Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda is a member of the east Africa community(EAC) comprising of the seven member’s states.
Rwanda’s stunning scenery and warm, friendly people offer unique experiences in one of the most remarkable countries in the world. It is blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, montane rainforest and sweeping plains.
Rwanda is the second business friendly country for easy of doing business in Africa. It’s the second growing economy in Africa, most improved nation in human development in the world and has a young growing population.
Rwanda development board provides trusted market intelligence, practical advice and business tools to help Rwanda companies expand in global markets.
Rwanda and Kenya have the fewest procedures and fastest processes in the whole of East Africa and possibly the world to register and start a business. All application for company registration is done online.
Documents required for Company Registration in Rwanda
- Copy of ID/Passport
- Complete two copies of Memorandum of Association
- Passport photo for the director’s shareholders
- Email address, mobile number, and p.o box number
Opening a branch/ Foreign Company in Rwanda requirements
- Power of attorney to present the company in Rwanda. (Notarised)
- A duly authenticated copy of the memorandum Articles of Association. (Notarised)
- Certificate of Registration/Incorporation issued by the registration authority in the country of incorporation. (Notarised)
- Notarised resolution from the authorized agency authorizing to open a branch.
- Passport copies of the shareholders/directors.
- List of directors residing in Rwanda (atleast One)
Register a domestic/local in rwanda
A domestic company is a company incorporated in Rwanda. It may take the form of: company limited by shares, company limited by guarantee, company limited by both shares and guarantee or unlimited company. The four types of domestic company follow the same online registration procedure (although requirements may vary). The company code on the incorporation certificate also serves as tax identification number (TIN) and social security number.
Companies do not have to register for VAT while their turnover is still not exceeding Rwf 20 million for any period of 12 month or Rwf 5 million in 3 consecutive months in the preceding quarter. Once one of these two thresholds is exceeded, registration must be done within the next 7 days from the end of that year or quarter.
Small and medium enterprises, those that fulfil at least two of the three following conditions: net capital investment up to Rwf 70 million, annual turnover up to Rwf 50 million, and up to 100 employees; are exempted from trading licence tax during the first 2 years following their establishment. They will only have to register at District level after the exemption period expires and begin paying trading licence tax latest by January 31st, annually starting from the 3rd year following the incorporation date.
Companies are required to register for VAT if their turnover is above Rwf 20 million for any period of 12 month or Rwf 5 million in 3 consecutive months in the preceding quarter.
Small and medium enterprises, those that fulfil at least two of the three following conditions: net capital investment up to Rwf 70 million, annual turnover up to Rwf 50 million, and up to 100 employees; are exempted from trading licence tax during the first 2 years following their establishment. They will only have to register at District level after the exemption period expires and begin paying trading licence tax latest by January 31st, annually starting from the 3rd year following the incorporation date.
Large companies, those that fulfil at least two of the three following conditions: net capital investment above Rwf 70 million, annual turnover above Rwf 50 million, and above 100 employees; must register at sector level at the earliest in order to pay for trading licence tax no later than January 31st each year
Register a branch of a foreign company in Rwanda
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.
The company code on the incorporation certificate also serves as tax identification number (TIN) and social security number.
Companies do not have to register for VAT while their turnover is still not exceeding Rwf 20 million for any period of 12 month or Rwf 5 million in 3 consecutive months in the preceding quarter. Once one of these two thresholds is exceeded, registration must be done within the next 7 days from the end of that year or quarter.
Small and medium enterprises, those that fulfil at least two of the three following conditions: net capital investment up to Rwf 70 million, annual turnover up to Rwf 50 million, and up to 100 employees; are exempted from trading licence tax during the first 2 years following their establishment. They will only have to register at District level after the exemption period expires and begin paying trading licence tax latest by January 31st, annually starting from the third year following the incorporation date.
Small and medium enterprises, those that fulfil at least two of the three following conditions: net capital investment up to Rwf 70 million, annual turnover up to Rwf 50 million, and up to 100 employees; are exempted from trading licence tax during the first 2 years following their establishment. They will only have to register at District level after the exemption period expires and begin paying trading licence tax latest by January 31st, annually starting from the third year following the incorporation date.
Large companies, those that fulfil at least two of the three following conditions: net capital investment above Rwf 70 million, annual turnover above Rwf 50 million, and above 100 employees; must register at sector level at the earliest in order to pay for trading licence tax no later than January 31st each year.
Contact ocl business associates for business consulting, company registration and formation, trademark registration, accounting, tax advisory& planning, Audit & finance, HR outsourcing and corporate restructuring in rwanda.