Trademark registration in RwandaQuick answer
Trademarks in Rwanda are registered with the Office of the Registrar General, Rwanda Development Board (RDB); the official application for a trademark fee is RWF 30,000, and third parties can oppose within 60 days from publication in the Industrial Property Journal. A registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed. Rwanda can be designated through the Madrid System.
Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026 · see sources
- Office
- RDB
- Official fee
- RWF 30,000
- Madrid Protocol
- Member since 2013
- Opposition
- 60 days from publication in the Industrial Prop…
- Protection
- 10 years
- Multi-class filing
- Allowed
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The trademark office and official links
Trademarks in Rwanda are registered by the Office of the Registrar General, Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Official fees in Rwanda
| Official fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application for a trademark, collective mark, certification mark or trade name fee line 'Application for the certification trademark, Collective mark, trade name' | RWF 30,000 |
| Class fee: first class | RWF 5,000 |
| Class fee: each additional class | RWF 3,000 |
| Notice of opposition to a trademark application | RWF 20,000 |
| Renewal of a mark and its classes | RWF 80,000 |
| Late renewal surcharge | RWF 20,000 |
| Transmittal fee for an international application under the Madrid Protocol charged in USD, not RWF | RWF 150 |
Official office fees only (schedule as of 2026-10). Official fee schedule. Professional fees of a local firm are extra — compare fixed-fee packages.
How to register a trademark in Rwanda
- Optionally request an official availability search from the Office of the Registrar General before filing.
- Classify the goods and services under the Nice Classification.
- File the trademark application form with the Office of the Registrar General at RDB, with a specimen of the mark, the list of goods and services, proof of legal status and, for foreign companies filing through a Rwandan lawyer, a notarised power of attorney.
- Pay the application fee (RWF 30,000) plus RWF 5,000 for the first class and RWF 3,000 for each additional class.
- The Registrar General examines the application and publishes accepted applications in the monthly Industrial Property Journal; third parties then have 60 days to file a notice of opposition.
- If there is no successful opposition, the mark is registered and the registration is published.
- Renew the registration when the term ends (RWF 80,000, or with a RWF 20,000 surcharge if late).
Examination, publication and opposition
- Examination: The Office of the Registrar General examines applications for compliance with the law; RDB's FAQ gives a service delivery period of 3 months for trademarks.
- Publication: Monthly Industrial Property Journal, the official journal of the Office of the Registrar General at RDB (Law N° 055/2024, Art. 193)
- Opposition period: 60 days from publication in the Industrial Property Journal
- Typical timeline: About 3 months (RDB's stated service delivery period for trademarks).
Protection, renewal and use
- Term: 10 years, renewable.
- Late renewal: 6 months after expiry with a late fee, per a law-firm summary of Law N° 055/2024 (the previous law allowed longer); RDB charges a RWF 20,000 late renewal surcharge
- Use requirement: a registration can be challenged after 3 years of non-use.
Filing from abroad
- Local agent: Foreign companies not registered in Rwanda file through a lawyer registered in Rwanda acting under a notarised power of attorney (RDB requirements, 2020); Law 055/2024 has a provision on industrial property authorised agents (Art. 251) whose text could not be read.
- Power of attorney: A notarised power of attorney is required when a lawyer registered in Rwanda files on behalf of a foreign company not registered in Rwanda (RDB industrial property requirements, 2020). Practitioners report that since 1 February 2025 the Registry accepts only powers of attorney that follow the template in Ministerial Order No. 26 of 17 March 2016.
Firms on TrademarksHub that cover Rwanda can act as your local agent — see firms.
Madrid Protocol
Rwanda is a member of the Madrid System (in force since 2013). You can designate it in an international application filed through your home office, or file a national application directly. A local firm can advise which route is cheaper for your classes and timeline.
Trademark classes
Nice Classification classes are used; the fee schedule charges for the first class and each additional class. One application can cover several classes. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.
How Rwanda compares
- Opposition: 60 days from publication in the Industrial Property Journal — compare all countries
- Renewal: every 10 years; grace period 6 months after expiry with a late fee, per a law-firm summary of Law N° 055/2024 (the previous law allowed longer); RDB charges a RWF 20,000 late renewal surcharge — compare all countries
- Foreign owners: required — rules in every country
Guides: registering in any country · costs by country · Madrid
Good to know in Rwanda
- Rwanda has been a member of the Madrid Protocol since 17 August 2013, and RDB charges a USD 150 transmittal fee for international applications filed through it.
- Law N° 055/2024, in force since 31 July 2024, replaced Law No. 31/2009 on the protection of intellectual property.
- Trademark registration is handled by the Office of the Registrar General within the Rwanda Development Board, which also handles business registration.
- RDB provides separate official forms for trademark applications, searches, amendments, oppositions and removal for non-use.
- Under Law N° 055/2024 a registered mark is open to removal for non-use after three years, shorter than in many other countries.