(Applicable to foreign enterprises, foreign natural persons, and investors from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan; Shenzhen as an example)
I. Core Requirements
Market Access Management: Investment is prohibited in areas on the negative list; restricted areas require satisfying the conditions set out in the list and obtaining approval as required; for industries outside the negative list, domestic and foreign investment are treated equally, and a foreign investment information report must be filed. Foreign investment access restrictions in the manufacturing sector have been fully eliminated.
Registered Capital: Subscription system; no minimum amount (except for special industries); for companies newly established on or after July 1, 2024, shareholders must pay in their subscribed capital within 5 years from the company’s establishment.
Shenzhen Registered Address: A 25-digit unified housing code must be provided at the time of filing; applications using purely residential premises must complete the residential-to-commercial conversion procedure and obtain consent from interested owners; affordable housing is prohibited for commercial registration; applications without a valid housing code will be rejected.
II. Document List
Company Registration (Filing) Application Form: signed by the proposed legal representative.
Articles of Association: signed by all shareholders for a limited liability company, and by all promoters for a joint stock company.
Subject Qualification Documents for Shareholders/Promoters:
Foreign enterprise: certificate of incorporation, articles of association, board resolution, certificate of existence, and legal representative’s identity document; all require notarization and authentication.
Foreign natural person: valid passport (photo page, signature page, entry/exit pages); notarization and authentication required; exempt if holding a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, or if holding a passport with entry procedures confirmed by Chinese exit-entry authorities and the original is verified.
Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan investors: enterprise documents shall be notarized and transmitted/verified according to the region; natural persons holding a Hong Kong/Macao Resident Permit, Taiwan Resident Permit, or Mainland Travel Permit may be exempt from notarization.
Appointment Documents and Identity Documents for the Legal Representative, Directors, Supervisors, and Senior Management: those who have completed real-name verification may be exempt from submitting paper appointment documents.
Proof of Domicile: commercial lease contract + property ownership certificate or red-book lease certificate; or record-filed hosting agreement + hosting qualification; all must include the 25-digit housing code.
Power of Attorney for Service of Legal Documents: designate an authorized person within China, stating name/address/contact information.
Chinese Translation of Foreign-Language Documents: marked “Translation is accurate,” affixed with a translation-specific seal, and accompanied by the translation agency’s qualification or translator’s identity document.
Name Self-Declaration Documents (if applicable).
Pre-Approval Documents (if applicable); for a joint stock company established by public offer, additionally submit a capital verification certificate and securities approval document.
III. Notarization and Authentication Requirements
Contracting States to the Hague Convention: local notarization + Apostille.
Non-Contracting States: local notarization + authentication by the Chinese embassy/consulate in that country; if no diplomatic relations, authenticate via a third country’s embassy/consulate and then by the Chinese embassy/consulate in that third country.
Documents from Overseas Territories: territorial notarization + authentication by the foreign affairs authority of that country + authentication by the Chinese embassy/consulate, or Apostille under the Hague Convention.
Exemptions: Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card; passport with entry procedures confirmed by Chinese exit-entry authorities and original verified; overseas Chinese holding a Chinese passport + foreign residence document with original verified; Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan natural persons holding residence permits/travel permits.
Hong Kong/Macao Enterprise Documents: notarization by a China-appointed attesting officer + transmission by China Legal Service (Hong Kong/Macao) Company.
Taiwan Enterprise Documents: local notarization in Taiwan + verification by the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) + verification by the Guangdong Notary Association.
IV. Processing Flow
Name self-declaration → establishment registration (for industries outside the negative list, the foreign investment information report may be filed concurrently) → obtain business license → foreign exchange existing rights and interests registration → bank account opening → tax information confirmation.
The information contained in this document is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. For specific required materials, application procedures, and requirements, please refer to the latest laws, regulations, policy documents, and the official service guides of the registration authority. In the event of any changes to relevant laws, regulations, or policies, the latest officially published content shall prevail, and no further notice will be given.