Zambia
Corporate Guide

What is the process of setting up a company in Zambia?

The Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) is the relevant regulatory body for companies in Zambia. All company related applications are made to the Registrar of Companies (Registrar) at PACRA.

First, an application needs to be submitted to the Registrar for name clearance of the proposed name.

On approval of the proposed name the promoters of the company to be incorporated must make an application for incorporation to the Registrar by completing the prescribed form to register a company. This must include:

• a copy of the proposed articles of association or statement that has adopted standard articles;
• declaration of compliance;
• signed consent from each director or secretary of the company;
• statement of beneficial ownership including full names, date of birth, nationality / nationalities, country of residence, residential address and other particulars that may be prescribed; 
• declaration by the applicants that the stated particulars of the beneficial owners have been submitted to the Registrar;
• proposed name of the company;
• physical address of the office to be the registered office of the company;
• registered postal address, email address, phone numbers;
• type of company formed;
• the particulars of the persons who shall be the first directors of the company;
• the particulars of persons who shall be the first secretary or joint secretaries of the company; 
• the nature of the company’s proposed business or proposed activities;
• the amount of share capital of the company, including the division of the share capital into shares of a fixed amount and the number of shares each subscriber has agreed to take;
• date of first financial year of the company shall end; and 
• name and address of the individual lodging the application.

On approval of the application and acceptance of all accompanying forms, a certificate of incorporation and certificate of share capital will be issued in the name of the company by the Registrar.