Rwanda e-Single Window
To use the Rwanda eSW system, click "Download Now" below for the standard 3 GB client, which suits almost every machine - choose RRA if you are on the RRA network, Internet otherwise. If your computer has little memory, or you work on very large declarations, pick a different size from the three options below.
Download Now - RRA (3 GB) Download Now - Internet (3 GB)Choose the JNLP client that fits your computer
All three clients are the same fast parallel launcher and download exactly the same application. They differ only in how much memory the client is allowed to use.
Choose a size your computer can actually spare. If the Rwanda eSW login screen does not appear at all, the client asked for more memory than your computer had free — download the next size down and try again.
Prepare a declaration in Excel
For Bulk Cargo Declaration, you can prepare a Customs declaration in Excel and import it into the eSW client instead of typing every item by hand. The workbook comes from the client itself — open any declaration and use Export XLS. You get a workbook already laid out for the SAD, which you fill in, and then bring back with Import XLS.
This feature is available to you now. Because the workbook is produced by the system, it always matches the version of the declaration you are working on — there is no separate template to download, and nothing to keep in step by hand.
1. Export
In the eSW client, open a declaration and choose Export XLS. Six sheets come out: Instructions, General Segment, Items, Containers and Codes.
2. Fill in
Complete the General Segment, Items and, if your goods travel in containers, Containers. Keep the file as .xlsx.
3. Import
Open a new declaration and choose Import XLS. Your items are loaded in one step instead of being keyed one by one.
Save your work as .xlsx — the format Excel already uses by default. It is the only format the system accepts, and the only one that can carry the drop-down code lists and the on-sheet checks that catch most mistakes before you ever upload. Import the file exactly as Excel saved it; there is nothing to convert.
The old Excel 97-2003 (.xls) format is no longer accepted. If you have an older workbook, open it and use File → Save As → Excel Workbook (*.xlsx).
Only ever use a workbook you exported from the eSW client yourself. These workbooks contain no macros, and .xlsx cannot carry any — the system rejects any file that does. If a “template” you were sent asks you to enable macros, it did not come from RRA.
Customs Mobile Declaration
RRA has developed a new mobile friendly web application which can be used to declare goods to Rwanda Customs, while crossing a border.
This mobile web application will facilitate speedy clearance since goods can be declared in advance of arrival at a border. For goods to qualify for clearance via this application, they should be valued at less than Rwandan Francs (RWF) 500,000.
To be able to use this application, you need to register your
credentials at the nearest Customs Office. Your credentials will be
used to notify you of actions that have taken place on your declaration. For instance, if
payment of Customs duties and taxes is required, the payment details will be sent instantly
via SMS to your mobile number. The mobile number used will be the one that you provided to
Customs during the registration process.
FAQs
Companies involved in international trade have regularly to prepare and submit some information and documents to government authorities to comply with import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements. the importers or their brokers moving from one agency to another and most of the time, once one step is completed, the information is not received not time. The implementation of Electronic Single Window is expected to solve this problem whereby trade related information and/or documents required will only be submitted once at a single entry point. The system will allow traders to lodge information with a single web-based portal to fulfil all import or export related regulatory requirements.
ESW project aims to facilitate international trade by expediting and
simplifying information flows between trade and government institutions
dealing with all kind of controls required to imported goods. However
the
following are specific objectives of the project:
- Simplify cross border trade to enhance the trade competitiveness through improvements to trade logistics systems and processes.
- Enhance information exchange and sharing amongst customs, stakeholders and importers.
- Provide real time monitoring of consignment by importing community and government institutions.
- Computerize international trade regulatory requirements.
- Reduce cost of doing business.
- Strengthening transparency and reduction of corruption.
This will enhance the availability and handling of information, expedite
and
simplify information flows between trade and government and can result
in a
greater harmonization and sharing of the relevant data across
governmental
systems, bringing meaningful gains to all parties involved in
cross-border
trade.
The Single Window will be therefore a practical application of trade
facilitation concepts meant to reduce non-tariff trade barriers and
delivers
immediate benefits to all members of the trading community and
government as
well. For Governments; ESW will improve integrity, transperance, levels
of
security and increased revenue yields with enhanced trader compliance.
Trading communities will benefit from transparent and predictable
interpretation and application of rules, receiving real time information
and
better deployment of human and financial resources, resulting in
appreciable
gains in productivity and competitiveness.
The Rwanda eSW requires Java (JRE) 1.8, and we recommended Java (JRE) 1.8u201 to be installed. Make sure to uninstall older Java versions in order to use eSW without problems.
Use the following link to successfully uninstall Java from your computer:
https://www.java.com/en/download/help/uninstall_java.xml
User the JRE download links below to download the appropriate Java depending
on the Operating System and the CPU architecture. Use the following link to
guide you on how to install Java successfully:
https://java.com/en/download/help/windows_offline_download.xml
Use the following link to successfully add the Rwanda eSW to the Java
Exception List
https://www.java.com/en/download/faq/exception_sitelist.xml
Please
add these links to the list:
- https://sw.gov.rw
- https://sw.gov.rw/swapp
- https://resw.rra.gov.rw
- https://resw.rra.gov.rw/swapp
Use the JNLP client links above. There are three sizes — 2 GB, 3 GB and 5 GB — and they differ only in how much memory the client may use. The application itself is identical in all three. Take 3 GB unless your computer is short of memory (2 GB) or you routinely work on declarations with hundreds of items (5 GB).
Yes, and the workbook comes from the client itself. Open a declaration and choose Export XLS, fill in the General Segment, Items and (if your goods travel in containers) Containers sheets, then open a new declaration in the client and use Import XLS. See preparing a declaration in Excel.
Save the workbook as .xlsx and import it exactly as Excel wrote it. The old Excel 97-2003 (.xls) format is not accepted — if you have one, open it and use File → Save As → Excel Workbook (*.xlsx). Do not rename a file's extension by hand to change its format: the system reads the file's real contents, not its name, and will refuse a mislabelled one.
The Instructions sheet inside the workbook explains every column, and the Codes sheet lists the country, package and procedure codes you are allowed to use. Codes must be entered as codes, not names.