The Republic of Burundi is a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of East Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Burundi is a part of the Albertine Rift, the western extension of the East African Rift. The country lies on a rolling plateau in the center of Africa.

The source of the Nile River is in Bururi province, and is linked from Lake Victoria to its headwaters via the Ruvyironza River, Lake Victoria is also an important water source, which serves as a fork to the Kagera River, while Lake Tanganyika is located in much of Burundi’s southwestern corner.

Kirundi and French are the official languages, and Kiswahili and English are widely spoken. Burundi is a low-income economy where 80% of the population are employed in the agricultural sector. You can register a limited company, partnership, public limited company, branch company and a representative office in Burundi.

Types of entities to register in Burundi

In Burundi, types of companies that can be registered are: Sole Owner Company (SU), Partnership with Limited Liability (SPRL), Limited Company (SA), and Limited Liability Cooperative (Cooperative).

Sole Owner (SU)

The following is necessary:

  • Physical presence of the Company Sole shareholder.
  • 2 passport size photographs.
  • ID copy (for Nationals) / 1 Passport copy (For Foreigners).
  • Registration Fees
  • Su forms to fill.
  • Mobile number and email address

 

Partnership with Limited Liability (SPRL)

  • Minimum 2 Shareholders
  • Physical presence of the Company Sole shareholder.
  • 2 passport size photographs.
  • ID copy (for Nationals) / 1 Passport copy (For Foreigners).
  • Registration Fees
  • Su forms to fill.
  • Mobile number and email address

Limited Company (SA)

Minimum 3 Shareholders

  • The physical presence of all shareholders or a proxy from each one of them appointing you as their representative (or any other shareholder).
  • Id copy (for Nationals) / 1 Passport copy (For Foreigners) of all the shareholders (in case one can’t, a certified true copy to the original of the ID/ passport is a must including a notarized proxy).
  • Registration Fees
  • Registration Forms to fill.

Limited Liability Cooperative

  • The presence of Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
  • ID copy (for Nationals) / 1 Passport copy (For Foreigners) (in case one can’t, a certified true copy to the original of the ID/ passport is a must including a notarized proxy).
  • Notarized minutes that appointed him along with the list of the cooperative members.

 

Requirements to register a Burundian company

The director and shareholders can be of any nationality (at least 2 persons);

You must submit documents with translations into French certified by a notary;

You must publish a short article about the registered company in a local business newspaper.

The registration process includes the following steps:

  • Submit the notarized statutes of the legal entity.
  • Submit the Trade Registry Certificate of the legal entity.
  • Submit minutes of the general meeting of Shareholder authorizing the registration of the company.
  • Physical presence of the representative of the legal person.
  • Submit 2 copies of the original ID of the representative of the legal person.
  • Payment of 40 000 BIF for the Trade Registry Certificate.

Requirements to register a branch of a company in Burundi

  • Submit the Parent’s company notarized statutes;
  • Submit the Parent’s company Trade Registry Certificate;
  • Minutes of the shareholders’ Assembly authorizing the opening of the branch in Burundi and appointing the representative of the parent company during the opening of the branch;
  • Physical Presence of the representative of the parent company;
  • 1 original and copy of the ID of the representative;
  • Payment of registration fee for the Trade Registry Certificate;
  • If the shareholder is minor, he/she is represented by his/her legal guardian, under the condition that the legal guardian submits the birth certificate of the minor and his/her ID. 

Contact OCL business associates for company registration and formation in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and DRC Congo