Key facts
Key facts for business in Rwanda
The short answer
Company registry in Rwanda: Office of the Registrar General (ORG). Tax authority: Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA). Requirements, fees and timelines change – confirm them with the body concerned and a lawyer admitted in Rwanda before you act.
| Legal system | Mixed (civil law and common law) |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Kinyarwanda, English, French, Kiswahili |
| Currency | Rwandan franc (RWF) |
| Regional blocs | East African Community, COMESA |
| OHADA business law | No |
| AfCFTA (continental free trade) | Ratified (instrument deposited) |
| New York Convention (arbitral awards) | Party – in force since 2009 |
| ICSID Convention (investment disputes) | Contracting state – in force since 1979 |
| Apostille Convention (public documents) | Party – in force since 5 Jun 2024 |
Treaty status from the official depositary records (UNCITRAL, ICSID, HCCH), regional blocs from their own websites, AfCFTA from tralac – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Official bodies
Who does what in Rwanda
| What for | Official body | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Registering a company | Office of the Registrar General (ORG) | org.rdb.rw |
| Investment promotion | Rwanda Development Board (RDB) | rdb.rw |
| Tax | Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) | rra.gov.rw |
| Central bank, currency and foreign exchange | National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) | bnr.rw |
| Work and residence permits | Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE) | migration.gov.rw |
| Courts and justice | The Judiciary (Rwanda) | judiciary.gov.rw |
| Official business procedures portal | Business Procedures Rwanda (eRegulations Rwanda) | businessprocedures.rdb.rw |
Each link was opened and checked as the body’s own website in October 2026. Links to official sites only – never to agents or look-alike sites.
Getting started
What foreign businesses usually sort out first
- Choose how you will operate. A subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or working through a local partner or distributor. The options and their conditions are set by national company law.
- Register the business. Company registration: Office of the Registrar General (ORG).
- Register for tax. Tax registration: Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).
- Check investment rules and incentives. Some sectors have licensing, local-ownership or registration rules, and some investors qualify for incentives. Investment agency: Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
- Permits for foreign staff. Work and residence permits: Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE).
- Banking and foreign exchange. Rules on accounts, moving money in and out and paying dividends abroad come from the central bank (National Bank of Rwanda (BNR)) and the banks.
- Contracts and disputes. Agree the governing law, the courts or arbitration seat, and the language. Rwanda is a party to the New York Convention, so arbitral awards made in other member states can be recognized there under it.
A general checklist, not legal advice. What applies to you depends on your sector, structure and nationality.
Law firms
Law firms in Rwanda for business matters
Amilex Chambers
Kigali
CERTA Law
Kigali
ENSafrica Rwanda
Kigali
Equity Juris Chambers (DLA Piper Africa, Rwanda)
Kigali
K-Solutions & Partners
Kigali
Kigali Commercial Attorneys (KC Attorneys)
Kigali
M-Advocates & Partners
Kigali
MK Associated Advocates
Kigali
MRB Attorneys
Kigali
9 firms in Rwanda list corporate, tax, employment or other business work on their own websites. See every firm in Rwanda.
Checking a lawyer in Rwanda
Who admits lawyers: Rwanda Bar Association (RBA)
Professional title: Advocate (Avocat)
Contact the Rwanda Bar Association to confirm the advocate is registered; its online Advocates Directory sits in the RBA MIS system (rbamis.rwandabar.rw), which asks for a login.
We could not confirm every detail from official sources, so use this as a starting point.
Sources: rwandabar.rw. Checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Questions
Doing business in Rwanda: questions
Where do you register a company in Rwanda?
With Office of the Registrar General (ORG) (org.rdb.rw). Requirements change, so confirm them with the registry and a lawyer admitted in Rwanda.
Is Rwanda a party to the New York Convention?
Yes – in force since 2009 (UNCITRAL status table, checked October 2026).
Does Rwanda accept apostilles?
Yes – Rwanda is a party to the Apostille Convention, in force since 5 Jun 2024 (HCCH status table). A public document from another member state needs only an apostille from the issuing country.
What currency is used in Rwanda?
Rwandan franc (RWF).