Commercial registration procedure and requirements - Ethiopia
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- Commercial registration procedure and requirements
Quick info guide
Requirements to obtain a business license
✓ Filled and signed application form
✓ Certificate of Commercial registration
✓ Photocopies of identification card or valid passport
✓ The passport size photographs of the manager taken in the last six months
✓ Original copies of memorandum and articles of association
✓ Certificate of Competence
✓ The exact address of the head office and branch offices of the business if any
✓ A bank statement showing the capital of the business organization
Estimated time to complete
o For commercial registration: 30 minutes - 1 hour
o For company name registration: 25 minutes
o For business licence: 30 minutes - 1 hour
o (All in one [1] working day)
*Name clearance may take up to 30 days
Fees
o For commercial registration: 102 ETB
o For company name: 27 ETB
o For business licence: 102 ETB
TIN registration
Apply for TIN
Where? Ministry of Revenues
1. Download the Application Form
2. Print the form on a clean white A4 or letter size paper.
3. Complete fields and submit
Obtaining a business license in Ethiopia
The Ministry of Trade and Industry is the main institution responsible for registering a business in Ethiopia. It is prohibited to engage in any commercial activity unless registered in a commercial register; and according to Proclamation No. 980/2016, no person shall engage in business activity without acquiring a business license.
Commercial registration procedure and requirements
The requirements for commercial registration including the following:
For sole proprietors:
- Taxpayer’s Identification Number
- No objection is lodged after publication of the commercial register
- An application for commercial registration must be submitted before the commencement date of commercial activity by filling a prescribed form and attaching documents specified under the regulations and directives issued for the implementation of the Proclamation; and
- Requirements stipulated under Article 94-108 of the 1960’s Commercial Code of Ethiopia
For commercial registration:
- Passport size photographs of the applicant taken within last six months’
- Photo copies of the District Identification Card or copies of valid passport of the applicant
- Investment permit (where the applicant is a foreign investor)
- Where the applicant is a foreigner considered as a domestic investor, a document issued by Ethiopian Investment Agency to testify this,
- A document which testifies that the applicant has attained the age of 18,
- the exact address of the head office and branch offices of the business if any, and
- A title deed (if the office of the business owned). If office is a leased one an authenticated contract of lease and a verification issued by kebele administration as to the address of the office.
- Certificate of Tax Identification Number [TIN]