Foreign company registration in Kenya
B& I East Africa, provides you with a reliable Foreign company registration service in Kenya. A foreign company is a company registered in a foreign jurisdiction seeking to register the same company in Kenya and getting a Certificate of compliance to conduct its business in Kenya.
Foreign company registration enables a foreign entity to maintain its original corporate identity, structure and legal status as is in the foreign jurisdiction in Kenya and to acquire legal status to trade locally.
At B&I East Africa, we process your Foreign company registration applications.
How to register a Foreign company in Kenya.
The proceedure for registration of a foreign company in Kenya is as follows.
- Name reservation - To verify if the proposed foreign company name is available for registration in Kenya.
- Execution of forms FC1, FC2, FC3 and FC4
- Appointment of Local representative.
- Registration and issuance of certificate of Incorporation
- PIN application
What are the requirements to register a foreign company in Kenya?
The following is a guide to the requirements for registration of a foreign company in Kenya.
- Scanned certified copy of certificate of incorporation of company from country of registration.
- Scanned certified copy of the Memorandums and Articles of Association of the company. (If in a Foreign language, interpreted and certified copy)
- Registered office in country of origin (Plot / House number, road, City, country)
- Registered office of the Branch in Kenya. (Name of building/ location, plot number, road, county).
- Names of the Directors / shareholders and share structure.
- Contact information of the directors / shareholders - Email address, Telephone number, postal address and residential addresses.
- Scans of Passport bio data and passport photo of directors / shareholders.
- Appointment of local representative
Local representative of a Foreign company in Kenya.
All foreign companies are required to appoint a Kenyan citizen, resident in Kenya as the Local representative of the company. The following are the requrements for appoitment of a local representative in Kenya.
- Names in full of the local representative.
- Copy of ID and PIN of the local representative.
- Scan passport photo of the local representative.
- Contact information of the local representative. IE. Postal address, email, Telephone number.
- Residential address of the local representative.
“Upon presentation of the certified documents, the prescribed forms and payment of the registration fees. The application is processed and a certificate of compliance is issued for successful applications.”
Which Forms are required for Foreign company Registration.
The following forms are required for application of a branch of a foreign company in Kenya.
- FC1 Application for registration as a foreign company
- FC2 Statement by registered foreign company for use of alternative or name for the company
- FC3 Notice of residential address/change of residential address of a local representative of a foreign company.
- FC4 Notice of hours of opening of foreign company’s registered office in Kenya .
Branch of a Foreign Company in Kenya
The registration of a branch of a foreign company in Kenya enables foreign registered entities to register and trade in Kenya
We also provide a whole range of post registration services to our clients.
- Foreign director PIN
- Foreign Company PIN
- Bank account processing
F.A.Q
Kenya foreign company Registration: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a foreign company in Kenya?
A foreign company registration in Kenya allows a foreign company, registered in a foreign country, to register a branch of that company and establish a legal presence and conduct business in Kenya.
Duration to register a foreign company in Kenya?
The registration process of a foreign company in Kenya can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks, depending on application compliance and the efficiency of the regulatory authorities.
Do foreign companies need a local director in Kenya?
No. It is not mandatory for a foreign company to have a local director in Kenya. It is however mandatory for a foreign company to appoint a Kenyan citizen to act as the local representative in Kenya.
Do foreign company directors need a work permit in Kenya?
Yes, foreign nationals who wish to work in Kenya must obtain a work permit. The Class D permit is commonly issued for employment, while other permits, like Class G, are for investors.
What is a certificate of compliance?
A certificate of compliance is the equivalent to a certificate of Incorporation issued upon registration of a foreign company.