Rwandan nationals residing abroad are urged to use the simplified process of issuing power of attorney for property-related transactions, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming embassy visits. ALSO READ: Lawmakers highlight issues in land transfers, taxation of sold plots Announced on July 8, the development aims to make land administration more efficient and accessible for members of the Rwandan diaspora and foreign nationals who own land in Rwanda. ALSO READ: Rwanda launches electronic land titles to boost efficiency According to Sylvain Muyombano, the Head of the Land Administration Department at the National Land Authority (NLA), many people still unnecessarily travel long distances to reach Rwandan embassies to authorize representatives for property transfers, despite the availability of digital options. ALSO READ: How automation of 10 land services solved accessibility issues “Currently, it is no longer necessary for someone to board a flight and travel for hours just to issue a power of attorney at the Rwandan embassy,” Muyombano told The New Times. “Using the Irembo platform, this process has now been simplified and can be completed online from anywhere in the world.” ALSO READ: How property owners can avoid termination of land ownership contracts Previously, Rwandans living abroad were required to manually submit physical documents to Rwandan embassies to grant legal authority to their representatives in the country for property transfers. ALSO READ: How is Bugesera dealing with surge in land transactions? However, this service can now be accessed digitally through the IremboGov portal, under services managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET). The service known as “Legalization of power of attorney for transfer of property” allows Rwandans or foreign nationals living overseas to legally authorize a trusted person in Rwanda to act on their behalf in matters involving movable and immovable property. This includes land, houses, vehicles, company shares, and other valuable assets. Many members of the diaspora previously missed out on investment opportunities or delayed succession processes because they could not travel to Rwanda. Others lost deals due to logistical constraints in issuing a power of attorney manually. The newly streamlined online procedure directly addresses these challenges. How to apply To apply, individuals must upload a written power of attorney document that clearly specifies the property involved, the applicant's details, and the identity of the recipient. They must also include a scanned copy of a national ID or a passport. Additional documents may be required, such as a marriage certificate or copies of foreign passports for both the applicant and representative, depending on the situation. All uploaded documents must be in PDF format and the service costs $15 and takes up to 30 working days from submission to final approval. The process consists of three main stages. First, the Rwandan embassy officer reviews the submitted documents and once verified, the application is forwarded to the ministry of foreign affairs for further review and approval. After final approval, the applicant receives an email notification indicating that their e-certificate is available for download from the IremboGov portal. The certificate, embedded with a QR code, serves as a legal instrument that the appointed representative can use to carry out the specified property transaction in Rwanda. The ministry emphasizes that only highly trusted people should be granted this authority, as power of attorney legally enables them to act on the applicant’s behalf. Applicants are also advised to ensure that the information provided such as Unique Parcel Identifier (UPI) for land, vehicle plate numbers, or company Tax identification Number (TIN) is accurate and complete. Land registration trends and digital transition According to NLA, the digitalization of land administration has played a critical role in Rwanda’s broader efforts to modernize governance and improve land service delivery. Over 8.9 million land parcels have been registered using national IDs and an additional 2.2 million parcels are registered under state entities. Other forms of registration include 58,800 parcels through migration channels, 40,200 using passports, and 34,700 under registered businesses. Notably, 2,000 parcels are registered with foreign IDs, while 468 are held by foreign NGOs. Rwandan diplomatic missions now cover 147 countries, with honorary consuls operating in an additional 17, providing widespread access to services for citizens and landowners abroad. With this extensive global presence, Muyombano encourages the diaspora to fully embrace the simplified power of attorney process.
