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Rwanda: RDB company register and beneficial ownership

Last checked: 20 October 2026 · Countries

Companies in Rwanda are registered by the Office of the Registrar General at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), through its Online Business Registration portal 1. Law N° 007/2021 governing companies has articles on inspection of the registers kept by the Registrar General and on fees 6. A natural person holding at least 25% of shares or voting rights is a beneficial owner 4. The law gives competent authorities access to the central register of beneficial owners 3.
Registry
Office of the Registrar General, Rwanda Development Board 1
Company registration portal
urs.rdb.rw 1
Beneficial owner portal
bo.rdb.rw 1
Registration time
Within 6 hours if the application meets requirements 1
Beneficial owner threshold
At least 25% of shares or voting rights 4
Changes to beneficial owners
Report within 14 days 3,5

Where company records are kept

The Office of the Registrar General at RDB registers and de-registers companies and individual enterprises 1. Its responsibilities include publicizing all information relating to business registration and issuing certificates of non-bankruptcy to traders and companies 2.

RDB lists three online portals for this work: Online Business Registration at urs.rdb.rw, Online Beneficial Owners Registration at bo.rdb.rw, and Online Mortgage Registration 1. RDB says business registration is delivered within 6 hours if the application meets requirements 1.

Law N° 007/2021 of 5 February 2021 governing companies sets the rules for the register. Article 275 covers the register of companies. Article 278 covers inspection of registers and indices of registered companies kept by the Registrar General. Article 279 covers fees payable for actions performed by the Registrar General 6.

Search costs

The RDB pages reviewed for this guide do not publish an amount for a company search or an extract. The FAQ page states no fees 2. The English text of Article 279 of the companies law was not available in the gazette copy reviewed 6. Check the cost with RDB before you apply.

The RDB client service charter lists notary fees for certified copies. It gives RWF 5,000 per copy for notarizing a contract and RWF 1,500 per copy for notarizing a shareholders resolution, a board resolution or a power of attorney, each in 30 minutes 7. The charter is undated.

Who counts as a beneficial owner

Law N° 019/2023 of 30 March 2023 amended the companies law and defines a beneficial owner as the natural person who in the end owns or controls a legal entity or arrangement 3. A person qualifies through shares or voting rights at the threshold, the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or significant influence or control 3.

Instructions of the Registrar General N° 001/2023/RG of 31 March 2023 set the threshold as at least 25% of the shares or at least 25% of the voting rights, held directly or indirectly 4. The instructions took effect on publication in the Official Gazette 4. If no person meets the tests, the person in a senior managerial position is identified as the beneficial owner 3.

Filing and access rules

The amending law reviewed contains no provision giving the public access to the central register 3. The Registrar General's guidelines of October 2023 say declarations are made online through a portal created by RDB 5.

  • The person applying to incorporate a company submits beneficial owner information to the Registrar General 3.
  • The company secretary keeps an internal register of beneficial owners at the registered office and files a copy with the Registrar General 3.
  • Updates go to the Registrar General within 14 days of any change 3,5.
  • A nominee shareholder or nominee director must disclose who nominated them and the person on whose behalf they act 3.
  • RDB says beneficial owner information is given at registration, when ownership changes, and as a confirmation at the end of every accounting year 8.
  • The Registrar General keeps a central register of beneficial owners and verifies the information. Competent authorities have access to it 3.

Common questions

Where do I register or look up a company in Rwanda?

RDB lists Online Business Registration at urs.rdb.rw as its company registration portal 1.

What is the beneficial ownership threshold in Rwanda?

At least 25% of the shares or at least 25% of the voting rights, held directly or indirectly 4.

Is Rwanda's beneficial ownership register public?

The amending law gives access to competent authorities and contains no provision for public access 3.

How fast must changes in beneficial owners be reported?

Within 14 days of the change, to the Registrar General 3,5.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.

Sources

  1. Rwanda Development Board: Office of the Registrar General home page (read 20 October 2026)
  2. Rwanda Development Board: Office of the Registrar General FAQs (no date shown)
  3. Official Gazette: Law N° 019/2023 of 30/03/2023 amending Law N° 007/2021 governing companies (30 March 2023)
  4. Official Gazette: Instructions of the Registrar General N° 001/2023/RG determining the threshold for identification of the beneficial owner (31 March 2023)
  5. Registrar General: Guidelines for the identification of beneficial owners of legal persons and arrangements (October 2023)
  6. Official Gazette: Law N° 007/2021 of 05/02/2021 governing companies (8 February 2021)
  7. Rwanda Development Board: Client Service Charter (undated, uploaded September 2020)
  8. Rwanda Development Board: Beneficial Ownership Requirements and Forms (no date shown)

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