The RDB Investment Certificate

At a glance

Key details for investors applying in 2026.^1,2,3

Source: Rwanda Development Board: One Stop Centre (April 2026); Rwanda Development Board: Obtain an Investment Certificate; Rwanda Development Board: One Stop Center Service Charter (March 2026)^1,2,3

The certificate is different from a company incorporation certificate. Applicants must provide company or enterprise registration evidence as part of the investment application. RDB describes the certificate as a way to register an investment with the Board and access benefits under the Investment Code and related programmes.^3,4

What the certificate is

RDB’s One Stop Centre handles investment registration and links investors with other services relevant to setting up or operating a project. It serves domestic and foreign investors, including people planning an investment and businesses already operating in Rwanda. RDB created the centre in 2008 and expanded it in 2023 to bring more permit and licensing processes together.³

Registration is project-focused: the application describes the proposed activity, investment plan, jobs and other project details. The certificate does not replace incorporation, a sector licence or an environmental approval where these are required. Those are separate requirements that may need to be in place or included in the application.^1,4

Who can apply

RDB’s current One Stop Centre information says that investors from Rwanda, the East African Community (EAC), COMESA and other countries can register projects. It states that there is no minimum capital for new investors. The project is evaluated against investment criteria, so registration is not simply a record of trading activity.¹

RDB lists seven criteria for evaluating a new investment project:¹

• Non-trading activity.
• Creation of quality jobs.
• Transfer of skills and knowledge.
• Use of local raw materials.
• Potential for export.
• Potential to create backward and forward linkages.
• Innovation and creativity.

Source: Rwanda Development Board: One Stop Centre (April 2026)¹

Use these points to explain the project clearly in the application and business plan. For example, describe the activity being established, planned roles and skills, local inputs, export prospects and links with suppliers or customers. They are evaluation criteria, not a guarantee that an application will be approved.¹

Prepare the documents

The RDB procedures portal lists the core documents and distinguishes between domestic companies, foreign companies and individual traders. The sector licence and environmental impact assessment certificate apply where relevant to the proposed activity or project.⁴

Prepare these items for the online application:^1,4

• An application letter requesting an investment certificate, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of RDB.
• A business plan or feasibility study.
• A domestic company registration certificate, foreign company registration certificate, or enterprise registration certificate for an individual trader, as applicable.
• A copy of the USD 500 payment receipt. Enter the receipt reference in the system and upload a scanned copy.
• An EIA certificate for projects that require environmental assessment.
• A sector licence where the relevant activity requires one.
• The investment certificate checklist listed in the procedures portal.

Source: Rwanda Development Board: One Stop Centre (April 2026); Rwanda Development Board: Investment Certificate^1,4

Treat the business plan as a substantial project document, not a short company profile. RDB’s portal calls for an executive summary, promoter details, project background and market analysis. It also requests a five-year investment plan, financing information, projected income and expenditure, balance sheets and cash flows, payback period, NPV and IRR, and an implementation schedule. Include a loan amortisation schedule if the project has a bank loan, and explain the assumptions used.⁴

Apply online

Complete the application through RDB’s One Stop Centre online system. The RDB page directs applicants to the online process, and the procedures portal says the application fee must be paid before the certificate application is submitted. Use the portal to upload the required documents and enter the payment receipt reference.^1,2,4

A practical sequence is:^1,4,5

• Obtain the relevant company or enterprise registration certificate.
• Check whether the activity needs a sector licence and whether the project needs an EIA. RDB’s investor-services guidance advises checking EIA requirements before project implementation.
• Prepare the application letter and business plan or feasibility study, including the requested five-year financial information.
• Pay the USD 500 fee to the RDB account at Bank of Kigali and retain the receipt.
• Submit the application and supporting files through the online One Stop Centre system.
• Monitor the application email. The portal says it generates a submission notification and that RDB may request further information during assessment.

Source: Rwanda Development Board: One Stop Centre (April 2026); Rwanda Development Board: Investment Certificate; Rwanda Development Board: Services to Investors^1,4,5

RDB’s procedures portal says that a refusal is notified in writing with reasons within two working days of receiving the application. If further information is needed during assessment, the applicant is notified by email. Submit complete, legible files and respond promptly to requests so that the assessment can proceed.⁴

How long it takes

Published timeframes differ slightly. RDB’s March 2026 service charter lists the investment certificate as issued in 24 hours. The Business Procedures portal gives a maximum of two working days once all required documents are complete; its detailed procedure lists a waiting time of one to two days. These are published service times, not a promise that an incomplete application will be processed within that period.^2,3,4

The application can take longer if RDB asks for additional information or the submission needs correction. The portal’s stated period begins once the required documents are complete. Make sure the business plan, receipt, registration evidence, applicable licence and EIA certificate are ready before submitting.^2,4

Incentives and facilitation

The certificate is a gateway to incentives available under the investment and tax laws, but it does not mean every registered investor qualifies for every tax measure. Each incentive has its own conditions, including investment thresholds, sector rules and project characteristics.^1,3

Examples of fiscal incentives described by RDB include:¹

Source: Rwanda Development Board: One Stop Centre (April 2026)¹

RDB also lists non-fiscal facilitation: support with visas and work permits, tax-related services, land acquisition and construction permits, water and electricity connections, and notary services. Registered investment projects are assigned a key account manager or focal person. These services help investors navigate processes; they do not remove separate licensing or permit requirements.^1,6

Practical points before applying

Start with the project’s legal and environmental requirements. The investment certificate application asks for company or enterprise registration evidence, while an EIA certificate is required for projects that need environmental assessment. RDB’s investor-services portal describes EIA as mandatory for major development projects and advises investors to check whether their projects must undergo assessment before implementation begins.^4,5

Keep the business plan consistent with the application letter. The letter should identify the enterprise, legal form, activity, planned investment, expected jobs, waste-management approach and the support requested from RDB. The plan should explain the project’s financing and timeline as well as its market and financial assumptions. Clear, matching information makes it easier to assess the project against the published criteria.^1,4

Before relying on a tax rate or exemption in a financial model, check the relevant conditions for the project with RDB and the tax authority. Incentives are conditional, and the certificate itself is not a substitute for meeting the rules that apply to the specific tax measure.¹