Kish Free Zone
Kish is the easiest Iranian free zone for a first entity: visa-free entry, the densest service infrastructure, and a registration process most foreign investors complete in four to six weeks.
Kish Island, Persian Gulf · established 1993 · ≈91 km²
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Kish Free Zone
Zone at a glance
- Established
- 1993
- Area
- ≈91 km²
- Corporate tax
- 0% for 20 years
- Foreign ownership
- 100%, no local partner required
- Entry
- Visa-free for most nationalities
- Typical registration time
- 4–6 weeks
Kish Free Zone occupies a 91 km² island in the Persian Gulf, 17 km off the mainland, and is the zone most foreign investors meet first. Entry is visa-free for almost all nationalities, which makes it the practical place to hold first meetings, sign documents and complete registration in person.
The island is built around trade, tourism, ICT and light assembly rather than heavy industry. Companies registered in Kish trade duty-free within the zone and pay no corporate income tax for twenty years from the first declared activity.
What Kish actually gives you
- Twenty-year exemption from corporate income tax on zone-sourced income
- Zero customs duty on goods imported into and re-exported from the zone
- 100% foreign ownership with no requirement for an Iranian shareholder
- Free repatriation of capital and profits without Central Bank case approval
- Visa-free entry for investors, staff and visiting clients
- Zone-specific labour regulation, more flexible than the mainland Labour Code
Sectors & fit
Best for
Trading companies, service and consulting firms, and any investor who wants a registered Iranian presence without a manufacturing footprint.
Watch out
Sales into mainland Iran from Kish are treated as imports and attract duty and VAT. If your revenue comes from mainland customers, model that cost before choosing the zone.
What it costs to set up in Kish
Indicative ranges for a first-year foreign-owned entity. Actual figures depend on activity, space and headcount — we quote against your specific plan.
| Item | Indicative cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zone registration & licence (first year) | 2,500 – 4,000 | Varies by activity; trading is at the lower end |
| Annual licence renewal | 1,200 – 2,000 | Payable to the Kish Free Zone Organization |
| Serviced office (small, per year) | 3,000 – 7,000 | Business-centre desks available from ~$1,800 |
| Legal, translation & notarisation | 1,500 – 3,000 | Consular legalisation of parent documents included |
| Bank account opening | 0 – 500 | Minimum balance typically IRR-denominated |
| Work & residence permits (per expatriate) | 600 – 1,200 | Renewable annually |
How to register a company in Kish
Name clearance
Submit three Farsi names to the Kish Free Zone Organization registrar and reserve the approved one.
3–7 days
Activity licence
File the business plan and shareholder pack for the activity licence matching your intended trade, service or assembly line.
2–3 weeks
Premises lease
Sign a lease for office, retail or warehouse space; the address is required before the registration certificate issues.
1 week
Company registration
Register the entity with the zone registrar, receive the registration certificate, national ID and official gazette entry.
1–2 weeks
Tax & customs file
Open the tax file for exemption tracking and obtain the free-zone customs code for imports.
1–2 weeks
Banking & permits
Open IRR and FX accounts with a zone-licensed bank and file work permits for expatriate staff.
2–3 weeks
Documents you will need
- Passport copies of every shareholder and director (notarised, translated into Farsi)
- Parent-company certificate of incorporation and articles of association, legalised by the Iranian consulate
- Board resolution approving the subsidiary or branch and appointing the local signatory
- Three proposed company names, in Farsi, for zone-authority name clearance
- Business plan covering activity, projected turnover, headcount and space requirement
- Proof of address for the leased office, warehouse or plot inside the zone
Kish Free Zone FAQ
Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Kish Free Zone?
Yes. Kish Free Zone permits complete foreign ownership with no Iranian shareholder or nominee. The shareholder register can be entirely non-Iranian individuals or corporate entities.
How long does company registration in Kish take?
Four to six weeks from name clearance to a bank account, assuming parent-company documents are already legalised by an Iranian consulate. Legalisation abroad is usually the slowest step and should start first.
What does it cost to set up in Kish Free Zone?
Budget roughly USD 8,000–15,000 for the first year including registration, licence, a small serviced office, legal and translation work. Renewal costs fall to about USD 3,000–5,000 per year.
Do I need to visit Kish in person?
At least one visit is normally required for signing and bank onboarding. Entry is visa-free for most nationalities, which is a practical advantage over mainland registration.
Is the 20-year tax holiday automatic?
It applies to income generated from activity inside the zone and starts from the date of first declared operation, but you must open and maintain a tax file for the exemption to be recognised.