Company Registration Abroad
Company registration abroad begins with the jurisdiction, not the paperwork: the right one depends on what the company does, who it deals with and how it will be banked. Incluence handles company formation abroad end to end, from that choice to a registered and banked business.
- 28+jurisdictions covered
- 100+companies registered
- 200+bank accounts opened
- EUR 10M+saved or returned to clients
- London & Hong Kongoffices
Company Registration Services with Incluence
Company formation abroad is more than a filing. Take any part of it separately, or the whole path as one project.
Choosing where and in what legal form the company should exist.
- Comparing jurisdictions against the company's purpose and its counterparties
- Legal form: trading company, holding structure or investment vehicle
- Shareholders, directors and share capital
- How banks and partners view the jurisdiction before you commit to it
Turning that decision into a registered company with documents in hand.
- Company name availability check and reservation
- Incorporation documents drafted and notarized
- Filing with the local company register
- Certificate of incorporation and statutory documents, with apostille and translation
Putting the company's tax and regulatory obligations in place.
- Accounting procedures set up for the jurisdiction, with tax returns and payments filed on time
- Licensing requirements mapped before incorporation, not after
- Registered office and substance requirements
Getting the company banked and keeping it running afterwards.
- Corporate bank account application, prepared and submitted
- Merchant account for businesses that accept online payments
- Corporate changes: shareholders, directors, registered address
- Ongoing legal support, accounting and financial reporting
Why Register a Company Abroad?
Founders open a company abroad for very different reasons, and the reason shapes the structure.
International business expansion
A company registered in the EU clears onboarding with European banks more easily and is more often required by EU counterparties, which is why founders keep choosing European jurisdictions to trade from.
Banking and international payments
Where a company is registered decides which banks and payment institutions will work with it, so the jurisdiction has to be chosen with account opening in mind rather than after the fact.
IT, SaaS and e-commerce businesses
Digital businesses sell across borders from the start, so they need a legal entity that can contract with platforms and suppliers, hold intellectual property and accept online payments through a merchant account.
Regulated businesses and licensing
If the activity needs a license, whether for crypto, payments, forex or gambling, the company has to be incorporated in a jurisdiction that issues it and in a legal form the regulator will accept.
Holding and investment structures
Holding companies and investment vehicles are built around holding assets, dividend flows and treaty access rather than trading, so they gravitate to jurisdictions with a developed financial sector and a workable network of double taxation treaties.
What to Consider Before Opening a Company Abroad
4 things decide the jurisdiction.
- Business activity and markets UK counterparties suit a common law jurisdiction, EU holdings suit Malta, a first company suits Estonia, Middle East trade suits the UAE.
- Tax and reporting The headline rate misleads: Malta's nominal 35% drops to roughly 5% after refunds, Estonia taxes profit only on distribution.
- Banking Banks want local substance, a registered office and real business activity, wherever the company sits.
- Substance requirements A local director, a registered address or a minimum share capital deposit, depending on the jurisdiction.
How Company Registration Abroad Works
01. Business assessment and jurisdiction selection
We go through the business model and the counterparties, then agree on the jurisdiction and the legal form.
02. Company structure and name
We settle the corporate structure, shareholders, directors and share capital. Send three name options: we check their availability and confirm which can be used. Three is not mandatory, but it speeds the check up.
03. KYC and document preparation
You prepare personal documents for the shareholders, directors and beneficial owners, usually a passport copy, confirmation of address and a power of attorney. This runs in parallel with the previous step rather than after it.
04. Incorporation filing
We assemble the registration forms and incorporation documents from the data you provided and file the package with the local company register. The registrar processes it and the company is entered into the register's database.
05. Corporate documents and registration
The company's registration data becomes visible in the register, and you can order paper versions of the statutory documents, certified or otherwise. We arrange any notarization, apostille and translation they need.
06. Banking and operational setup
We prepare the corporate bank account application and set up the accounting the company needs before it starts trading.
Some jurisdictions add their own steps: apostille or translation of foreign documents, a local director or secretary appointment, or a minimum share capital deposit. A process built for one country rarely transfers directly to another.
Not sure which jurisdiction fits?
Company Registration Costs and Timelines
- Two to three weeks is typical
- The UK: three to five days
- Singapore: five to seven days
- Apostille, translations, a local director or a share capital deposit extend it
- State and registrar fees
- Notarization, apostille and translations
- Registered office and, where required, a local director or company secretary
- Share capital
We quote once the jurisdiction and the structure are agreed.
Want a figure for your case?
Company Registration Jurisdictions
Our specialists arrange registration in Poland from start to finish, with the structure adapted to each client rather than run off a template.
Relatively low corporate tax rates make Ireland an attractive base for business.
A major financial center in Western Europe, where banks hold large volumes of assets and the banking sector drives the economy.
For founders comparing EU jurisdictions rather than committing to one country. An EU registration also sits more easily with EU banks and counterparties.
EU membership gives access to the common market, and company ownership here also opens the option of purchasing real estate.
Registration in the legal form you choose, with tax optimization and audit support handled by the same team.
An EU legal entity with 15% corporate income tax whatever the activity, and no presence on offshore black or grey lists.
Corporate income tax of 22% of the net amount applies on distributed profit. VAT: 24% standard rate, 13% and 9% reduced rates. The financial year usually matches the calendar.
A developed banking system, a large solvent market and a favorable climate for small and medium businesses. A German company inspires immediate trust from suppliers and partners.
An EU legal entity with a 5% effective rate after the shareholder refund.
One of the lowest corporate taxes in the EU – 10%, 5% withholding at source, dividends at 5% and reducible to 0%, and a 0% VAT rate for international transport.
Corporate tax of 17%. New companies with income up to EUR 300,000 and individual owners can apply 0% in the first two tax periods and 7% afterwards, subject to conditions. A stable market economy and a loyal banking system.
Around 80 double taxation treaties, a low corporate tax rate and a central location in Europe.
Company registration in Austria
Minimum share capital for a GmbH is EUR 35,000, half of it paid at registration. VAT is 20%, with a reduced rate of 10%.
Company registration in Belgium
Access to the European market and a strong logistics position. Corporate tax is progressive, from 24 to 29%, and VAT runs from 6 to 21% depending on the activity.
Company registration in Romania
Corporate tax of 16%, dividend tax of 5% and VAT of 19%. Share capital starts at EUR 50, and micro-enterprises with turnover up to EUR 100,000 pay 3% on profit.
Company registration in Slovenia
An EU legal entity with no large registration costs. Founders can be non-residents, and owning a company here opens the route to a residence permit.
Company registration in Slovakia
An EU jurisdiction that does not appear on offshore lists. Corporate tax of 21%, VAT of 20%, and 10% on dividends, royalties and interest. Share capital starts at EUR 5,000.
A BV can be incorporated with share capital from EUR 0.01, while an NV requires EUR 45,000. An EU member state outside the offshore lists, with one of the largest tax treaty networks in Europe.
A 15% corporate tax rate, with regular reporting obligations for resident companies.
A transparent tax system where tax is paid on profits, and a jurisdiction that reads as stable business rather than an offshore setup.
Straightforward registration and simple working conditions, backed by legal, political and economic stability.
A rapidly developing economy in Southeast Asia, with active government support for small and medium businesses.
Support at every stage of setting up a company for businesses planning to operate in the Chinese market.
One of the world's largest centers for registered companies, and not on the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, which suits legitimate cross-border operations.
Corporate tax of 17%, with an exemption where income is earned outside Singapore and not remitted locally, and the first report due 18 months after incorporation.
A Southeast Asian jurisdiction with a developed financial sector: 100% foreign ownership, no paid-up share capital requirement, and registration in about two weeks.
Three organizational and legal forms to choose from, and one route where the right type of company also supports an application for a residency visa.
Federal and provincial or territorial corporate taxes apply. The federal net rate is 15%, and each province and territory sets its own rate
Huge markets for goods and services, developed infrastructure and a reliable legal system.
The leading candidate for EU accession in the near term, and a young jurisdiction with strong growth prospects.
Company registration in Serbia
Outside the EU, with corporate tax of 15% and share capital from EUR 1. Registration can be completed remotely under a notarized power of attorney.
Ready to register your company?
Send us a short description of the business and the markets you are targeting, and we will take it from there.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Company Registration Abroad
What is company registration abroad?
It is the incorporation of a company in a country other than the one where you live. In practice it means choosing the jurisdiction and legal form, filing the incorporation documents with the local register, and then opening a bank account so the company can begin operating.
Can a non-resident register a company abroad?
Yes. Registration is normally carried out by local representatives acting under a power of attorney, so you do not need to be a resident or to travel. Some jurisdictions tie requirements to the board: Singapore requires a company to have at least one director who meets the local residency requirement. Tax residency, separately, is determined by where the company's actual management and control are exercised.
Can I register a company abroad remotely?
In most cases yes, though the exact conditions depend on the legislation of the country of registration. Local representatives file on your behalf under a power of attorney, and in some countries scanned copies of your documents are enough.
What documents are required to register a company abroad?
Usually a copy of the passport and confirmation of address for each participant, plus a power of attorney. The exact list depends on the company, and we also ask for three proposed names so we can check their availability.
How long does company registration abroad take?
It depends on the legislation of the country of incorporation, and two to three weeks is typical. Some jurisdictions are faster: incorporation in the UK is available within three to five days on request, and Singapore within five to seven days.
How much does it cost to register a company abroad?
The cost depends on the jurisdiction, the legal form and the requirements that come with them, such as notarization and apostille, a registered office, a local director and the share capital. We give a figure once the jurisdiction and structure are agreed, and payment terms are set separately for each case.
Which country is best for company formation?
There is no single best jurisdiction. The right one depends on the company's purpose, its counterparties and how it will be banked, rather than on which country has the lowest tax rate.
Do I need a local director or registered office?
It depends on the jurisdiction: some require a local director or company secretary, and a minimum share capital deposit. Separately from the law, banks increasingly want to see local substance, a registered office and real business activity before they open an account.
Can Incluence help with a corporate bank account?
Yes. We coordinate the whole path from name reservation through to opening the bank account, and in some jurisdictions, Cyprus among them, the account can be opened in the same country as the company.
Does a foreign company need a business license?
Only if the activity is regulated. Crypto, payments, e-money, forex and gambling require a license, and in those cases the jurisdiction and legal form have to be chosen so that the regulator will accept the application.
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