Intellectual property / Register a trade mark
Summary of the procedure
List of steps
A trademark is a sign, or combination of signs, capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings.Trademark registration process begins with an optional search to assess availability of the mark, followed by filing of an application. The application undergoes a formal and substantive examination, and where it does not meet requirements, a provisional refusal is issued with a 30-day period for the applicant to respond. If accepted, the mark is published for opposition purposes. In the absence of opposition or where disputes are resolved in favor of the applicant, the trademark is registered for a renewable term of 10 years.
Where to go?
What you will get
Required documents
How much?
How long ?
| min. | max. | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time (sum): | 31d | 91d |
| of which: | ||
| Waiting time in queue (sum): | 0mn | 35mn |
| Attention at counter: | 25mn | 50mn |
| Waiting time until next step (sum): | 30d | 90d |
Legal justification?
Ministerial Order no 001/MINICOM/26 of 12/10/2026 relating to industrial property,
( Article icle 39 and Annex 2 )
Law on the protection of intellectual property N° 055/2024 of 20/06/2024
( articles 142, 143, 144, 147, 148 )
RDB Public Notice - 17 March 2020
Detailed steps
Costs( see details ) |
Timeframe ( see details ) |
||
|
RWF
5000
|
|
Contact details
Entity in charge
Bank of Kigali
Tel: +250 788 143 000
Fax: 4455 (Local Call Center)
Email: bk@bk.rw
Website: http://www.bk.rw
Directions: Google maps
Unit in charge
Bank of Kigali (RDB branch)
| Mon: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Tue: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Wed: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Thu: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Fri: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Sat: | closed |
| Sun: | closed |
Expected results
Requirements
Cost RWF 5,000
|
RWF
5,000
trade mark search fee
|
Time frame
Legal justification
Article icle39andAnnex2
Additional information
The prescribed fee can also be paid to RDB account 00040-00281460-96 (RWF) held at Bank of Kigali.Foreign companies are required to go through a local law firm (IP agents) to process payment on their behalf.
Who certified this information ?
Timeframe ( see details ) |
||
|
Contact details
Entity in charge
Rwanda Development Board
Tel: 1415 / +250 788 321 555
Email: info@rdb.rw, support@rdb.rw
Website: https://www.rdb.rw
Directions: Google maps
Unit in charge
Intellectual Property Division
| Mon: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Tue: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Wed: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Thu: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Fri: | 09:00 - 15:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Sat: | closed |
| Sun: | closed |
Person in charge
Intellectual property officer - RDB
Expected results
Requirements
Addressed to the registrar general. This letter is not a mandatory requirement
Either for the logo or name
specify which class(es) is / are applied for ; consider subclasses
Time frame
Legal justification
Additional information
Please ensure that all submitted materials are legible.The applicant will be notified of the outcome by phone or email within the next 3 working days following the submission of the request for trade mark search.When the trade mark is available, the applicant will proceed to the next steps. In case the trade mark is not available, the applicant will need to revise as per the recommendations in the search result notice.
Who certified this information ?
Costs( see details ) |
Timeframe ( see details ) |
||
|
RWF
38000
|
|
Contact details
Entity in charge
Bank of Kigali
Tel: +250 788 143 000
Fax: 4455 (Local Call Center)
Email: bk@bk.rw
Website: http://www.bk.rw
Directions: Google maps
Unit in charge
Bank of Kigali (RDB branch)
| Mon: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Tue: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Wed: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Thu: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Fri: | 09:00 - 18:00 |
| Sat: | closed |
| Sun: | closed |
Expected results
Cost RWF 35,000
|
RWF
35,000
For filling with class 1
|
|
| For additional class | |
|
or
RWF
3,000
For each additional class
|
Time frame
Legal justification
Article icle39andAnnex2
Additional information
The prescribed fee can also be paid to RDB account 00040-00281460-96 (RWF) held at Bank of Kigali. Foreign companies must go through a local law firm (IP agents) to process payment on their behalf.
Who certified this information ?
Timeframe ( see details ) |
Wait until next step |
||||
|
|
Contact details
Entity in charge
Rwanda Development Board
Tel: 1415 / +250 788 321 555
Email: info@rdb.rw, support@rdb.rw
Website: https://www.rdb.rw
Directions: Google maps
Unit in charge
Intellectual Property Division
| Mon: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Tue: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Wed: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Thu: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Fri: | 09:00 - 15:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Sat: | closed |
| Sun: | closed |
Person in charge
Intellectual property officer - RDB
Expected results
Requirements
addressed to the registrar general
duly filled and signed by the company representative
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or certificate of incorporation from the country of origin if the company is foreign in which case the copy must be notarized
_2.jpg)
for the managing director if the entity is a company
For nice classification follow subclasses
of the authorized representative (passport or national ID for a rwandan)
Time frame
Legal justification
articles 142, 143, 144
Additional information
Applicants who do not reside in Rwanda must be represented by an authorized industrial property agent in Rwanda. The registration officer will inform the client by telephone and/or email when the registration certificate is ready. Additional information may be requested in the meantime.
Who certified this information ?
Timeframe ( see details ) |
||
|
Contact details
Entity in charge
Rwanda Development Board
Tel: 1415 / +250 788 321 555
Email: info@rdb.rw, support@rdb.rw
Website: https://www.rdb.rw
Directions: Google maps
Unit in charge
Intellectual Property Division
| Mon: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Tue: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Wed: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Thu: | 09:00 - 17:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Fri: | 09:00 - 15:00, 00:00 - 00:00 |
| Sat: | closed |
| Sun: | closed |
Person in charge
Intellectual property officer - RDB
Expected results
Requirements
of the applicant (passport or national ID)
of the authorized representative (passport or national ID)
notarized
Time frame
Legal justification
articles 147, 148
Additional information
The validity of the registration of a trade mark is 10 years from the filing date of the application for registration. The applicant may request renewal for an additional 10 years by letter to the Registrar General and pay a fee of RWF 80,000. In case of delay, a surcharge of RWF 20,000 is applicable. A 6 months grace period is given before the surcharge is applied.