Rwanda–Oman visa waiver for diplomats, service and special passports; no start date yet

Oman and Rwanda have agreed to waive visa requirements for each other's holders of diplomatic, service and special passports. The exemption is one of two agreements signed at Al Hosn Palace in Salalah on 8 September 2026, during the official visit of Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Oman.

Key facts

• Signing date and place: 8 September 2026, Al Hosn Palace, Salalah
• Mutual visa exemption for diplomatic, service and special passport holders
• Second agreement covers the removal of double taxation
• Six memoranda of understanding were signed alongside the two agreements
• No start date for the visa exemption has been announced

What is changing?

The first of the two agreements provides for mutual visa exemption between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Rwanda. The announcement described the exemption as applying to holders of diplomatic, service and special passports.

The second agreement covers the removal of double taxation. No details of its provisions were given.

Who is affected?

The visa exemption, as announced, is aimed at travellers holding diplomatic, service or special passports of either country. The statement made no mention of ordinary passport holders or tourists, and no change to their entry rules was reported.

When do the new rules start?

No entry-into-force date for the visa exemption has been announced. The source gives only the signing date of 8 September 2026 and does not state when the exemption takes effect, how long approved stays may last, or any application procedure.

What else was signed?

The six memoranda of understanding cover agriculture, logistics, land and dry port development, supply chain services, investment promotion, labour, strategic partnership and investment activation.

For Oman, the documents were signed by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi; Finance Minister Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi; Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri; and Ali bin Talib Al Maawali, Chief Commercial Officer at Oman Aviation Investment.

For Rwanda, they were signed by Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe; Finance and Economic Planning Minister Yusuf Murangwa; Trade and Industry Minister Antoine Kajangwe; Solange Uwituze, Minister of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources; and Juliana Muganza, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board.

What this means for travellers

Travellers holding diplomatic, service or special passports issued by Oman or Rwanda are the group named in the visa exemption agreement. Those planning travel on those documents should confirm whether the exemption is already in force before departure, since no implementation date has been published.

No further steps have been announced. The source gives no timeline for when the signed agreements and memoranda will be implemented.