A director must live in Australia
ASIC states that an Australian proprietary company must have at least one director who lives in Australia.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission ↗Checked
Source directory
Go directly to the authority.
Browse 24 country and jurisdiction records. Each link names what it supports and keeps its own review date.
A primary source supports a specific requirement, not a guarantee of eligibility. New research records were checked on 2026-09-14; earlier evidence records retain their original review dates. No blanket re-verification is implied.
UAE: authorities across seven emirates · US: state and territory routes · Canada: provincial and territorial routes
Australia
Read the context and limitations ↗Director ID before registration
ASIC’s registration guide says directors must apply for a director ID before the company is registered and explains the company registration process.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission ↗Checked
Belgium
Read the context and limitations ↗Financial plan for an SRL
The government company-creation guide requires a founder-signed financial plan for an SRL, SA or SC.
Business Belgium — Belgian government ↗Checked
Company and business registration
The guide distinguishes the incorporation deed from completing Crossroads Bank for Enterprises registration through an accredited business counter.
Business Belgium — Belgian government ↗Checked
Canada
Read the context and limitations ↗Federal and provincial routes differ
Canada’s business portal distinguishes federal incorporation from provincial or territorial incorporation, followed by business-number, tax-account and other registration steps.
Government of Canada ↗Checked
Use the selected provincial registrar
Provincial or territorial incorporation is completed through that jurisdiction’s registrar. Extra-provincial or extra-territorial registration may also be relevant.
Government of Canada ↗Checked
Denmark
Read the context and limitations ↗Choose the registration form
The authority lists ApS and sole proprietorship among the business structures registered through its company service.
Danish Business Authority ↗Checked
Check access and document language
The establishment guidance describes identity requirements for the online service and Danish-language formation templates for limited companies. The page is addressed to businesses established in the EU or EEA.
Danish Business Authority ↗Checked
Estonia
Read the context and limitations ↗Establishing a company
Digital formation process, prerequisites and service-provider role.
e-Residency of Estonia ↗Checked
Private limited company (OÜ)
Official company-registration service and state-fee information.
Estonian e-Business Register ↗Checked
Income tax and basic exemption
Corporate distributions and applicable income-tax treatment.
Estonian Tax and Customs Board ↗Checked
Annual report
Annual-report filing obligation and official submission channel.
Estonian e-Business Register ↗Checked
Finland
Read the context and limitations ↗Registration creates the company
PRH states that a limited liability company comes into being through registration in the Finnish Trade Register. A company may be established with or without share capital.
Finnish Patent and Registration Office ↗Checked
Choose the appropriate online application
The guided package requires Finnish personal identity codes for the persons filed and other conditions. PRH describes an alternative start-up notification when those conditions are not met.
Finnish Patent and Registration Office ↗Checked
Keep filings current
PRH lists beneficial-owner details and approved financial statements among information to maintain, including financial statements when the company is inactive.
Finnish Patent and Registration Office ↗Checked
France
Read the context and limitations ↗Two single-owner company options
The official company-creation guide identifies SASU and EURL as company forms with a single shareholder.
Service Public Entreprendre ↗Checked
Prepare the company before filing
The guide separates choosing a registered office, depositing capital, appointing management and drafting the articles.
Service Public Entreprendre ↗Checked
Georgia
Read the context and limitations ↗Individual entrepreneur is not a company
NAPR describes an individual entrepreneur as a natural person, not a legal entity, with personal responsibility for business obligations.
National Agency of Public Registry of Georgia ↗Checked
Company formation requires a founding agreement
NAPR requires a founding agreement containing the statute for an entrepreneurial legal entity and describes available standard statutes and certification methods.
National Agency of Public Registry of Georgia ↗Checked
Germany
Read the context and limitations ↗GmbH in the commercial register
The official EU overview lists German limited liability companies (GmbH) among entities recorded in the Commercial Register.
European e-Justice Portal ↗Checked
Notarial registration review
The overview describes a notary checking that the registration application is registrable before filing.
European e-Justice Portal ↗Checked
Hong Kong
Read the context and limitations ↗Non-resident formation is permitted
The Companies Registry permits non-Hong Kong residents to incorporate a local limited company. It requires a Hong Kong registered office and officer particulars in the application.
Hong Kong Companies Registry ↗Checked
Private-company annual returns
Private companies generally deliver annual returns within 42 days after the incorporation anniversary. The Registry describes specific dormant-company exceptions.
Hong Kong Companies Registry ↗Checked
Post-incorporation filings
The Registry publishes separate filing guides for local limited companies and other registered company types.
Hong Kong Companies Registry ↗Checked
Ireland
Read the context and limitations ↗Director residence matters
CRO describes an EEA-resident director requirement and statutory alternatives, including a bond and a qualifying certificate of real and continuous economic link.
Companies Registration Office ↗Checked
Company incorporation requirements
CRO’s incorporation leaflet sets out company registration requirements, officer information and incorporation documentation.
Companies Registration Office ↗Checked
Annual return obligation
Companies must deliver an annual return to CRO. The first return is made up six months after incorporation and does not require attached financial statements.
Companies Registration Office ↗Checked
Malaysia
Read the context and limitations ↗Resident director requirement
SSM requires a private company to have at least one director ordinarily resident in Malaysia with a principal place of residence there, and at least one promoter.
Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) ↗Checked
Company-name approval
The incorporation guidance requires approval of the proposed company name by SSM.
Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) ↗Checked
Netherlands
Read the context and limitations ↗BV formation uses a notary
A civil-law notary establishes a BV and registers it and its managing directors with KVK. The official guidance describes both online and in-person formation.
Business.gov.nl ↗Checked
Compare legal structures
The government business portal distinguishes a sole proprietorship from a BV and explains their different legal characteristics.
Business.gov.nl ↗Checked
Registration and tax administration
KVK passes registration information to the Tax Administration. The registration route depends on the legal structure and establishment circumstances.
Business.gov.nl ↗Checked
New Zealand
Read the context and limitations ↗Resident director requirement
A New Zealand company needs at least one director living in New Zealand, or in Australia who is also a director of an Australian-incorporated company.
New Zealand Companies Office ↗Checked
Check incorporation prerequisites
The Companies Office explains the basic elements of a company, including directors and signed director consents, before incorporation.
New Zealand Companies Office ↗Checked
Norway
Read the context and limitations ↗Prepare the founding documents
Altinn publishes the process for establishing and registering a private limited company and links the register’s sample memorandum.
Altinn — Norwegian public-sector business guidance ↗Checked
Registration has a filing deadline
The Register of Business Enterprises must receive the registration notification no later than three months after the company is founded.
Altinn — Norwegian public-sector business guidance ↗Checked
Portugal
Read the context and limitations ↗Residence permit for remote workers
Residence-permit requirements after obtaining the appropriate visa; this is not the consular visa application guidance.
AIMA ↗Checked
Empresa na Hora registration
Official in-person Empresa na Hora company registration channel.
Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado ↗Checked
Rwanda
Read the context and limitations ↗Foreign ownership and local address
The Registrar permits non-local shareholding and requires a local physical registered address.
Rwanda Development Board — Office of the Registrar General ↗Checked
Separate company and branch routes
The Registrar distinguishes private companies, individual enterprises and branches. Foreign-company branch registration calls for a resolution and a branch representative residing in Rwanda.
Rwanda Development Board — Office of the Registrar General ↗Checked
Singapore
Read the context and limitations ↗Registering a local company
Registration process, fees and core company requirements.
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority ↗Checked
Appointing directors, company secretary and other key personnel
Resident-director and company-secretary requirements.
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority ↗Checked
Corporate Income Tax Rates
Headline corporate income-tax rate and exemptions.
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore ↗Checked
Annual returns
Annual-return filing obligation and deadlines.
Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority ↗Checked
South Africa
Read the context and limitations ↗Private-company registration checklist
CIPC publishes a registration checklist specifically for a private company using a standard Memorandum of Incorporation.
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission ↗Checked
An existing foreign company has a separate route
CIPC describes external-company registration for a foreign company conducting or intending to conduct business in South Africa, with stated exceptions.
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission ↗Checked
Spain
Read the context and limitations ↗Telework / international telework visa
Published telework visa requirements and income thresholds.
Government of Spain ↗Checked
Registro Mercantil
Mercantile Register role in SL incorporation.
Registradores de España ↗Checked
Sweden
Read the context and limitations ↗A limited company can have one founder
The authorities’ guide states that a limited company can be started alone or together with other people.
Verksamt — Swedish authorities’ business portal ↗Checked
Use the official registration guidance
The guide directs applicants to the company-registration service and explains the formation process.
Verksamt — Swedish authorities’ business portal ↗Checked
United Arab Emirates
Read the context and limitations ↗Ajman Free Zone e-commerce package
The limited scope of the advertised starting price.
Ajman Free Zone ↗Checked
Free Zone Persons
Qualifying Free Zone Person conditions, audited statements and corporate-tax treatment.
UAE Federal Tax Authority ↗Checked
Corporate Tax
Federal corporate-tax framework and official guidance.
UAE Ministry of Finance ↗Checked
Qualifying and Excluded Activities
Current qualifying-activity, excluded-activity and free-zone status rules.
UAE Federal Tax Authority ↗Checked
United Kingdom
Read the context and limitations ↗Set up a private limited company
Online registration, fee, required information and typical processing time.
GOV.UK ↗Checked
Companies House fees
Current incorporation and confirmation-statement filing fees.
GOV.UK ↗Checked
Corporation Tax rates and allowances
Main rate, small-profits rate and marginal-relief thresholds.
GOV.UK ↗Checked
Running a limited company: your responsibilities
Records, accounts, confirmation statements and tax responsibilities.
GOV.UK ↗Checked
United States
Read the context and limitations ↗Limited Liability Company
Registered-agent requirement, formation process and state filing fee.
Wyoming Secretary of State ↗Checked
Annual Report
Annual-report obligation and licence-tax minimum.
Wyoming Secretary of State ↗Checked
Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entities
Form 5472 and pro-forma Form 1120 filing requirements.
Internal Revenue Service ↗Checked
Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting
Current BOI reporting scope and exemptions.
FinCEN ↗Checked