Austria
The registration of a newly founded local company will take approx. 10 business days from the submission of the respective registration application once all supporting information and documents have been obtained, which will also require the arrangement of an Austrian bank account and the payment of the relevant share capital contribution amount.
Brazil
Ltda.: 1 week after the receipt of the necessary documents.
S.A.: 1 to 2 weeks.
All foreign documents, before being sent to Brazil, must be apostilled and, once in Brazil, must be translated by a sworn translator.
Brazilian companies must have an address in Brazil. There are expeditors that provides these services, normally with the accountancy services.
China
Usually 2-4 months for a WFOE but fast-track solution is available. Time-consuming aspects are, for example, notarisation and legalisation of required documents, as well as the required government processes. Legalisation requirement could become a problem during pandemic, but manageable.
An EJV usually takes longer to negotiate.
Czech Republic
Limited liability company/joint stock company:
Formation of a new entity: it takes approximately two to four weeks from the establishment by notarial deed to registration of the company with the Commercial Register (depending on delivery of all necessary supporting information and documents). The notary can also register a new company directly with the Commercial Register by the next day, which speeds up the registration process, provided that the notarial deed comprises a memorandum/articles of association with the very basic features. In addition, a meeting with the notary may occur via video-conference session (distance-wise).
Alternatively, a ready-made company (or the so-called SPV) can be acquired, which takes around two to three days.
Branch:
Approximately two weeks (depending on the delivery of all necessary supporting information and documents).
England & Wales
Company:
Within a working day
Branch:
Within one to two working days once the documentation is completed.
The overall process takes typically one to two weeks.
France
It takes eight to ten days following the filing of all legal documents.
Germany
Company:
- Formation of new GmbH: up to four weeks, plus the time to set up a bank account which is mandatory prior to incorporation and registration with the commercial register
- Acquisition of shelf company GmbH: two to three business days once all supporting information and documents provided.
Branch:
- Five to ten business days for the registration process once all supporting information and documents provided. The overall process typically up to four weeks.
Hong Kong
Approximately one month.
Hungary
The Hungarian company formation is one of the fastest in the EU. The registration of companies is done by courts of registration in an electronic procedure. The standard registration procedure takes approximately one to two weeks (15 working days at most) after all necessary corporate documents have been prepared. However, in case the shareholders use standard Articles of Association provided by law, the registration does not take more than 24-48 hours as of filing. VAT registration is also immediate, so you can start working immediately. Company records may be indicated in the English, German, French and Russian languages as well.
Ireland
Company: Within five working days for an online application.
Branch: Within three to five working days once the documentation is completed.
The overall process takes typically one to two weeks.
Italy
For both companies and branches, after having executed all the document and sent them in original to the relevant recipients, the incorporation usually requires around six to eight business days (it mostly depends on the processing time of filing of the incorporation deed executed before the Notary Public with the Register of Enterprises, as well as by the completion of other formalities, eg, the release by the competent Tax Office of the VAT Number for the newly incorporated company).
Netherlands
Company:
Approximately two weeks depending on timing for receipt of information (after receipt of all information and duly signed documents, formation can in principle be done within one business day).
Poland
Typically, incorporation and registration of a limited liability company or a joint stock company takes between four and six weeks.
In the case of a limited liability company, it is also possible to set up a company within 24 hours when an electronic template of articles of association is used. This type of incorporation imposes some limitations upon the shareholders, eg contributions can be made only in cash.
On July 1, 2021, an amendment to Polish law introducing online registration proceedings has come into force. Due to this change, electronic communication with the registry court is the rule - without the possibility of using written form. The application for entry must be submitted via the PRS (Court Registers Portal) portal and must be completed in the Polish language. This amendment was introduced inter alia to speed up the registration proceedings, however at this stage it is hard to assess whether this goal has been achieved.
Portugal
Within a working day.
In case of foreign directors and/or shareholders that do not hold portuguese taxpayer numbers, such request must be done previously to the incorporation. If requested online, it takes around 10 days to be issued; if requested in person, and if previously booked, it usually takes 1 business day to be issued.
Plus, if the shareholders wish to choose the company’s name, it is mandatory to request a name certificate, which takes 10 days when is a regular request or 1 working day to be issued when requested with urgency. Nevertheless, the company can change its name any time after being incorporated.
Singapore
Approximately one to two days.
Slovakia
From formation to registration of a new LLC, JSC, JSA or a Branch with the commercial register (including obtaining business licenses):
Approximately one to two weeks following completion/signing of all documents (the time period may be postponed in case of regulated business activities where special permission is needed).
Acquisition of a shelf company (LLC): Approximately two to five working days.
Registration of a company which has its seat located in Bratislava region currently takes longer (approximately two to five weeks) in most cases due to the heavy workload at the local commercial register. Registration of a transfer of a shelf company having its seat located in Bratislava region may also take up to several weeks, although the registration is only decisive for effectiveness of a majority share transfer in case of LLC.
United Arab Emirates
Onshore, that is outside the tax-free zones, one to two weeks following arrangement of appropriately legalised corporate documents and Arabic translation of the same.
Additional time is often required where, due to the nature of the proposed business to be conducted within the UAE, special approvals from third-party authorities are required in addition to the approval of the company registrar that is located at the Department of Economic Development ("DED") of the Emirate chosen to establish the entity.
The time frame varies from one tax-free zone to another. A time frame of minimum three to five weeks should be expected in these instances.