Start a business in Rwanda

Choose your structure. Rwanda supports Private Limited Companies (Ltd), Public Limited Companies, Partnerships, and Branch Offices of foreign companies. An Ltd is the most common for tech startups.

Register your company through the Rwanda Development Board portal at org.rdb.rw. Company registration is completely free and can be done in as little as 6 hours. Foreign founders can register remotely with a registered Rwandan agent.

You will need: valid IDs for all shareholders and directors, a Rwandan physical address (can be a registered agent), and a chosen company name. No minimum share capital required.

Obtain your Tax Identification Number (TIN) and register with the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) at rra.gov.rw. This is required to open a bank account and issue official invoices.

Register for VAT with RRA if your annual turnover exceeds RWF 20 million (approximately $15,000 USD).

Open a business bank account at Bank of Kigali or I&M Bank Rwanda. You will need your incorporation certificate, TIN, and valid IDs for directors. Physical visit required.

Set up mobile money payments via MTN MoMo, which has over 80% adoption among Rwandan adults. Integrate the MTN MoMo API for digital products or set up a business MoMo account for collections.

Use Irembo for any additional government licences, permits, or services your business requires. Most Rwandan government services are now digital and accessible on Irembo.

For paying a multi-country team, Workpay covers Rwandan payroll compliance including RSSB (Rwanda Social Security Board) contributions.