If you are a Rwandan founder planning to start a company in Korea, this page lists the official contacts in Rwanda and the trade and tax framework between the two countries. Korea and Rwanda have a double tax treaty in force since 2024. The last section explains the practical path to a startup visa and support programs in Korea.
Key contacts
| Contact | Official website |
|---|---|
| Korean mission: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Rwanda (Kigali) | https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/rw-en/index.do (English version); Korean version: https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/rw-ko/index.do |
The Korean embassy listed above handles visa applications and consular questions for people in Rwanda. We could not confirm a KOTRA Korea Business Center in Rwanda. For trade and investment questions, the nearest KOTRA offices in the region are in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
Trade and tax
Trade agreements
Korea’s official FTA portal does not list a trade agreement between Korea and Rwanda, either in force or under negotiation. Source: Korea FTA portal – status of Korea’s FTAs.
Double tax treaty
A Korea–Rwanda double tax treaty is in force: it was signed on 13 September 2023 and entered into force on 19 December 2024. The treaty helps prevent the same income, such as salaries, dividends or royalties, from being taxed twice. Source: Korean government list of tax treaties (조세조약 체결 현황), Public Data Portal, as of 20 July 2026.
Your path to starting a business in Korea
- Startup visa (D-8-4) and OASIS: the usual route for founders from Rwanda is the startup visa (D-8-4). It requires a company set up in Korea and a minimum score in the OASIS points system (Overall Assistance for Startup Immigration System), which you build through OASIS courses, IP applications or startup competition awards. See our D-8-4 startup visa and OASIS guide.
- K-Startup Grand Challenge: this government accelerator program is open to founders from any country and offers funding, office space and visa support to selected teams. Africa has become one of its largest applicant regions. Read the K-Startup Grand Challenge guide.
- Office space and global startup centers: several public centers in Seoul and other cities offer free or low-cost desks to foreign founders, and some of these spaces can also serve as your business address. See free office space for foreign founders in Korea.
- Government support programs: an overview of the main programs open to foreigners, from mentoring to grants, is in our guide to Korean government startup programs for foreign founders.
- Studying in Korea first: if you are, or plan to be, an international student, you can move from a D-2 student visa to the D-8-4 startup visa. See the international student startup guide (D-2 to D-8-4).
- Check visa details with official offices: before you apply, confirm the current document list with the Korean embassy in Kigali listed above, as requirements can change.
Sources
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Rwanda (Kigali) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Rwanda (Kigali) (Korean version)
- Korea FTA portal – status of Korea’s FTAs (발효/서명/협상 현황)
- Korean government list of tax treaties (재정경제부 조세조약 체결 현황), Public Data Portal, as of 20 July 2026
Latest updates for founders from Rwanda
No country-specific updates yet. New programs for founders from Rwanda will appear here automatically. Meanwhile, start with our visa guides and government programs.