Registering a business
The following is provided for information purposes only on registering a business in Ireland. All further queries regarding this information should be directed to the competent authority listed below.
Procedures for registering your business in Ireland
Competent Authority
Registering a business name
Registering a company
Registering a foreign company
Relevant legislation applicable
Contact the Companies Registration Office
Procedures for registering your business in Ireland
Where a company is trading in Ireland, or an individual is trading in Ireland under anything other than their own natural name, they must register with the relevant competent authority in Ireland, the Companies Registration Office.
Registration can take the form of a business name, company, or, where a company has already been incorporated in another country, a branch.
The company / individual themselves must decide how they want to register.
However they decide to register, they must have a place of business in Ireland before their application can be accepted by The Companies Registration Office
Information is provided in the links below on the Companies Registration Office website for registering a business in Ireland
Competent Authority
The competent authority for registering a business is the Companies Registration Office and should be contacted directly for all queries in relation to registering a business.
Registering a company
For registering a company the following forms must be submitted to the Companies Registration Office
Documents to be submitted:
- An A1 form / 'Application to incorporate a company' has to be completed by the applicant and witnessed by a solicitor, or a peace commissioner,or a notary public/commissioner for oaths.
- The application must be accompanied by the company's memorandum and articles of association.
More information on registering a company ( including different company types e.g. limited company), registration methods and the relevant forms is available in the links below on the Companies Registration Office
Registering a foreign company
Any company which is incorporated outside the State and establishes a Branch in the State must be registered with the Companies Registration Office.
For registering a foreign company the following forms must be submitted to the Companies Registration Office
- The relevant application form for registering a foreign company and copies of registration certificate, accounts, memorandum and articles of association, from the country of incorporation.
More information on registering a foreign company and the relevant forms is available in the link below on the Companies Registration Office website.
Registration of a foreign company
Response time frame by the Companies Registration Officer
Registration of Business Name
It normally takes three weeks from the receipt of the paper form/signature page in the Companies Registration Office for the registration of a business name and the issue of the certificate.
Please click here for more information from the Companies Registration Office
Registering a Company
There are three different registration methods for registering a company, each of which have their particular Companies Registration Office customer standard.
- Ordinary: while there is no guaranteed service level, in practice it takes 15 working days.
- Fé Phráinn: ten working days
- Online A1: five working days
Please click here for more information from the Companies Registration Office
Relevant legislation applicable
Please find links to relevant legislation applicable for registering a business on the Companies Registration Office website.