EAC Engineering MRA Campaign Hub
EAC MRA Portal
Overview of the MRA (what it is, why it matters)

The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)

A Mutual Recognition Agreement or MRA, is an agreement through which regulators agree to recognise certain qualifications, licences, certifications, authorisations or professional statuses issued in another participating country.

For engineering services, this means that a competent authority in one Partner State may recognise the professional qualifications, registration or licence issued by the competent authority of another participating Partner State. This recognition is intended to reduce unnecessary duplication and make it easier for qualified engineers to seek registration or recognition across borders.

In practical terms, the Engineering MRA helps a professional engineer registered in one participating EAC Partner State to apply for recognition in another participating Partner State, subject to the host country’s regulatory requirements.

What the Engineering MRA Means for Engineers

The Engineering MRA is intended to:

  • enable a professional engineer registered in one participating EAC Partner State to seek recognition in another participating Partner State;
  • support the recognition of registration certificates or practising licences issued by competent authorities in participating countries;
  • facilitate the movement of engineering professionals and engineering services across the region;
  • reduce unnecessary repetition of academic or professional qualification assessments;
  • strengthen regulatory cooperation among engineering boards and professional bodies; and
  • support the wider EAC objective of professional mobility under the Common Market.

The Engineering Mutual Recognition Agreement provides the formal framework for this recognition process.

Legal Basis of the Engineering MRA

The Engineering MRA is grounded in the EAC Common Market framework. Its legal and policy foundation includes the following instruments:

  1. EAC Treaty

The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community provides the foundation for regional integration, including the establishment of a Common Market aimed at supporting the free movement of goods, labour, services and capital, as well as the right of establishment.

Useful link: EAC Secretariat

  1. EAC Common Market Protocol

The EAC Common Market Protocol provides for the free movement of labour and services. Article 11 supports the mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications, experience, licences and certifications granted in other Partner States.

  1. Annex VII on Mutual Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications

Annex VII provides the broader framework for mutual recognition of academic and professional qualifications within the region. It supports harmonised standards, coordinated institutional mechanisms and transparent recognition procedures.

  1. Engineering Mutual Recognition Agreement

The Engineering MRA translates this regional commitment into a profession-specific pathway for engineering professionals.

Where Is the Engineering MRA Operational?

The Engineering MRA is currently treated as operational in the following participating EAC Partner States:

  • Kenya
  • Uganda
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Rwanda
  • South Sudan

These arrangements allow professional engineers registered in one participating Partner State to seek recognition in another participating Partner State, subject to the host country’s registration, licensing and professional requirements. Campaign material notes that South Sudan has joined the Engineering MRA process, expanding the number of participating Partner States.

The wider EAC currently includes eight Partner States: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. For countries where the Engineering MRA implementation pathway is still being verified, the website should provide information cautiously and direct users to official national institutions.

Useful links:

Where Is the Engineering MRA Operational?

The Engineering MRA is currently treated as operational in the following participating EAC Partner States:

  • Kenya
  • Uganda
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Rwanda
  • South Sudan

These arrangements allow professional engineers registered in one participating Partner State to seek recognition in another participating Partner State, subject to the host country’s registration, licensing and professional requirements. Campaign material notes that South Sudan has joined the Engineering MRA process, expanding the number of participating Partner States.

The wider EAC currently includes eight Partner States: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. For countries where the Engineering MRA implementation pathway is still being verified, the website should provide information cautiously and direct users to official national institutions.

Useful links:

Why the Engineering MRA Matters

Engineering services are essential to East Africa’s development. Roads, bridges, ports, railways, housing, energy systems, water infrastructure, digital infrastructure, industrial facilities and climate-resilient projects all depend on competent, properly regulated engineering professionals.

The Engineering MRA matters because it can help the region:

  • improve access to specialised engineering skills;
  • support regional infrastructure development;
  • make professional mobility more predictable;
  • reduce unnecessary duplication in recognition processes;
  • strengthen trust among national competent authorities;
  • support trade in professional services;
  • create wider opportunities for engineers and engineering firms;
  • support young engineers and women engineers to understand regional career pathways; and
  • deepen implementation of the EAC Common Market.

The campaign’s inception report highlights that the main challenge is not the absence of legal instruments, but low awareness, uneven institutional readiness and uncertainty among engineers and stakeholders on how to use the MRA and related digital systems.

What the Engineering MRA Does

The Engineering MRA:

  • provides a regional recognition framework for professional engineers;
  • allows eligible engineers to apply for recognition in another participating Partner State;
  • supports cooperation among national competent authorities;
  • helps reduce unnecessary duplication in professional recognition;
  • supports the use of digital recognition tools where available;
  • encourages transparency in recognition processes;
  • supports professional mobility and regional integration; and
  • promotes higher awareness of registration and licensing requirements.

What the Engineering MRA Does Not Do

The Engineering MRA is important, but it has limits. It does not:

  • automatically authorise an engineer to practise in another country;
  • replace national registration or licensing requirements;
  • replace immigration, work permit or residence permit requirements;
  • replace tax, business registration or procurement requirements;
  • allow unregistered engineers to practise as professional engineers;
  • remove the role of national competent authorities;
  • guarantee employment or project opportunities;
  • replace professional conduct, ethics or disciplinary rules; or
  • remove the need to comply with host-country laws.

Recognition under the MRA is not automatic. Each application must be reviewed by the host-country competent authority and may require additional documentation, payment of prescribed fees, verification of professional status, or compliance with other national conditions.

How the Recognition Process Works

A professional engineer who wants to use the MRA pathway should generally follow these steps:

Step 1: Confirm Home-Country Registration

The engineer should first confirm that they hold a current and valid professional registration certificate or practising licence issued by the competent authority in their home country.

Step 2: Obtain Good Standing Confirmation

The engineer needs certification from the home-country competent authority confirming that they have no serious record of violation of technical, professional or ethical standards.

Step 3: Identify the Host Country

The engineer should identify the EAC Partner State where they wish to seek recognition or practise.

Step 4: Check Host-Country Requirements

The engineer must check the host country’s requirements, including registration forms, eligibility rules, fees, supporting documents, work permit requirements and professional conduct obligations.

Step 5: Apply to the Host-Country Competent Authority

The application should be submitted to the competent authority of the host country using the prescribed form or official registration portal.

Step 6: Await Review and Decision

The host-country regulator reviews the application and decides whether the engineer qualifies for recognition, registration or licensing.

Step 7: Maintain Compliance

Once recognised or registered, the engineer must comply with renewal requirements, continuing professional development, professional ethics, national laws and any conditions attached to the recognition.

Key Eligibility Requirements

Under the Engineering MRA approach, an engineer seeking recognition in another participating Partner State should generally be able to show that they:

  • are registered as a professional engineer in their country of origin;
  • hold a current and valid professional certificate or practising licence;
  • are in good standing with their home-country competent authority;
  • have no serious record of violation of technical, professional or ethical standards;
  • are eligible to apply for recognition or registration in the host country;
  • submit the prescribed application form; and
  • provide any supporting documents required by the host-country regulator.

The application may also require a list of EAC Partner States where the applicant is already registered or licensed to practise, as well as a declaration on any past disciplinary action or professional sanctions.

National Competent Authorities

The Engineering MRA works through national competent authorities. Engineers should always start with the official regulator in the country where they are registered and the country where they want to practise.

Kenya

Uganda

United Republic of Tanzania

Rwanda

South Sudan

Burundi

N/B: The Engineering MRA implementation pathway and competent authority arrangements should be verified before users rely on them for cross-border recognition.

Democratic Republic of Congo

N/B: The Engineering MRA implementation pathway and competent authority arrangements should be verified before users rely on them for cross-border recognition.

Somalia

N/B: The Engineering MRA implementation pathway and competent authority arrangements should be verified before users rely on them for cross-border recognition.

A Mutual Recognition Agreement or MRA, is an agreement through which regulators agree to recognise certain qualifications, licences, certifications, authorisations or professional statuses issued in another participating country.

For engineering services, this means that a competent authority in one Partner State may recognise the professional qualifications, registration or licence issued by the competent authority of another participating Partner State. This recognition is intended to reduce unnecessary duplication and make it easier for qualified engineers to seek registration or recognition across borders.

In practical terms, the Engineering MRA helps a professional engineer registered in one participating EAC Partner State to apply for recognition in another participating Partner State, subject to the host country’s regulatory requirements.

A central objective of the hub is to increase awareness, understanding and practical use of the EAC MRA Digital Registration Platform, which serves as the official digital system for supporting the recognition process for engineers across participating EAC Partner States by enabling engineers to register, submit recognition applications, track application status and access approved recognition documentation, while supporting Competent Authorities to review, process and provide feedback on applications.