Do you need RQIA registration?

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) regulates health and social care services in Northern Ireland. If you provide a regulated service, you must register before you begin operating.

RQIA regulated services

Check whether your service type falls within RQIA's regulated activities. Regulated services include residential care homes, nursing homes, domiciliary care agencies, day care settings, independent hospitals, and dental practices.

Under Article 12 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, it is a criminal offence to carry on or manage a regulated establishment or agency without being registered with RQIA. The establishments and agencies requiring registration are listed in Schedules 2 and 3 of the Order.

Schedule 2 - Regulated establishments:

Nursing homes
Residential care homes
Children's homes
Independent hospitals
Independent clinics
Independent medical agencies

Schedule 3 - Regulated agencies:

Domiciliary care agencies
Nursing agencies
Adult placement agencies
Day care settings
Voluntary adoption agencies
Residential family centres

Dental practices: Independent dental practices providing regulated treatments also require RQIA registration. This applies to practices that are not part of the Health and Social Care (HSC) system.

Key difference from England: NI does not use the CQC concept of "regulated activities". Instead, RQIA registers specific types of establishments and agencies as defined in the Schedules. The categories are broadly similar but the legislative structure is different.

Legal requirement: Article 12 of HPSS (QIR) (NI) Order 2003 - criminal offence to operate without registration
Regulated establishments (Schedule 2): Nursing homes, residential care homes, children's homes, independent hospitals, independent clinics, independent medical agencies
Regulated agencies (Schedule 3): Domiciliary care agencies, nursing agencies, adult placement agencies, day care settings, voluntary adoption agencies, residential family centres
Also regulated: Independent dental practices providing regulated treatments
Registration requirement: Both the provider (person carrying on the establishment/agency) and the manager must be registered
Statement of purpose: Required under Regulation 3 of the Nursing Homes Regulations (NI) 2005 (SR 2005/160) and the Residential Care Homes Regulations (NI) 2005 (SR 2005/161) - must describe services, aims, and objectives
Service user guide: Required under Regulation 4 of the Nursing Homes Regulations (NI) 2005 (SR 2005/160 - patient's guide) and the Residential Care Homes Regulations (NI) 2005 (SR 2005/161 - resident's guide)

RQIA - Register with RQIA (opens in a new tab)

Register with RQIA

Step-by-step guide to applying for RQIA registration, including timescales and documentation.

2. Fit person requirements

Fit person criteria

RQIA must be satisfied that the applicant, registered manager, and responsible individual are fit persons. This covers financial standing, character references, qualifications, and relevant experience for the service type.

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is the independent body responsible for registering, inspecting, and encouraging improvement in the quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland. It is the NI equivalent of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England.

RQIA was established by the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (SI 2003/431) and became operational on 1 April 2005. It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health (Northern Ireland).

Core functions (Article 5 of the 2003 Order):

Registration of health and social care establishments and agencies
Inspection and review of the quality of registered services
Encouraging improvement in the quality of services
Monitoring the availability and accessibility of health and social care
Providing independent assurance to the Department of Health on service quality
Monitoring the use of compulsory powers under mental health legislation
Conducting reviews and investigations into the management and quality of services (Part V, Articles 35-39)
Hygiene and infection control reviews (Article 36)

Note on the 2022 Act: The Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 did not dissolve RQIA. That Act dissolved the Health and Social Care Board (Section 1) and transferred its functions to the Department of Health (Section 2); RQIA was not affected. As of March 2026, RQIA continues to operate as the independent regulator under the HPSS (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (NI) Order 2003. Businesses must continue to comply with all existing RQIA registration and regulatory requirements.

Regulator: Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
Establishing legislation: Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (SI 2003/431)
Operational since: 1 April 2005
Parent department: Department of Health (Northern Ireland)
Status (as of March 2026): Operational and continuing as the independent regulator under the HPSS (QIR) (NI) Order 2003. The Health and Social Care Act (NI) 2022 dissolved the Health and Social Care Board, not RQIA
Jurisdiction: Northern Ireland only (not England, Scotland, or Wales)
England equivalent: Care Quality Commission (CQC) under the Health and Social Care Act 2008
Scotland equivalent: Care Inspectorate under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
Wales equivalent: Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016
Website: rqia.org.uk

RQIA - Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (opens in a new tab)

RQIA registration process

Covers fit person checks, DBS requirements, and the evidence RQIA needs from applicants.

3. Minimum Care Standards

Meeting RQIA care standards

Your premises, staffing levels, policies, and procedures must meet RQIA's Minimum Care Standards for your service type before registration is granted. Standards cover the environment, safeguarding, governance, and quality of care.

RQIA charges registration fees for initial registration and annual fees for continuing registration. Fees are set under the Regulation and Improvement Authority (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (SR 2005/182), as amended, made under the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

The standard registration fee for an establishment is £952 (£261 for a small establishment; £30 for a nursing agency). The annual fee is £46 per approved place.

Key points about RQIA fees:

Registration fees are payable on initial registration and are non-refundable
Annual fees are payable each year to maintain registration
Annual fees for nursing homes and residential care homes are scaled by the number of approved places
Failure to pay fees may result in conditions on or cancellation of registration

Note: Fee schedules are periodically updated by the Department of Health. Applicants should confirm the current fee with RQIA before submitting an application.

Legal basis for fees: The Regulation and Improvement Authority (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (SR 2005/182), as amended
Registration fee (establishment): £952 (£261 for a small establishment; £30 for a nursing agency)
Annual fee: £46 per approved place, payable each year to maintain registration
Refund policy: Registration fees are non-refundable
Payment of fees: Failure to pay annual fees may result in conditions on or cancellation of registration
England comparison: CQC charges no application fee in England \u2014 only an annual fee
Fee-setting authority: Department of Health (Northern Ireland) prescribes fee levels by regulations

RQIA - Registration information (opens in a new tab)

RQIA Minimum Care Standards

What the standards require for your service type and how RQIA assesses compliance.

4. Inspections and ongoing compliance

RQIA inspections

Once registered, RQIA conducts announced and unannounced inspections. Understand the inspection cycle, what inspectors look for, and how enforcement action works so you can maintain compliance from day one.

Core functions (Article 5 of the 2003 Order):

Registration of health and social care establishments and agencies
Inspection and review of the quality of registered services
Encouraging improvement in the quality of services
Monitoring the availability and accessibility of health and social care
Providing independent assurance to the Department of Health on service quality
Monitoring the use of compulsory powers under mental health legislation
Conducting reviews and investigations into the management and quality of services (Part V, Articles 35-39)
Hygiene and infection control reviews (Article 36)

Regulator: Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA)
Establishing legislation: Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (SI 2003/431)
Operational since: 1 April 2005
Parent department: Department of Health (Northern Ireland)
Status (as of March 2026): Operational and continuing as the independent regulator under the HPSS (QIR) (NI) Order 2003. The Health and Social Care Act (NI) 2022 dissolved the Health and Social Care Board, not RQIA
Jurisdiction: Northern Ireland only (not England, Scotland, or Wales)
England equivalent: Care Quality Commission (CQC) under the Health and Social Care Act 2008
Scotland equivalent: Care Inspectorate under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
Wales equivalent: Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016
Website: rqia.org.uk

RQIA - Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (opens in a new tab)

Understanding RQIA regulation

How RQIA inspections work, enforcement powers, and your obligations as a registered provider.

RQIA registration quick check

Do you need RQIA registration?

Register with RQIA

2. Fit person requirements

RQIA registration process

3. Minimum Care Standards

RQIA Minimum Care Standards

4. Inspections and ongoing compliance

Understanding RQIA regulation

Next steps

Understanding UK GDPR from scratch

Hire your first employee

File your first Self Assessment tax return

Related journeys

Healthcare and social care compliance in Northern Ireland

Starting a regulated business in Northern Ireland

Responding to RQIA enforcement action

Meet environmental compliance requirements