Driving in Rwanda requires the driver to have a valid driver’s license, just like it is in Uganda, Kenya, India, Tanzania, etc. In order to obtain the above document, the applicant must go through all available steps including undergoing a driving test, applying for a provisional license, applying for a definitive driving license and applying for a category upgrade if need to.
If you are planning to drive in Rwanda as a new driver, it is important for you to take note of these 37 important facts in order to drive legally, and also avoid falling victim to traffic fines as a result of violating the Rwanda road traffic rules and regulations.
Driving license categories in Rwanda
In Rwanda, there are up to 9 accepted and official driving license categories. They include; A, A1, B, B1, C, D, D1, E, and F. Each of the above categories are assigned to a specific type of vehicle including motorcycles, and one is required to do a driving test before obtaining a license of that category/class.
Types of driving license tests in Rwanda
- Provisional Driving Test
- Definitive Driving Test
- Supplementary Driving Test
There are 3 types of driving tests in Rwanda as outlined above.
Provisional Driving Test
A provisional driving test is done by persons who wish to get started to driving in Rwanda. This type of test is provided by Rwanda National Police (RNP), and involves undergoing a theoretical test online that is provided in 3 languages including Kinyarwanda, English, and French. The processing time s 1 day and incurs a fee of Rwf 5,000.
Requirements for a Provisional driving test
- Applicant must be aged 16 years and above, though the license can be retrieved at 18 years.
- Applicants must have a National ID number.
- The provisional license expires after 2 years but is renewed after 1 year.
Register for a provisional driver’s test in Rwanda
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click ‘Registration for Driving Test” under Police
- Select “Provisional Driving Test” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application and Test Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
A billing number/ID will automatically be generated for the payment. You can then enact the payment using your preferred payment option including MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, BK App, BK Branches, BK Agents, or pay online using VISA or MasterCard.
After successful application and payment via the IremboGov website, an SMS/Email will be sent to the applicant approving their test date and center for the driving test.
Definitive Driving Test
A Definitive Driving Test’s purpose is to evaluate the applicant’s ability to drive a motor vehicle. This is a practical test and is enforced on all applicants intending to drive vehicles falling into categories; A, A1, B, B1, and F. The service is also provided by Rwanda National Police (RNP) with a processing time of 1 day, and a fee of Rwf 10,000.
Requirements for a Definitive Driving Test
- Applicants must be aged 18 years and above.
- Applicants must have a national ID number.
- Applicants must have passed the provisional driving test and given a provisional license number.
- The definitive license expires and is renewed after 10 years.
Register for a Definitive Driving test in Rwanda
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click ‘Registration for Driving Test” under Police
- Select “Difinitive Driving Test” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application and Test Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
A billing number/ID will automatically be generated for the payment. You can then enact the payment using your preferred payment option including MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, BK App, BK Branches, BK Agents, or pay online using VISA or MasterCard.
After successful application and payment via the IremboGov website, an SMS/Email will be sent to the applicant approving their test date and center for the driving test.
Supplementary Driving Test
A supplementary driving test is a practical driving test done by the applicant for purposes of assessing the person’s ability to drive the specified vehicle of the additional category they are seeking. Similar to provisional tests, this service is also provided by the Rwanda National Police (RNP). The processing time of this service is 1 day and a fee of Rwf 10,000 applies.
Requirements for a Supplementary Driving Test
- Applicants must be 18 years and above.
- Applicants must have a national ID number.
- Applicants should have a valid definitive license number.
Register for a Supplementary driving test in Rwanda
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click ‘Registration for Driving Test” under Police
- Select “Supplimentary Driving Test” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application and Test Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
A billing number/ID will automatically be generated for the payment. You can then enact the payment using your preferred payment option including MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, BK App, BK Branches, BK Agents, or pay online using VISA or MasterCard.
After successful application and payment via the IremboGov website, an SMS/Email will be sent to the applicant approving their test date and center for the driving test.
How to check for Driving test results in Rwanda
If you have successfully applied and completed the provisional, definitive, and supplementary driving tests as required, you can follow the simple instructions below to check your results.
Requirements to obtain driving test results
- Applicants must have a registration code.
Instructions to get driving test results
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click “Driving License Exam Results” under Police
- Click “Apply”
- Enter “Registration code”
Your scored test marks will be displayed.
Types of driving licenses in Rwanda
- Provisional driver’s license
- Definitive driving license
- Category upgrade
Provisional driver’s license in Rwanda
A provisional driving license is issued to applicants who passed the provisional driving test through the Rwanda National Police (RNP). The processing time is 14 days and a fee of Rwf 10,000 applies.
Requirements for obtaining a Provisional driver’s license in Rwanda
- Applicants must be aged 16 years and above, but the provisional license can be retrieved at 18 years.
- Applicants must have passed the provisional driving test and given a registration code.
- The provisional license expires after 2 years but is renewed after 1 year.
How to apply for a provisional driver’s license
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click “Application for Driver’s License” under Police
- Select “Application for Provisional Driving License” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
A billing number/ID will automatically be generated for the payment. You can then enact the payment using your preferred payment option including MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, BK App, BK Branches, BK Agents, or pay online using VISA or MasterCard.
Definitive driving license
A Definitive Driving Test is issued to applicants who passed the definitive driving test The service is provided by the Rwanda National Police (RNP) with a processing time of 14 days. A fee of Rwf 50,000 applies.
Requirements for obtaining a Definitive driver’s license in Rwanda
- Applicants must be 18 years and above.
- Applicants must have passed the definitive driving test and given a registration code.
- The definitive license expires and is renewed after 10 years.
How to apply for a Definitive driving license
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click “Application for Driver’s License” under Police
- Select “Application for Difinitive Driving License” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
A billing number/ID will automatically be generated for the payment. You can then enact the payment using your preferred payment option including MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, BK App, BK Branches, BK Agents, or pay online using VISA or MasterCard.
Category upgrade
A Category upgrade is issued to applicants who passed the supplementary practical driving test to request a supplementary driving license. The service is provided by Rwanda National Police (RNP), has a processing time of14 days, and a fee of Rwf 10,000.
Requirements for obtaining a Category upgrade in Rwanda
- Applicants must be 18 years and above.
- Applicants must have passed the supplementary driving test and given a registration code.
How to apply for a Category Upgrade
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click “Application for Driver’s License” under Police
- Select “Application for Category Upgrade” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
How to Renew a Driver’s License in Rwanda
Depending on the License type you are having, you can renew it in Rwanda by following a set of instructions as seen below.
Renew a Driver’s Provisional Driving Licenses in Rwanda
If a provisional driving license has expired, you can apply for renewal. The processing time of this service is 21 days and a Rwf 5,000 fee applies.
Requirements to renew provisional driver’s license
- Applicants should have a national ID corresponding to the provisional driving license.
- Applicants must have an expired provisional driving license (PDL).
In cases of a lost provisional driver’s license, you are advised to first process a duplicate.
How to apply for a Provisional Drivers License Renew
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click “Renewal of Drivers License” under Police
- Select “Renewal of Provisional Driving License” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
Renew a Driver’s Definitive Driving Licenses in Rwanda
If a Definitive Driving License has expired, you can apply for renewal. The processing time of this service is 7 days and a Rwf 5,000 fee applies.
Requirements to renew Definitive Driving License
- Applicants should have a national ID
How to apply for renewal of a Definitive Driving License
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click “Renewal of Drivers License” under Police
- Select “Renewal of Definitive Driving License” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
How to apply for Duplicate Driver’s License in Rwanda
Depending on the License type you are having, and have lost, damaged, or misplaced, you can replace it in Rwanda by applying for a duplicate license. All you need to do is to follow the set of instructions as seen below.
Apply for Duplicate of Provisional Driving License
The processing time of this service is 21 days and a fee of Rwf 5,000 applies
Requirements for obtaining a duplicate provisional license
- Applicants must have a national ID.
- Applicants should have the previous license number.
- After paying for this service, the applicant submits an application letter to the Commissioner of Traffic Police. For more information, call 118/0788311468/0788311584/0788311553.
How to apply to renew a Provisional Duplicate Drivers License in Rwanda
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click “Duplicate Drivers License” under Police
- Select “Application for Duplicate of Provisional Driving License” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
Apply for Duplicate of Definitive Driving Licenses
The processing time of this service is 7 days and a fee of Rwf 5,000 applies
Requirements for obtaining a duplicate definitive driving license
- Applicants must have a national ID.
- Applicants should have the previous license number.
- After paying for this service, the applicant submits an application letter to the Commissioner of Traffic Police. For more information, call 118/0788311468/0788311584/0788311553.
How to apply for renewing a Definitive Driving License in Rwanda
- Visit www.irembo.gov.rw
- Click “Duplicate Drivers License” under Police
- Select “Application for Duplicate of Difinitive Driving License” from drop down menu
- Click “Apply”
- Enter both “Application Details”
- Click “Next” to proceed
- Verify that all entered information is correct.
- Type in your phone number and/or email address
- Check the verification box
- Click Submit.
Final Verdict
The next time you think about anything to do with a driver’s license in Rwanda, always refer to this article as it contains the required step-by-step tutorials right from undergoing the driver’s test, and provisional license to full. For anything that isn’t covered above, you can also check out the official support page for more information.
