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Burundi: fintech & payments regulation

Regulated

Burundi fintech regulated by BRB under 2024 Payment Framework; strict licensing and capital rules

Lead regulator:
Banque de la République du Burundi (BRB)
Key law:
Law No. 1/07 of May 11, 2018 on the National Payment System
Last updated:
2026-07-12

The financial sector, including fintech and payment services, is strictly regulated by the Banque de la République du Burundi (BRB) under Law No. 1/07 of 2018 and the comprehensive 2024 regulatory package. Payment institutions must obtain prior authorization from the BRB to operate, with specific categories defined for electronic money issuers, payment aggregation institutions, and international fund transfer providers. The regime mandates significant minimum capital requirements, rigorous fit-and-proper checks for management, and strict adherence to prudential and operational standards to ensure systemic resilience.

Recent regulatory developments in 2024 have streamlined the framework for payment services, introducing distinct licensing categories and detailed circulars governing electronic money issuance, payment aggregation, and commercial agents. The BRB has also established a robust surveillance framework for national and international payment systems, including the BurundiPay instant system and SIPREBU settlement infrastructure. Microfinance and community financial groups remain subject to separate but parallel prudential regulations, while exchange offices and financing entities face high capital thresholds.

The regulatory direction of travel emphasizes formalization, transparency, and risk management. The BRB has updated sanction matrices, standardized service pricing, and mandated the dematerialization of cheques to modernize the payment landscape. Foreign exchange activities are tightly controlled, requiring authorization for intermediaries and strict capital controls. The overall stance is one of cautious openness, encouraging innovation within a tightly supervised environment that prioritizes financial stability and consumer protection.

Who regulates

  • Banque de la République du Burundi (BRB)

    Primary supervisor for banking, payment institutions, microfinance, and payment systems.

    [1][2][3]

Core laws & rules

  • Law No. 1/07 of May 11, 2018 on the National Payment System (2018)

    Establishes the regulatory framework for the National Payment System under BRB supervision, defining key terms and mandating central bank authorization for payment systems and payment service providers.

    [2]

  • Law No. 1/17 of August 22, 2017 Regulating Banking Activities (2017)

    Comprehensively regulates banking activities, defining the scope of authorized operations and mandating prior authorization from the BRB for all credit and payment establishments.

    [3]

Licensing & registration

  • Electronic Money Issuing Payment Institutions

    Regulated under Circular No. 001/SP/2024, requiring authorization for issuance and distribution of electronic money by banks, payment institutions, and the National Postal Service. Capital: 1,000,000,000 BIF

    [4]

  • Payment Aggregation Institutions (PAIs)

    Regulated under Circular No. 002/SP/2024, requiring authorization for payment aggregation services with strict governance and data protection standards. Capital: 200,000,000 BIF

    [5]

  • Payment Institutions for International Fund Transfers

    Regulated under Circular No. 007/SP/2024, requiring authorization for international fund transfer activities with strict operational conditions. Capital: 300,000,000 BIF

    [6]

  • Financing and Guarantee Institutions

    Regulated under Regulation No. 001/2024, requiring licensing for entities providing financing and guarantee services to regulated institutions. Capital: 10,000,000,000 BIF

    [7][8]

  • Exchange Offices

    Regulated under Circular No. 003/RC/2023, requiring approval for exchange offices and their managers. Capital: 550,000,000 BIF

    [9]

Restrictions & warnings

  • Prior authorization from the BRB is mandatory for all credit and payment establishments, as well as for opening agencies, counters, or subsidiaries of credit institutions.

    [3][10]

  • Payment institutions must adhere to strict fit-and-proper criteria for administrators and senior management, including integrity checks and professional experience requirements.

    [11]

  • Commercial agents in banking and payment services must be supervised establishments aligned with national laws on banking, payments, and anti-money laundering.

    [12]

Direction of travel

  • The BRB is actively modernizing the payment landscape through the implementation of BurundiPay, SIPREBU, and mandatory cheque dematerialization, indicating a strong push for digitalization and efficiency.

    [13][14][15]

  • Regulatory focus is shifting towards enhanced surveillance, standardized pricing, and robust sanction matrices to ensure compliance and risk containment across payment service providers.

    [16][17][18]

Sources

  1. Statutes of the Bank of the Republic of Burundi · 2024-09-01
  2. Law No. 1/07 of May 11, 2018 on the National Payment System · 2018-05-11
  3. Law No. 1/17 of August 22, 2017 Regulating Banking Activities · 2024-09-01
  4. Circular No. 001 of 2024 on the Activities of Electronic Money Issuing Payment Institutions · 2024-09-01
  5. Circular No. 002 of 2024 on Payment Aggregation Institutions · 2024-09-01
  6. Circular No. 007/SP/2024 Relating to Payment Institutions for International Fund Transfers · 2024-11-01
  7. On the Mandatory Minimum Capital of Financing and/or Guarantee Institutions Issued Pursuant to the Regulation on Entities Operating in Burundi Providing Financing and/or Guarantee Services · 2024-09-01
  8. Regulation No. 001/2024 of 12 April 2024 on Entities Operating in Burundi Providing Financing and/or Guarantee Services · 2024-04-12
  9. On the Approval of Exchange Offices and Their Managers · 2024-10-01
  10. Conditions for Establishing Agencies, Counters, Representation Offices and Subsidiaries of Credit Institutions · 2024-09-01
  11. Circular No. 003 on the Approval of Administrators and Senior Management of Payment Institutions · 2024-09-01
  12. Regulation No. 003 of 2024 on Commercial Agent Activities in Banking Operations and Payment Services · 2024-09-01
  13. Regulation No. 03/2026 Defining Participation and Usage Rules for the Modules of Burundi’s Instant Payment System, Named 'BurundiPay' · 2026-03-01
  14. Regulation No. 1/2022 of April 14, 2022 Governing Participation in the Burundi Integrated Payment and Settlement System (SIPREBU) · 2025-02-01
  15. Regulation on the Dematerialization and Automated Processing of Cheques · 2024-09-01
  16. Burundi Payment Systems and Means Surveillance Framework · 2025-11-01
  17. Circular No. 005 of 2024 on Pricing Services for Payment Institutions · 2024-09-01
  18. Circular No. 006/SP/2024 amending Circular No. 01/EP/19 on the sanction matrix applicable to payment institutions and other payment service providers · 2024-09-01

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This guide is compiled automatically from 18 primary-source documents published by Burundi's regulators, reviewed by RegAlert, and refreshed monthly (last updated 2026-07-12). It is not legal advice — always confirm requirements with the regulator or local counsel before acting.