | $9,500- $15,600 | 6-10 weeks |
Memphis to Kigali | $5,300- $8,700 | $9,900- $16,200 | 5-8 weeks |
Chicago to Kigali | $5,500- $9,100 | $10,100- $16,700 | 5-8 weeks |
Phoenix to Kigali | $5,800- $9,500 | $10,800- $17,600 | 6-10 weeks |
Denver to Kigali | $7,100- $11,700 | $13,100- $21,400 | 6-10 weeks |
*Please note that these estimates do not include taxes, customs fees & duties, insurance & quarantine inspections. They assume easy access to both pick up and drop-off addresses and do not allow for special items such as pianos.

Estimated Weight (based on home size):
1BR=2600 lbs - 3900 lbs
2BR=3900 lbs - 5200 lbs
3BR=6500 lbs - 9100 lbs
4BR=9100 lbs - 14300 lbs
5BR=11700 lbs - 19500 lbs
If you are moving to Rwanda for a few months as a tourist or on a more permanent international relocation, you are in the right place. Despite starting with car transportation, A-1 Auto Transport has grown to provide all-round Rwanda International Moving Services.
Will you pay duty on household belongings?
Customs will waive the normal import duties on your household goods, if you purchased these at least one year ago. You also must have been personally using them during this time. Residing outside of Rwanda for the last 12 months is also required to receive duty exemption. After relocating to Rwanda you have just six months to import goods - otherwise duty will be charged.
In addition, you must obtain the correct type of visa, Residence Permit and/or Work Permit to receive exemption. Also, the destination agent must receive your paperwork a minimum of three weeks before your goods arrive. If duty relief is granted, then you won’t be permitted to sell, lend out to others or get rid of these goods while in the country (1).

What documents will you need for household belongings?
Your passport, a full packing list and a Letter of Employment should be given to customs. A valid long-term visa and/or Work Permit are required as well. A comprehensive inventory that includes monetary values should be included. This should be written in either French or English, and bear your signature and the date. You also must obtain a taxpayer ID number, which will be issued by the Rwanda Revenue Authority. If you work for an NGO, then your Work Contract or their Registration Certificate should be presented (2).
Will you pay duty on vehicle imports?
One dependable source states that duties will be charged on vehicle imports, with the exact rate based on the year of manufacture, model, engine displacement and vehicle value. The duty range starts as low as 5%, and climbs as high as 110%. Also, customs does not allow left-hand drive vehicles to be brought into the country (3).
What documents will you need for vehicle imports?
When shipping a vehicle to Rwanda, you must have the purchase receipt, Certificate of Origin and your driver’s license. Proof of international insurance coverage is also necessary, along with the vehicle’s title and registration. A separate registration card may be required as well, plus your passport and/or visa (4).
Customs also mandates that the Original Bill of Lading be submitted, and this must state the year, engine and chassis numbers, engine size, make and model. You’ll also need to provide documents confirming your ownership of the vehicle for at least one year (unless it is new) (5).
With different types of visas and permits being available, it’s important that you discuss your shipment details with customs. They can inform you about the correct type to apply for - to ensure that you don’t miss out on duty exemption. Working with a competent and experienced international moving company like A1 Auto Transport, will also make the process much easier.

Tips on how to make your international move easier
- It’s never too early to start planning. You will actually need to do more than just packing so it’s a good idea to start early.
- Prepare a moving checklist that documents everything you will need to do before you move. Keep it somewhere accessible like on your phone or in your notebook so that you can easily add new items whenever you remember them.
- Visit the Rwanda Directorate of Immigration website and find out what the visa requirements are.
- Make space by selling or donating any items that you don’t need.
- Find a moving company that will offer all the services that you need at prices that are within your budget. It is easier if the company that ships your car is the same company that ships everything else.
Why you need a professional moving company when relocating overseas
International movers have two options; to take the DIY approach or hire a professional. Let’s discuss why you should get a professional for your Rwanda International Moving Services.
- You’ll be free on moving day to focus on other important aspects of your move.
- Chances of accidents happening are significantly reduced. The moving company will come with the right truck, enough manpower and the right hand tools to get the job done better and faster.
- Moving companies know all the common mistakes and how to avoid them.
- Regardless of what they tell you, your friends don’t actually like helping you move. It’s a tedious process that everybody dreads. Don’t make them do it.
- It could actually end up being cheaper than doing it yourself. Imagine if you destroyed your precious flat screen TV or that vintage grand piano. How much would that cost you?
- In case accidents happen, professional movers have insurance policies that will compensate your belongings.
A-1 Auto Transport can help you move your household goods internationally. Call 888-241-3110 to get a free, no obligation to buy price quote on interstate moving services.

How to find the best international moving company
Although there are hundreds of moving companies online, you don’t have to feel stranded when picking one for your Rwanda International Moving Services. This is because it is actually very easy to differentiate a good company from a bad one. Here are some things to look out for:
- Is the company licensed? Ask them to give you their US DOT number and check it using the tool found here.
- Next, find out what their past customers had to say after receiving their services. You can check their website for a reviews section or you can use a website like Yelp.
- After that, ask about their insurance policy and their process of handling claims.
Our Rwanda International Moving Services
Want to know more about our services in Rwanda? Here they are:
- Packing/unpacking: We will handle this important aspect of your move from start to finish.
- Commercial Moving: Get your business to its new location safely with this service.
- Office moves: Move your office efficiently and with minimum downtime.
- Apartment moves: Come to us for a very affordable move to your new apartment.
- Planning and preparation: Get an expert involved in the planning to ensure that no detail is missed.
- Visa and immigration services: Get all the answers about the immigration process from an expert.
- Family services: Join hundreds of families who trust us to get them safely to their new homes.
- Auto transport services: Never again will you need to sell your car. We can move it for you.

Why A-1 Auto Transport?
A-1 Auto Transport has been an industry leader in the international moving industry. This is why we shine:
- Our services are customized to the needs of each customer because we understand that no two clients are the same.
- We have a team of dedicated professionals who will stop at nothing to ensure that you get the very best moving services.
- We take cargo insurance very seriously to give our customers the peace of mind they deserve.
Get in touch!
Talk to us on 888-241-3110 or fill the form above and we will answer any questions you may have about our services.
SOURCES:
- Found on Atlas Int’l “Importing Personal Property Into Rwanda” page.
- http://www.iamovers.org/ResourcesPublications/CountryGuides.aspx?ItemNumber=3547
- Found on Atlas Int’l “Importing Personal Property Into Rwanda” page.
- A-1 Auto Transport Ship Car To Rwanda
- http://www.iamovers.org/ResourcesPublications/CountryGuides.aspx?ItemNumber=3547
