Company Registration
Complete guide to establishing a legal entity and registering your company in Iran.
Six Essential Steps
Feasibility Study
Comprehensive market analysis and regulatory assessment for your business type.
Document Preparation
Preparation of all necessary legal documents and articles of association.
Registration Application
Submission of registration documents to relevant government authorities.
Approval & License
Obtaining business license and regulatory approvals from ministries.
Bank Account Setup
Establishing corporate bank accounts and financial infrastructure.
Ongoing Compliance
Support with tax registration, labor compliance, and regulatory requirements.
Advantages of Registration
Considerations & Challenges
Ready to Register Your Company?
Our legal and regulatory experts will guide you through the entire registration process.
Start RegistrationPick the right Iranian entity before you sign anything
The most common foreign-invested vehicle is a Private Joint Stock Company (Sahami Khass) with 100% foreign ownership, registered with FIPPA protection. A branch office is faster but cannot enter most commercial contracts in its own name.
Sahami Khass (PJSC)
The default vehicle: 3+ shareholders, full commercial capacity, can hold real estate and IP, eligible for FIPPA protection and free-zone licensing.
Branch / Representative Office
Faster and cheaper, but a branch can only conduct activities of its foreign parent, and a rep office cannot generate revenue at all — useful for liaison and market study.
Free-zone entity
Registered with the relevant free-zone authority instead of the Companies Registration Office. Faster (2–4 weeks), tax-holiday eligible, but operations restricted to the zone unless paired with a mainland affiliate.
What's included
- Notarised apostilled corporate documents from your home jurisdiction
- Reserved Farsi company name (Registration Office approval)
- Articles of Association in bilingual Farsi/English
- Initial share capital deposited in an Iranian bank
- Tax File Number and VAT registration
- Social Security Organization (SSO) employer registration
- Customs IRICA code if you will import/export
Frequently asked questions
Can a single foreign shareholder own 100%?+
Yes. PJSCs require 3+ shareholders, but two can be nominees of the same beneficial owner — effectively 100% foreign control. Limited Liability Companies (LLC) allow 2+ shareholders.
Is there a minimum capital requirement?+
PJSC minimum is IRR 1,000,000 (nominal). In practice, capital should match operational needs; capital under USD 50,000 raises red flags with banks and visa authorities.
What ongoing filings are required?+
Annual audited financials (if turnover exceeds threshold), annual tax return, quarterly VAT returns, monthly payroll/SSO filings, and an annual general meeting on record.
Can I sign contracts before registration completes?+
Founders can sign pre-incorporation contracts that the company ratifies post-registration. We routinely structure binding term sheets this way to avoid delays.