Any business that sells, serves or stores alcohol in Rwanda needs an alcohol licence. The licensing regime is administered by district authorities under national framework rules. Three main categories: on-licence (consumption on the premises — bars, restaurants, hotels), off-licence (sealed-bottle sales for off-premises consumption — supermarkets, shops), and wholesale (distributors to retailers). This is the working 2026 guide.
The three categories
On-licence (consumption on premises)
For bars, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, lounges — anywhere customers will consume alcohol on the premises.
- Cost: RWF 200,000-500,000 annually depending on premises size and category
- Hours of sale: Generally 10 AM-2 AM weekdays; 10 AM-3 AM weekends. Specific hours may vary by district.
- Restrictions: No sales to under-18s. No sales during religious holidays in some districts.
- Required for: Bars, restaurants serving alcohol, hotels with minibars or restaurants, lounges, clubs
Off-licence (sealed-bottle retail)
For supermarkets, retail shops, kiosks selling sealed-container alcohol for off-premises consumption.
- Cost: RWF 100,000-300,000 annually
- Hours of sale: Generally 7 AM-10 PM. Stricter than on-licence.
- Restrictions: Same age and holiday restrictions. Sealed containers only.
- Required for: Supermarkets, retail shops, kiosks selling beer/wine/spirits
Wholesale licence
For distributors selling to retailers and on-premises operators.
- Cost: RWF 500,000-2,000,000 annually depending on volume
- Required for: Beverage distributors, importers reselling to other businesses
Application process
- Apply at your district One-Stop Centre (Gasabo, Nyarugenge, Kicukiro for Kigali businesses)
- Required documents: RDB business certificate, TIN, district trading licence, FDA certification (for restaurants/hotels — done as part of restaurant licensing), premises lease, manager's clean criminal record certificate, premises floor plan
- Site inspection by district officials to verify premises suitability
- Approval typically within 2-4 weeks
- Annual renewal required — no automatic continuation
Premises requirements
- Secure storage — lockable area for alcohol stock not on display or in service
- Age verification — staff must check IDs for customers appearing under 25
- No sales to obviously intoxicated patrons (the responsible service rule)
- Posted alcohol licence visible in the premises
- Premises not adjacent to schools in some categories (district-specific)
Tax implications
- Excise duty on alcohol — included in the wholesale/retail price you pay from suppliers; you don't separately pay excise but it affects your margins
- VAT: 18% on alcohol sales (included in displayed prices typically)
- Customs duties for imported alcohol — if importing directly, separate duty applies (typically 30-60% of CIF value depending on category)
Hours and day restrictions
- Standard on-licence hours: 10 AM-2 AM weekdays; 10 AM-3 AM Fridays and Saturdays
- Off-licence hours: 7 AM-10 PM most days
- Sunday restrictions: Some districts restrict Sunday alcohol sales. Confirm with your district.
- Religious holidays: Limited or no alcohol sales on Good Friday and certain other religious observances in some districts
- Election days: Alcohol sales paused on national election days
- Umuganda Saturday (last Saturday of the month): No alcohol sales before 11 AM
Penalties for non-compliance
- Operating without a licence: RWF 500,000-5,000,000 fine plus business-licence review
- Selling to under-18s: RWF 200,000-1,000,000 fine; repeated offence triggers licence revocation
- Sales outside permitted hours: RWF 100,000-500,000 fine
- Failure to renew: Same penalty as operating without licence
How to fold alcohol licensing into your business setup
For new restaurants and bars, the alcohol licence is the 4th or 5th approval in the sequence — after RDB registration, district trading licence, FDA food-safety, and (for restaurants) the on-going operational setup. Apply for the alcohol licence once the FDA certification is in hand. The two run on similar timelines and the district office often coordinates inspections.
Related: Restaurant licence in Rwanda, Hotel and guesthouse licence in Rwanda, Late-night Kigali — bars, lounges and after-hours grills. Browse every business on the directory.