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 ).

You have to collect required documents for below 4 key positions

Required documents of shareholder(s):

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.

Situation 1. Shareholder is a natural person ( individual ), here we provide two approaches to you.

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.

Situation 2. Shareholder is an existed company ( corporate entity ), two approaches here.

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.

Required documents of legal representative:

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.

Requirements of supervisor:

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 ).

Required Qualification of an accountant:

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.