Cross-border expansion for digital payment companies has become a little easier – at least for East Africa neighbours Rwanda and Kenya.

Africa Business Communities reports that the central banks for the two countries have signed a fintech licensing passport agreement that could see digital payment companies that are licensed in one country being able to operate in the other without having to undergo a separate licensing process.

The National Bank of Rwanda and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)bsigned the Licence Passporting Framework on the sidelines of the Inclusive FinTech Forum 2026 in March.

According to the framework, which falls under the East African Community Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan, a payment company licensed in one country can automatically operate in the other through mutual recognition of licences, cutting the amount of red tape significantly.

‘The passporting framework signed today is an important step towards addressing this challenge [of separate licensing processes] once the joint technical committee under the memorandum of understanding develops the necessary technical and administrative arrangements,’ said Gerald Nyaoma, deputy governor of the CBK.

24 March 2026
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