Information date: 2 July 2026. Government fees, eCitizen/BRS portal wording and documentary requirements can change. Confirm the live eCitizen/BRS invoice before payment.
Quick Answers: Company Registration in Kenya
Company registration in Kenya is completed online through eCitizen / Business Registration Service (BRS). For a standard private limited company, the BRS fee schedule lists the official registration fee as KES 10,650, the main lodged documents as CR1, CR2, CR8 and Statement of Nominal Capital, and the processing time as 3–5 days for a complete application.
This guide is for: Kenyan founders, SMEs, foreign shareholders, consultants, contractors and investors who need to understand the cost, requirements, eCitizen/BRS process and timeline for registering a private limited company in Kenya.
Cost
How much does it cost?
KES 10,650 is the official BRS fee for registering a private limited company. Professional fees and post-registration setup are separate.
Requirements
What do you need?
Three proposed names, business activity, registered office, directors, shareholders, share capital, beneficial owners and signed BRS forms.
Process
How do you apply?
Complete the eCitizen/BRS application, generate and sign forms, upload clear scans, pay the invoice and respond to any Registrar query.
Duration
How long does it take?
BRS lists 3–5 days for complete private limited company filings. KRA, CR12, banking and permits take additional time.
This page is the practical hub for company registration in Kenya. It gives enough detail to answer cost, requirements, process and duration queries, while avoiding over-expansion into separate topics such as company tax, CR12 searches, foreign branch registration, investor permits, trademarks and county licences.
Company Registration Cost in Kenya
Quick answer: The official BRS Companies Registry fee schedule lists KES 10,650 for private limited company registration in Kenya. This is the government filing fee. Professional support, KRA PIN, CR12, banking, county permits and sector licences are separate unless included in your service scope.
Official cost to register a private limited company
| Cost item | Amount / status | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Private limited company registration | KES 10,650 | Official BRS filing fee for incorporation and Certificate of Incorporation output. |
| Business name registration | KES 950 | Simple trading-name registration; not a separate limited liability company. |
| Limited Liability Partnership registration | KES 25,000 | Alternative structure for partnership-style ventures. |
| Foreign company branch registration | KES 7,550 | Separate route for an overseas company registering a Kenyan branch. |
| CR12 / official company search | KES 650 | Post-registration extract often requested by banks, investors, tendering entities and due diligence teams. |
| Professional filing support | Quoted by scope | Structure review, document preparation, BRS filing, query handling and post-registration advice. |
What the KES 10,650 fee does not cover
The BRS incorporation fee should not be confused with the full cost of making a company operational. A newly incorporated company may still need tax registration, bank account documentation, a CR12, county permits, sector licences, employer registrations or immigration planning for foreign directors and employees.
- Company KRA PIN follow-through.
- CR12 or official company search.
- Corporate bank account onboarding pack.
- County single business permit review.
- Sector-specific licences or approvals.
- Investor permit or work permit planning for foreign founders.
Get a free quote for company registration in Kenya
Send your proposed company activity, founder type, number of directors/shareholders and whether you need KRA PIN, CR12, bank account support, county permit review or foreign investor support.
Call/WhatsApp: +254 700 176 096
Email: info@bieastafrica.com
Requirements for Company Registration in Kenya
Quick answer: You need three proposed company names, business activity, registered office, director and shareholder details, ID or passport details, KRA PIN details where applicable, share capital, share allocation, beneficial ownership information and signed BRS-generated forms.
Documents and details required
| Document / detail | Required for | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Three proposed company names | All companies | BRS states that name reservation and business registration are merged into one online step. |
| Business activity | All companies | Keep the activity accurate; regulated sectors may need post-registration licences. |
| Registered office address | All companies | Prepare the company’s Kenyan address and contact details. |
| Director and shareholder details | All companies | Names, ID/passport details, contacts, addresses and share allocation should be consistent. |
| CR1 | Company application | BRS company registration application form. |
| CR2 | Company with share capital | Model memorandum for a company with share capital. |
| CR8 | Directors | Residential address details for directors. |
| Statement of Nominal Capital | Companies with shares | Shows share capital, share value and share structure. |
| BOF1 / beneficial ownership details | Beneficial ownership | Required where generated or requested by the BRS application flow. |
| ID / passport | Directors and shareholders | Names and identification details should match official records. |
| KRA PIN details | Where applicable or requested | Director PINs and National IDs may also be relevant to post-registration company PIN processing. |
Requirements checklist before filing
- Three proposed company names in order of preference.
- Business activity / nature of business.
- Registered office address in Kenya.
- Postal address, email and phone contacts.
- Director details and ID or passport information.
- Shareholder details and shareholding percentages.
- KRA PIN details where applicable or where prompted.
- Recent passport photograph where requested.
- Nominal share capital and share value.
- Beneficial ownership information and ownership chain where applicable.
- Signed CR1, CR2, CR8 and Statement of Nominal Capital forms generated by BRS.
- BOF1 or beneficial ownership form where generated by the portal.
Local, foreign and corporate shareholders
| Founder type | What to prepare | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Kenyan individual founder | National ID details, KRA PIN details where applicable, address, contacts, share allocation and signed forms. | Confirm details match official records before filing. |
| Foreign individual founder | Passport details, contacts, foreign/local address planning, share allocation and banking KYC documents. | Immigration status is separate if the foreign founder will work or reside in Kenya. |
| Foreign corporate shareholder | Foreign company documents, board authority, ownership chart and ultimate beneficial owner details. | Banking, certification/notarisation and tax planning should be reviewed early. |
| Regulated-sector business | Business activity, ownership structure and sector licence requirements. | Telecoms, finance, health, education, construction, food, tourism and similar sectors may need additional approvals. |
Talk to us before filing if your structure is foreign-owned, regulated or multi-shareholder
We can review the proposed ownership structure, director/shareholder details, beneficial ownership chain and post-registration requirements before you submit to BRS.
Call/WhatsApp: +254 700 176 096
Email: info@bieastafrica.com
How to Register a Company in Kenya
Quick answer: Register a company in Kenya by applying online through eCitizen/BRS, submitting three preferred names with the full application, entering directors, shareholders and beneficial owners, signing and uploading the generated forms, paying the invoice and tracking the Registrar’s approval.
Step-by-step eCitizen/BRS process
1. Confirm the right structure
Confirm whether a private limited company is correct, or whether a business name, LLP, company limited by guarantee or foreign branch is more suitable.
2. Prepare three preferred names
Prepare three proposed company names, business activity, registered office, email, phone contacts and postal details.
3. Prepare directors, shareholders and beneficial owners
Collect IDs/passports, KRA PIN details where applicable, addresses, photos where prompted, shareholding percentages and beneficial ownership details.
4. Start the application on eCitizen/BRS
Access Companies Registry services, select private limited company and complete the online fields carefully.
5. Generate and sign forms
Download the auto-generated CR1, CR2, CR8, Statement of Nominal Capital and BOF1 where generated. Sign clearly.
6. Upload documents and pay
Scan the signed forms clearly, upload them, pay the live portal invoice and submit the application for review.
7. Monitor BRS queries
Check the dashboard and respond quickly to any query about names, signatures, IDs, shareholding or beneficial ownership details.
8. Download incorporation documents
After approval, download and safely store the Certificate of Incorporation and company registration documents.
After company registration: what next?
Registration creates the legal entity. It does not automatically complete every operating requirement. After incorporation, confirm the company KRA PIN position, obtain a CR12 or official search if required, prepare bank account documents, review county permit requirements and check whether sector licences apply.
| Item | Included in BRS incorporation? | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Incorporation | Yes | Main BRS registration output. |
| Company KRA PIN | No; separate iTax step | KRA states company and partnership PIN registration is initiated online through iTax. |
| CR12 / official search | No, usually separate | Often requested by banks, investors, tendering entities and due diligence teams. |
| Corporate bank account | No | Requires bank KYC, certificate, PIN, CR12 where requested, board resolution and signatory documents. |
| County business permit | No | Required for many businesses operating from premises or trading within a county. |
| Sector licence | No | Applies to regulated activities such as telecoms, finance, health, education, construction, food and tourism. |
| Work or investor permit | No | Company registration does not by itself grant a foreigner the right to work or reside in Kenya. |
Foreign founder note
Foreigners can register a local Kenyan company, but a foreign-owned local company is not the same as foreign company branch registration in Kenya. If the overseas parent company itself needs to register in Kenya, use the branch route. If a foreign individual will actively work in Kenya, review the Kenya investor permit or relevant work/residence pathway separately.
Our company registration service in Kenya
Our role is to reduce filing errors, confirm the correct structure before submission and help the company move from incorporation to practical operating readiness.
Why clients use BIEA
- Nairobi-based business setup and immigration support for local and foreign founders.
- Practical review before filing to reduce BRS correction queries on names, signatures, shares and beneficial ownership.
- Support beyond incorporation, including KRA PIN follow-through, CR12, banking documents, county permit review and immigration planning where required.
- Useful for foreign shareholders who need branch-versus-subsidiary guidance before committing to a Kenya structure.
BRS incorporation filing
Included: structure check, filing details, form generation, signing guidance, uploads, submission and query follow-up.
Requirements review
Included: proposed names, directors, shareholders, beneficial owners, registered office and shareholding review.
Operational readiness
Optional add-on: KRA PIN follow-through, CR12, bank-ready pack, county permit review and sector licence mapping.
Foreign investor support
Optional add-on: foreign shareholder KYC, branch vs subsidiary review, investor permit direction and ownership structuring.
Company Registration Duration in Kenya
Quick answer: BRS lists 3–5 days for a complete private limited company filing. The wider business setup timeline can be longer where KRA PIN, CR12, bank account opening, county permits, employer registration or sector licences are required.
Timeline by stage
| Stage | Planning timeline | Common cause of delay |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-filing preparation | Same day to a few days | Missing ID/passport details, unclear shares, incomplete beneficial ownership information or unavailable names. |
| BRS review | 3–5 days for complete filings | Unsigned forms, unclear scans, name objections, mismatched details or portal queries. |
| Certificate download | After approval | Unresolved BRS query notices or portal access issues. |
| KRA PIN and CR12 follow-through | Post-registration | Director PIN issues, beneficial ownership questions, bank KYC or delayed search requests. |
| Full operational readiness | Usually longer than incorporation | Bank account opening, county permits, employer registration, tax obligations and sector licences. |
Common mistakes that delay approval
- Submitting too few proposed names.
- Using a name that is too similar to an existing business.
- Mismatch between ID/passport names and portal entries.
- Unclear shareholding percentages or share capital details.
- Missing beneficial ownership details.
- Uploading unsigned forms or low-quality scans.
- Ignoring BRS query notices after submission.
- Assuming incorporation automatically completes KRA, CR12, banking and permits.
Talk to us about company registration in Kenya
Send the proposed company activity, founder type, number of directors/shareholders and post-registration support needed. We will confirm the correct filing route, official fee position and documents required.
Call/WhatsApp: +254 700 176 096
Email: Request help by email
FAQs: Company Registration in Kenya
How much does company registration cost in Kenya?
The BRS Companies Registry fee schedule lists KES 10,650 for private limited company registration. The live eCitizen/BRS invoice should be treated as final. Professional fees, KRA PIN support, CR12, bank onboarding, county permits and sector licences are separate unless included in your service scope.
What are the requirements for company registration in Kenya?
You need three proposed company names, business activity, registered office, director and shareholder details, ID or passport details, KRA PIN details where applicable, share capital, share allocation, beneficial ownership information and signed BRS-generated forms.
How do I register a company in Kenya through eCitizen?
Log into eCitizen/BRS, select private limited company, enter the company details, directors, shareholders, shareholding and beneficial owners, download and sign the generated forms, upload clear scans, pay the invoice and track approval.
How long does company registration take in Kenya?
BRS lists 3–5 days for a complete private limited company filing. The total setup period may be longer where the company also needs KRA PIN, CR12, bank account opening, county permits, employer registration or sector licences.
Which forms are required for company registration in Kenya?
The BRS fee schedule refers to CR1, CR2, CR8 and Statement of Nominal Capital for private limited company registration. The portal may also generate beneficial ownership forms such as BOF1 depending on the filing flow.
Can foreigners register a company in Kenya?
Yes. Foreign individuals and foreign corporate shareholders can register a Kenyan company. However, banking, KRA, beneficial ownership, sector licensing and immigration planning should be checked separately.
Does company registration give a foreigner the right to work in Kenya?
No. Incorporation creates the company; it does not automatically give a foreign director, shareholder or employee the right to work or reside in Kenya. Immigration status should be reviewed separately.
Is CR12 issued automatically after company registration?
The Certificate of Incorporation is the main registration output. CR12 or official company search is normally a separate post-registration extract used for banks, tenders, investor onboarding and due diligence.
What is the difference between a business name and a limited company in Kenya?
A business name is a simple trading-name registration and is not a separate limited liability company. A private limited company is a separate legal entity and is usually preferred where there are shareholders, contracts, tenders, investment, liability separation or growth plans.
What causes company registration delays in Kenya?
Common delays include unavailable names, inconsistent ID or passport details, unclear shareholding, missing beneficial ownership details, unsigned forms, poor-quality scans and late responses to BRS queries.
Official sources checked
- BRS Fee Schedule – Companies Registry
- Business Registration Service
- BRS Company Registry Forms
- KRA Company and Partnership PIN Registration
Information date: 2 July 2026. Government portal steps, forms, fees and invoice amounts may change. Always confirm live requirements at filing time.
Author and review
Prepared by: Edward Omondi, business setup and immigration consultant based in Nairobi, Kenya, focusing on company registration, investor entry, immigration planning, compliance follow-through and post-registration support.
Office: Kose Heights, Argwings Kodhek Road, Kilimani, Nairobi, Kenya.
Reviewed by: Business and Immigration East Africa editorial/compliance review for BRS flow clarity, official fee accuracy, requirements, KRA PIN follow-through, foreign investor considerations, bank readiness and post-registration compliance.