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China Company Registration: Documents, Steps and Timeline

A practical guide for foreign founders on registering a company in mainland China: the documents you need, the steps from name approval to business licence and bank account, and a realistic timeline. General information, not legal or tax advice.

Setting up a company in mainland China is a structured process, but it is not a single appointment. Foreign founders typically spend several weeks gathering documents, coordinating with a local registered address provider, and moving through a sequence of government touchpoints. This guide walks through what you need, the order of operations, and how long each stage tends to take. It is general information only and is not legal, tax or investment advice; requirements vary by city and by industry, so confirm details with a qualified local adviser before you commit.

First, choose the structure and the location

Most foreign founders choose one of two vehicles: a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), which gives full control and is the default for service, trading and many manufacturing businesses, or a Sino-foreign equity joint venture, which involves a Chinese partner. A representative office is another option, but it cannot generate revenue directly, so it suits liaison work rather than operations.

Location matters more than many founders expect. Registration is handled at the district-level Administration for Market Regulation (AMR) and, depending on the business scope, may involve commerce, tax, customs and other authorities. Free trade zones and certain development zones often have streamlined procedures and dedicated service windows. If your business is on the negative list for foreign investment, additional approval may be required; if it is not, the process is generally filing-based.

Documents you will need

The exact checklist differs by city and business type, but the core set is fairly consistent. Expect to prepare the following, usually with Chinese translations where the originals are in English.

• Investor documents: certificate of incorporation and good standing certificate for a corporate shareholder, or passport for an individual shareholder. These typically need notarisation and, in many cases, legalisation or an apostille, depending on the jurisdiction and the local authority's practice.
• Articles of association: the company's constitutional document, adapted to the Chinese legal framework and signed by the investor.
• Name reservation: three to five proposed Chinese names, in order of preference, submitted for pre-approval.
• Registered address proof: a lease agreement and the landlord's property certificate, or a document from a licensed address provider. The address must be a real, permissible commercial premises.
• Legal representative and director appointments: identity documents, résumés and appointment letters. The legal representative carries statutory responsibilities, so choose carefully.
• Supervisor information: a supervisor is required and cannot be the same person as the legal representative in most structures.
• Business scope wording: a carefully drafted list of permitted activities, using standard catalogue language.
• Capital and term details: registered capital amount, currency, contribution schedule and operating period.

Translation and notarisation are frequent bottlenecks. Start these early, because a single missing apostille can delay the entire filing by weeks.

The registration steps, in order

1. Name pre-approval

Submit proposed Chinese names to the AMR for screening against existing registrations and restricted terms. Approval is usually quick, often a few working days, but rejected names mean resubmitting.

2. Prepare and sign the filing package

Draft the articles of association, appointment documents and business scope, then have the investor sign and, where required, notarise and legalise the package. This is the stage where most calendar time is lost, especially if the signatory is overseas.

3. Submit the establishment filing

File with the AMR, increasingly through an online portal with a follow-up visit or electronic signature. If your activities require a pre-approval or a post-establishment licence, the relevant authority is engaged here or immediately afterwards.

4. Receive the business licence

The business licence is the company's birth certificate. Once issued, the company legally exists, though it cannot yet operate fully until the next steps are complete.

5. Carve the company seal set

Order the official seals: company seal, legal representative seal, finance seal and, where needed, contract and invoice seals. Seals are filed with the authorities and remain central to doing business in China.

6. Bank account opening

Open the basic deposit account, which requires the licence, seals, identification and often an in-person visit. Banks apply their own onboarding and due diligence checks, and timelines vary considerably. Foreign currency and RMB accounts may be opened at the same time.

7. Tax and social insurance registration

Register with the tax authority, sign the tripartite tax-payment agreement with the bank, and complete social insurance and housing fund registration if you will employ staff. Confirm the invoicing setup you need.

8. Sector-specific licences

Restaurants, education, logistics, medical devices and many other sectors require additional permits. These can be the longest part of the process, so map them before signing a lease.

Realistic timeline

Assume six to twelve weeks from a standing start for a straightforward WFOE in a major city, with the range driven mostly by document legalisation and bank onboarding rather than government processing.

• Document preparation and legalisation: two to six weeks, depending on jurisdiction and signatory availability.
• Name approval: a few working days to two weeks.
• Establishment filing and licence: roughly one to three weeks once the package is complete.
• Seals: a few days.
• Bank account: one to four weeks, sometimes longer.
• Tax and payroll registration: one to two weeks.
• Special licences: highly variable, from days to several months.

Practical tips for foreign founders

Line up your registered address early and confirm it is acceptable for your business scope. Keep the legal representative's role and travel plans in mind, since some steps require physical presence or notarised signatures. Choose registered capital deliberately: it represents a commitment and affects liability and some approval processes. Finally, budget for ongoing compliance, including annual reporting, bookkeeping and tax filings, from the day the licence is issued. A local accountant or corporate services firm is not mandatory, but it is often the difference between a smooth launch and a slow one.