Membership and licensing

Register an architectural firm

A firm offering architectural services must be registered and must have a registered professional who carries responsibility for its work.

Registering a firm is separate from registering yourself. A licensed architect who forms a company does not thereby have a registered firm, and a registered firm whose responsible professional lets their licence lapse is not covered by that person’s past registration.

What you must supply

Responsible professionalThe CV of the owner or representative who is a qualifying professional member of the Institute, holding a leadership, decision-making or shareholding position.

Application letter and profileA letter applying for company registration and a full company profile or portfolio, including related projects already delivered.

Design team CVsCVs of the competent professionals and architects in the design or supervision team, including at least one local professional member.

Legal standingProof of company registration under a competent legal entity, the resolution of the management team, proof of good standing, and RSSB registration for local firms.

What it costs

Local and foreign firm registration is RWF 500,000 per year (foreign firms may be invoiced as RWF 500,000 or USD 500), payable once the secretariat confirms that your documents are complete. Foreign firms also pay a project registration fee from USD 1,500, scaled to the project. The fees page carries the full schedule.

Your entry on the register

Registered firms appear on the public register with their responsible professional named, alongside the disciplines and project types they work in. Keeping that entry accurate is the firm’s responsibility.

Tell the Registrar when your responsible professional changes

A firm whose named professional has left is a firm whose registration is in question.

FAQ

Our responsible professional has resigned. What now?

Tell the Registrar immediately and name a replacement.

We are a branch of a foreign practice.

Use the foreign firm route, and check whether project registration is more appropriate for a single commission.

Responsible professional changed? Tell the Registrar before your next renewal, not at it.