Company Registration
Complete guide to establishing a legal entity and registering your company in Iran.
OIETAI filings · Iranian corporate registry
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
An illustrative sequence. Requirements and timing vary by entity type, sector and location; no step guarantees approval.
- 01
Define the activity
Describe exactly what the entity will do, because the activity decides which licences and authorities apply.
A short activity statement.
- 02
Pick the structure
Compare a private joint-stock company, a limited liability company, a branch or a free-zone entity against ownership, liability and exit needs.
A structure choice with reasons.
- 03
Prepare legalised documents
Gather shareholder documents, powers of attorney and translations, legalised as the registry requires.
A complete, checked document set.
- 04
Register and set up operations
File with the registry, then complete tax, social-security and banking steps before trading.
Registration and tax records.
| Option | Often suits | Points to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Private joint-stock company | Larger projects and multiple investors | Board and audit requirements |
| Limited liability company | Smaller ventures with few partners | Share transfers need partner consent |
| Branch office | Delivering a parent company's contracts | The parent carries the liability |
| Free-zone entity | Trade, logistics and export activity | Rules for selling into the mainland |
Ready to Register Your Company?
Our legal and regulatory experts will guide you through the entire registration process.
Start RegistrationDistinguish incorporation from permission to operate
Company registration, activity licensing, tax registration, employer registration and banking are different milestones. A registered company may still be unable to invoice, hire or import until the relevant requirements are satisfied. Choose the vehicle based on the activity, ownership, governance and financing plan. If FIPPA protection is relevant, review the investment licence and capital-registration process separately. Confirm document legalisation and signing authority before filing.
What you receive
Evidence to prepare
- Shareholder and signatory documents with required legalisation
- Activity description, proposed vehicle and licence dependencies
- Separate incorporation, banking, tax and investment milestones
Engagement timeline
Planning estimates only. Confirm the schedule in the proposal; authority decisions, document availability and bank acceptance may change it.
Frequently asked questions
Related knowledge & common questions
Cross-references into our knowledge base and answer engine — designed so you (and AI assistants) can jump straight to the entity definitions and the exact questions readers ask about company forms & registration in iran.
FAQ — General Compliance
Choosing the right Iranian entity before you file anything
Most registration problems are decided before the first form is filed. The entity form determines liability, how many shareholders you need, whether foreign ownership is straightforward, how profit is repatriated and what you must publish. Changing form later means dissolving and re-registering, so the choice is worth a week of analysis. Registration itself runs through the Companies Registration Office, with name reservation, deed notarisation and official gazette publication as the sequential gates.
Common Iranian entity forms compared
| Entity form | Minimum shareholders | Foreign ownership | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private joint stock company (PJSC) | 3 | Up to 100% permitted in most sectors | Operating companies, joint ventures, FIPPA-licensed projects |
| Limited liability company (LLC) | 2 | Up to 100% permitted in most sectors | Trading, services and smaller operating businesses |
| Branch of a foreign company | n/a | Wholly foreign parent | Contract execution and after-sales presence with parent liability |
| Representative office | n/a | Wholly foreign parent | Market development and liaison; no direct commercial revenue |
| Free-zone company | 1–2 depending on zone | Up to 100% | Manufacturing, assembly and logistics under zone incentives |
Indicative planning benchmarks based on our engagement experience; actual timelines vary by sector and file.
Documents and decisions to prepare before filing
- Three candidate company names, in priority order, for the reservation step
- Legalised and translated corporate documents for each foreign shareholder
- Passport copies and legalised powers of attorney for signatories
- Registered office address with a supporting tenancy or ownership document
- Defined objects clause — Iranian practice ties permitted activity closely to the registered objects
- Decision on whether to seek a FIPPA licence, taken before capital is transferred
- Post-registration list: tax file, VAT registration, social security file and bank account
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign investor own 100% of an Iranian company?
In most sectors, yes. Full foreign ownership of a PJSC or LLC is permitted, with restrictions concentrated in specific regulated sectors. Confirm the position for your activity before filing the objects clause.
How long does company registration take in Iran?
Where documents are legalised and translated in advance, registration is generally a matter of weeks rather than months. The steps most often delayed are legalisation abroad and name reservation.
What is the difference between a branch and a subsidiary?
A branch is not a separate legal person — the foreign parent carries the liability and the branch is limited to activities within the parent’s scope. A subsidiary such as a PJSC or LLC is a separate Iranian legal person with its own liability and governance.
Is a FIPPA licence required to register a company?
No. FIPPA is a separate protection regime, not a registration requirement. It matters because it documents the imported capital and the right to transfer principal and profit out, so it is best decided before capital moves.
What must be done after registration is complete?
Open a tax file, register for VAT where applicable, open a social security file for employees and open the corporate bank account. These follow-on steps commonly take longer than the registration itself.