Business Procedures in Rwanda

Business registration

The Office of the Registrar General has the responsibility to initiate, implement and follow up the activities relating to registering and striking from the register: businesses, secured transactions and intellectual property rights.

The business registration service combines all registration requirements under one roof: with one application you register your business and obtain a company code that also serves as tax identification number (TIN) by Rwanda Revenue Authority and social security number by Rwanda Social Security Board.

There is no minimum share capital required for company incorporation in Rwanda.

Register a company

The Companies Act recognizes four types of companies: company limited by share, company limited by guarantee, company limited by both shares and guarantee, unlimited company.

The four types of companies follow the same online registration procedure (although requirements vary).
- Register a domestic company online

Register as an enterprise (individual trader)

Enterprise (or Individual trader) is the simplest way to start and conduct business in Rwanda. It is also the easiest business type to maintain. Enterprise (or Individual trader) refer to a "business whose income is less than ten thousand Rwandan francs (10.000 Rwf) per day".
- Register as an enterprise (individual trader) online

Register a foreign company

A foreign company is a company which is registered in a foreign country and which is carrying on business in Rwanda by:
- Establishing a share transfer office or a share registration office in Rwanda
- Administering, managing or dealing with property in Rwanda as an agent, personal representative or trustee, whether through its employees or an agent or in any other manner.
A foreign company shall be registered by the Registrar General. Where it is established that its name may lead to confusion with regard to existing registered companies inside the country, the office of the Registrar General shall require the name to be changed.
- Register a foreign company online