People in Rwanda who want to change their names will now follow revised procedures under a new Ministerial Order published in the Official Gazette on June 1, 2026.
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This order replaces the 2025 Ministerial Order and is designed to improve service delivery, strengthen verification requirements, and align implementation with the 2024 law governing persons and families.
Clearer Rules for Children’s Name Changes
One of the key updates explicitly states that applications to change a child’s name must be submitted by the child’s parents or another person exercising parental authority.
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According to Juma Prince Muvunyi, Population, Social and Civil Registration Specialist at the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), this requirement already existed under the 2024 law but was not clearly reflected in the previous ministerial order. The new order ensures proper alignment with the law.
Criminal Record Certificate Requirement
Applicants must now provide a criminal record certificate in addition to other documents such as a birth certificate, national identity card or passport, marriage certificate, where applicable, and any other supporting documents relevant to the request. Muvunyi explained that this measure is intended to prevent individuals from using name changes to conceal criminal records.
He noted that if someone was recently convicted and has not yet benefited from rehabilitation, changing their name could effectively give them a new identity while legal consequences are still in force.
Purpose of the New Rules
The revised procedures aim to ensure transparency, uphold accountability, and protect the integrity of Rwanda’s civil registration system. By strengthening verification, the government seeks to balance individual rights with public trust in official records, ensuring that name changes are handled responsibly and lawfully.
