Are You an Architect, Engineer, or Quantity Surveyor? Here’s the new law governing your profession starting September 2025
Rwanda’s construction industry is rapidly professionalizing, and Law n° 023/2025 marks one of the most significant reforms to date. This law sets out a comprehensive framework for architects, engineers, and quantity surveyors from how they register, to how they practice, and what happens if they breach professional or ethical standards.
Here’s the key highlights that matter most to professionals, developers, and the public.:
1. Establishment of the Rwanda Institute of Professional Quantity Surveyors
A major milestone introduced by this law is the creation of the Rwanda Institute of Professional Quantity Surveyors (RIQS). For the first time, quantity surveyors have an independent professional body with: Legal personality, Administrative and financial autonomy.
2. Professional Services and Categories
The law clarifies who can legally provide professional services in Rwanda:
- Architectural services: Include to planning and designing buildings, providing advice on a draft feasibility study, preparing detailed construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents overseeing the construction and implementation of design projects, overseeing compliance with health and safety regulations during the performance of services; and providing expertise and guidance on and conduct studies in building conservation, preservation and renovation. Only registered a professional architect; a landscape architect; an interior designer; an architectural technologist; an architectural consulting firm may provide these services.
- Engineering services: Cover performing technical studies in engineering; planning and supervising construction activities; preparing contract documents; executing all construction works; overseeing compliance with health and safety regulations during the performance of services; Only registered a professional engineer; an engineering technologist; an engineering technician; an engineering consulting firm may provide these services.
- Quantity Surveying services : Encompass the conduct of a cost feasibility study for a construction project; the preparation of bills of quantity; budget planning for construction activities and cost monitoring; the preparation or assessment of contractual claims during the execution of construction works; the compliance inspection of quantity surveying activities; overseeing compliance with health and safety regulations during the performance of services; conducting a cost audit of infrastructure projects; preparing a reinstatement cost assessment for a construction site for insurance purposes; and participating in the inspection of compliance of construction activities with building regulations. Only registered a professional quantity surveyor; a quantity surveying technologist; a quantity surveying firm. may provide these services.
This classification protects clients by ensuring that only trained, licensed professionals handle critical design, cost, and safety decisions in construction projects.
3. Registration, Internship, and Licence to Practice
No one can legally practice as an architect, engineer, or quantity surveyor without being registered and licensed.
Public servants and staff from other entities who practice the profession without being registered with the Institute are granted a period not exceeding six months from the date of publication of this Law in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda to register with the Institute.
- Registration: Professionals must apply to their respective institute with proof of qualifications and pay the registration fee.
- Professional Internship: New graduates are required to complete a two-year supervised internship before applying for a licence.
- Licence to Practice: A licence is issued after meeting all requirements and must be periodically renewed. Licences can be suspended or revoked for misconduct.
Important Updates for 2025
- Quantity Surveyors: Registration is now open up to 07th November under the newly established RIQS. All QS professionals are encouraged to register as soon as possible to avoid penalties and secure their legal right to practice.
- Engineers: Registration is ongoing — visit engineersrwanda.rw/ier-home for full details. The Institution of Engineers Rwanda (IER) urges graduates to take a practical step and register by logging on to IER-Membership System ‘We must be reliable, and we must be accountable,’ says IER.”
- Architects: The deadline for registration has already passed as you can see on the below post. If you missed it, you should contact RIA immediately for guidance on late registration procedures.
For more information visit Institutes’ website:
4. Six-Month Grace Period
The law provides a grace period of six months from its publication in the Official Gazette (September 2025) for anyone practicing without registration including public servants and employees in other entities to register. This means the final deadline for registration is March 2026.
5. Disciplinary Faults, Sanctions, and Penalties
The law includes strict measures to uphold professional integrity.
Disciplinary Faults
Disciplinary faults
- A person who commits a disciplinary fault is liable to a corresponding disciplinary sanction.
- The Code of Ethics of the Institute provides for disciplinary faults and sanctions.
Offences and Penalties
Some breaches are treated as criminal offences and carry financial and legal consequences:
- Licence Lending or Borrowing
- Individuals: Imprisonment (2–3 years) or a fine of FRW 5,000,000 – 7,000,000
- Firms: Fine of FRW 13,000,000 – 15,000,000
- Obstructing Audits or Giving False Information (Article 49):
- Individuals: Imprisonment (1–2 years) or a fine of FRW 3,000,000 – 5,000,000
- Firms: Fine of FRW 7,000,000 – 10,000,000
These penalties are meant to protect the public, promote trust in the industry, and encourage responsible practice.
Take Action
Quantity surveyors now have an unprecedented opportunity to shape their profession. Registration is open, and all QS practitioners are strongly encouraged to register as soon as possible to avoid legal and professional consequences.
Engineers should continue to maintain their registration with IER, and architects who missed their registration deadline must immediately contact RIA to explore late registration options.
This is not just compliance , it is a chance to raise the profile of your profession and contribute to Rwanda’s vision of safe, high-quality, and well-managed infrastructure.
Attached is the Law No 23/2025 of 01/09/2025 governing the professionals for your reference
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