Company registration in Moldova
Company registration in Moldova is available to both Moldovan and foreign investors. A company may be incorporated by one or more founders, and foreign individuals and legal entities may establish and own companies in the Republic of Moldova.
The most commonly used form for conducting business is the limited liability company (LLC), known in Moldova as an SRL (Societate cu Răspundere Limitată). The registration procedure is carried out through the Public Services Agency (PSA), which maintains the State Register of Legal Entities.
Foreign investors do not necessarily need to handle the entire registration procedure personally in Moldova. Depending on the circumstances, the necessary documents may be prepared in advance and certain registration formalities may be completed through an authorised representative.
Lawyer Augustin Procopovici provides legal assistance with company registration and company formation in Moldova, including advice on the incorporation procedure, preparation and review of documents, representation before the competent authorities and assistance with matters arising after registration.
If you are planning to register a company in Moldova, you can contact me to discuss the proposed business structure and the documents required in your particular case.
How to Register a Company in Moldova
The registration of a company in Moldova is carried out by the Public Services Agency (PSA), which maintains the State Register of Legal Entities.
Before submitting the application, the founders should determine the main elements of the future company, including:
- the legal form of the company;
- the company name;
- the founders and their participation in the share capital;
- the registered office;
- the administrator;
- the amount of the share capital;
- the beneficial owner or beneficial owners.
For most small and medium-sized businesses, the limited liability company (LLC), or SRL in Romanian, is the legal form most commonly used in Moldova.
Once the necessary documents have been prepared, the application for state registration and the incorporation documents are submitted to the Public Services Agency. The authority examines the application and, if the legal requirements are met, registers the company in the State Register of Legal Entities.
The registration procedure may also be handled through an authorised representative, which is particularly relevant for foreign founders who are not in Moldova.
Can a Foreigner Register a Company in Moldova?
Foreign citizens and foreign legal entities can establish companies in the Republic of Moldova. A foreign investor may be the sole founder of a Moldovan company or may establish the company together with other Moldovan or foreign individuals or legal entities.
Foreign founders are generally subject to the same company registration framework as Moldovan founders. However, additional requirements may apply to documents issued abroad, particularly regarding their authentication, apostille or legalisation and translation into Romanian.
A foreign citizen may also be appointed as the administrator of a Moldovan company. The founder and the administrator do not have to be the same person.
If the foreign founder cannot or does not wish to be present in Moldova for the registration procedure, certain formalities may be completed through an authorised representative on the basis of a power of attorney, subject to the requirements applicable to the documents issued abroad.
This can make it possible to prepare and complete the company registration procedure without the founder travelling to Moldova solely for the purpose of incorporation.
Planning to Register a Company in Moldova?
Send us the details of your proposed company to discuss the registration procedure and the legal assistance required.
Registration of an LLC (SRL) in Moldova
The limited liability company (LLC), known in Moldova as an SRL – Societate cu Răspundere Limitată, is one of the legal forms commonly used for carrying out business activities in the Republic of Moldova.
An SRL may be established by one or more founders, including foreign individuals or foreign legal entities. The founders determine the share capital and their respective participation in the company in the incorporation documents.
As a general rule, the liability of the shareholders is limited to the company, and they are not personally liable for the company’s obligations solely by reason of being shareholders.
The company is managed by an administrator, who acts on its behalf and represents it in relations with third parties and public authorities. The administrator may be one of the founders or another person appointed by them.
When establishing an SRL, the founders must determine, among other matters, the company name, registered office, administrator, share capital and ownership structure and provide the information required regarding the beneficial owner.
Documents Required for Company Registration in Moldova
The documents required for company registration in Moldova depend on whether the founder is an individual or a legal entity and whether the documents are issued in Moldova or abroad.
Individual Founders
An individual founder must provide a valid identity document. A foreign citizen will normally use a valid passport for the registration procedure.
If the application is submitted through an authorised representative, a power of attorney granting the necessary powers for the incorporation and registration of the company must also be provided.
The registration documents must also contain the information required by law regarding the company’s beneficial owner or beneficial owners.
Foreign Corporate Founders
If the founder is a legal entity, the documents must include the decision of its competent corporate body approving the establishment of the Moldovan company.
Where the founder is a foreign legal entity, additional corporate documents are required, including documents confirming its registration and legal existence in the country of origin, as well as its incorporation documents.
Foreign documents must be translated into Romanian and, where applicable, apostilled or legalised in accordance with the rules applicable to documents issued in the respective country.
Documents issued in countries for which an international treaty or other applicable legal framework removes the requirement for an apostille or legalisation may be accepted without these additional formalities.
Documents for the Company Administrator
The registration file must also contain the required identification information concerning the person appointed as the company’s administrator.
The administrator may be one of the founders or another person appointed by them and may be a Moldovan or foreign citizen.
Company Name and Registered Office
Before submitting the application for company registration in Moldova, the founders must choose the company name and determine its registered office.
Company Name
The company name must be distinguishable from the names of legal entities already registered in the Republic of Moldova and must comply with the applicable legal requirements.
Because the preferred name may already be registered, it is advisable to have several alternatives available before starting the registration procedure.
A company name may also be reserved in advance with the Public Services Agency for a period of up to six months.
Certain restrictions apply to the use of names that may create confusion regarding the legal form or status of the company, names of public authorities, certain geographical or official names, names of other persons and names that conflict with protected trademarks or legal and moral requirements.
Registered Office
Every company registered in Moldova must have a registered office (legal address).
The address must be genuine and used with the consent of the owner of the premises. A residential address may also be used as the registered office of a company.
The company is responsible for the accuracy of the information provided regarding its registered office.
Business Activities and Licences
A company registered in Moldova may carry out any business activity that is not prohibited by law, subject to the requirements applicable to regulated activities.
During the registration process, the founders indicate the economic activities that the company intends to carry out. These activities are identified according to the Classification of Economic Activities of Moldova (CAEM).
The fact that a company has been registered does not automatically authorise it to carry out activities for which the law requires a licence, authorisation, permit or other regulatory approval. Where the intended business activity is regulated, the necessary approvals must be obtained before or during the commencement of that activity, as required by law.
For foreign investors, it is therefore useful to determine in advance whether the proposed activity is subject to any special regulatory requirements in Moldova.
Company Registration Procedure and Timeframe
Once the incorporation documents have been prepared, the application for state registration is submitted to the Public Services Agency (PSA) together with the required supporting documents.
The Public Services Agency examines the application and verifies whether the submitted documents comply with the legal requirements. Where the requirements are met, the PSA issues the decision on state registration and records the company in the State Register of Legal Entities.
The company is considered registered from the date on which the registration decision is adopted. The applicant receives the registration documents confirming the incorporation of the company.
How Long Does It Take to Register a Company in Moldova?
Company registration can normally be completed:
- within 24 hours under the standard procedure; or
- within 4 hours under the expedited procedure.
The applicable period is calculated according to the working schedule of the registration authority and requires the complete set of documents to have been properly submitted.
The state registration fee is MDL 1,149 for registration within 24 hours and MDL 4,596 for registration within 4 hours.
Additional fees may apply for other services requested in connection with the registration, such as reservation or approval of the company name and the issuance of extracts from the State Register.
What Happens After Company Registration?
Once the company has been registered, the Public Services Agency transmits the relevant registration information electronically to the competent public authorities. Therefore, separate registration with the State Tax Service, National Social Insurance House and National Bureau of Statistics is generally not required as part of the incorporation process.
However, depending on the nature of the business, additional steps may be necessary before the company begins its activities. These may include opening a bank account, obtaining licences or other permits, completing tax-related formalities and complying with requirements applicable to the company’s particular field of activity.
Opening a Corporate Bank Account
After registration, the company may open a corporate bank account with a bank operating in Moldova.
The bank will request the company’s registration information and identification documents and will carry out its own compliance and know-your-customer (KYC) procedures. The exact documents required may therefore vary depending on the bank, the company’s ownership structure, its administrator and the nature of the proposed business.
For companies established by foreign founders, it is advisable to consider the banking requirements at an early stage, particularly where the ownership structure includes foreign individuals or legal entities.
Beneficial Owner Information
Information concerning the company’s beneficial owner or beneficial owners must be provided in accordance with Moldovan legislation on the prevention and combating of money laundering and terrorist financing.
For companies with foreign shareholders or more complex corporate structures, the documents necessary to identify and confirm the ultimate beneficial owner should be considered when preparing the incorporation file.
Legal Assistance with Company Registration in Moldova
Registering a company involves more than submitting an application to the Public Services Agency. The incorporation documents, ownership structure, powers of the administrator and documents issued abroad should be considered before the registration procedure begins.
Lawyer Augustin Procopovici provides legal assistance to Moldovan and foreign clients with company registration and company formation in Moldova.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, legal assistance may include:
- advising on the incorporation procedure and the appropriate legal structure;
- preparing and reviewing the documents required for company registration;
- advising on the company name, registered office, shareholding structure and appointment of the administrator;
- preparing the documents required for representation by power of attorney;
- reviewing foreign corporate documents and the requirements concerning their translation, apostille or legalisation;
- representing the client before the Public Services Agency during the registration procedure;
- assisting with legal matters arising after incorporation, including corporate changes and other company-related procedures.
For foreign founders, much of the preparation can be carried out before travelling to Moldova. Where representation by power of attorney is possible, the founder may not need to be personally present for every stage of the company registration procedure.
If you intend to register a company in Moldova, you can send the relevant information and available documents by email for an initial assessment of the registration procedure and the documents required in your particular case.
Planning to Register a Company in Moldova?
Send us the details of your proposed company to discuss the registration procedure and the legal assistance required.
Frequently Asked Questions About Company Registration in Moldova
Important when registering a company in Moldova!
When coming to Moldova check if you need a visa.
We can not provide an Invitation Letter for a Visa.