Documents Required to Register a Company

Plan to register a company in mainland China?

Attention first, all certificated documents and legal instruments must include the signature of the local official ( generally is local Diplomatic Office, High Court of Justice, State Government, Public Notary Office or other authorities ) and the stamp of Chinese Embassy.

Now, you should prepare relevant documents to prove authenticity and legitimacy for foreign identification or business entity, then courier these original certificated files to SMEsChina office, all legal instruments will be submitted to Chinese market and supervision department. Once documents be recognized from Chinese government, that signify your documents of foreign identification can be accepted and approved to register a company here or do business activities in mainland China.

For you to get a better understanding of preparing details required documents, here SMEsChina listed different situations depending on different corporate structure. Whatever your type of corporation is, identify authenticity and legitimacy is the most important process completed by yourself, because the other official forms can be filled out by online guidance.

If you have decided to register a company as LLC, LLP, WFOE, or other limited corporations in mainland China. Foreign invested enterprises need to prepare documents from China embassies in your home countries ( this is explained as below ).

OK, let’s get started.

Shareholder(s) known as investor(s), stockholder(s), a Chinese corporation must include at least 1 shareholder who also can be an executive director ( known as the legal representative ). One shareholder can be an existed enterprise or one natural person to holding corporate shares.

1). Chinese citizen, submit original ID to registration authority to obtain verification.

2). Non residents ( foreign individuals ), apply for 2 sets of notarized and authenticated passports issued by China embassy in your home country. Include passport page, signature of passport, and signature of the local official, the stamp of Chinese embassy, both languages.

1). Chinese corporation, submit original business license to registration authority.

2). Foreign enterprise registered in other country, apply for 2 sets of notarized and authenticated documents issued by China embassy in your home country. Include certificate of business registration, foreign corporate address, director(s), register number, signature of the local official, the stamp of Chinese embassy, both language. Some countries also can use taxpayer ID, EIN ( employer identification number ) to identify authenticity and legitimacy.

Known as executive director appointed by shareholder(s), 2 situations.

1). Chinese citizen, submit original ID to registration authority to obtain verification.

2). Non residents ( foreign individuals ), apply for 2 sets of notarized and authenticated passports issued by China embassy in your home country. Include passport page, signature of passport, and signature of the local official, the stamp of Chinese embassy, both languages.

An individual shareholder can be the legal representative voted by the board of shareholders.

Corporate supervisor, as a senior secretary appointed by shareholder(s) to supervise daily operations on behalf of shareholder(s). Needs,

1). Original ID ( Chinese citizen ).

2). Copy of passport with colourful and the size as 1:1 ( foreigner ).

Financial manager must be Chinese citizen and provide original ID and certificate of accounting qualification issued by Chinese financial bureau.

If you have read our guidance and have everything you need to set up. You can start to prepare the required documents and legal files for your Chinese company incorporation, if you need further details you can contact our online experts and lawyers.

Above required documents can be collected easily and quickly for Chinese shareholders, directors and partners.

But you have found out that you must go to China embassy to apply for these required documents if you are foreign citizens or oversea enterprises. No worries for that, here SMEsChina have listed global links of Chinese embassy, you may look for the nearest embassy office in your cities or countries through this link: https://www.smeschina.com/embassy-notarization-authentication-documents/

Other positions here means they are not the compulsive requirements to set up.

1). General manager, original ID (Chinese citizen ) or passport copy ( foreigner ).

2). Board of directors, 3 members at least and appointed by shareholders. LLC and LLP do not need to set up this structure, but JV structure must set up the board of directors, 3 person at least appointed by shareholders ( Joint Venture business established by 2 shareholders or more, and same time they from China and abroad ). Need their original ID (Chinese citizen ) or passport copy ( foreigner ).

All of above information for guidance on preparing required documents to register a local company ( enterprise ) collected by SMEsChina teams according to the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Business Regulations of Registration, in accordance with the Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Foreign Invested Enterprises and other relevant and officially promulgated laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China.

If you did not find your requirements for your Chinese company registration, you can get in touch with our online experts, laws.