Rwanda · Buy a house or apartment

Buying a house or apartment in Rwanda from abroad

Short answer

Check the owner and e-title as you would for land, then check the house was built legally: Kigali buildings are inspected before, during and after construction, before an occupancy permit is issued. The city has warned about fake construction permits, so confirm the permit with the city and have an engineer check the structure.

Researched by Motherland from 4 sources · last checked 11 Nov 2026

General information, not legal advice.

Key facts

Each value links to its source and the date we checked it.

Fact	Value	Source · as of
Who certifies transfers	Sector land notaries or Minister-authorised private notaries (182 in June 2026)	Sources · as of 11 Nov 2026R13 Over 100 private notaries cleared for land transfer servicesThe New Times · checked 11 Nov 2026R14 Justice ministry warns of unaccredited private notariesThe New Times · checked 11 Nov 2026All sources
Building inspections	Inspected before, during and after construction, before an occupancy permit	Sources · as of 11 Nov 2026R16 Building inspectionCity of Kigali · checked 11 Nov 2026All sources

Buying a house or apartment

Check the owner and e-title as you would for land, then check the house was built legally: Kigali buildings are inspected before, during and after construction, before an occupancy permit is issued. Sources · as of 11 Nov 2026R16 Building inspectionCity of Kigali · checked 11 Nov 2026R17 Real estate scams: nine tips for safe home buyingThe New Times · checked 11 Nov 2026All sources

The city has warned about fake construction permits, so confirm the permit with the city and have an engineer check the structure.

Notaries: who can certify your transfer

Land transfers are certified by sector land notaries or by private notaries authorised by the Minister of Justice. Rwanda had 182 private land notaries in June 2026, with 122 more applicants provisionally cleared. Sources · as of 11 Nov 2026R13 Over 100 private notaries cleared for land transfer servicesThe New Times · checked 11 Nov 2026R14 Justice ministry warns of unaccredited private notariesThe New Times · checked 11 Nov 2026All sources

Check a private notary's accreditation on the Ministry of Justice list and ask for their service card.

Questions

Who can notarise my land or house transfer?

A sector land notary or a private notary authorised by the Minister of Justice. Check a private notary's accreditation on the Ministry of Justice list.

Sources

Checked 11 Nov 2026.

R13 Over 100 private notaries cleared for land transfer services · The New Times · checked 11 Nov 2026
R14 Justice ministry warns of unaccredited private notaries · The New Times · checked 11 Nov 2026
R16 Building inspection · City of Kigali · checked 11 Nov 2026
R17 Real estate scams: nine tips for safe home buying · The New Times · checked 11 Nov 2026

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