How do you register a company in Lebanon?

Reserve a name at the Commercial Register, draft and notarise the articles of association, deposit the share capital with a Lebanese bank and obtain its certificate, file at the Commercial Registry of Beirut to receive a registration number, then register with the Ministry of Finance for a tax number. Four to ten weeks depending on the company type.

What documents are needed to register a Lebanese company?

A passport or identity card copy and a recent judicial record extract for each owner, proof of the registered address (a land registry certificate plus an undertaking signed by the property owner and a copy of their ID), the proposed company name, the articles of association, and a bank certificate confirming the capital deposit. An auditor's name is also required for an SAL or offshore company.

Can you register a Lebanese company with a digital signature?

No. The Commercial Registry does not accept digital or electronic signatures for incorporation. Documents are signed in wet ink, conventionally in blue pen, in three originals, with every page initialled.

Can you register a Lebanese company without being in Lebanon?

Yes, through a power of attorney legalised at the Lebanese consulate in the country where you are. That lets a lawyer sign and file on your behalf. Consular requirements vary by post, so confirm them before drafting.

How long does it take to register a company in Lebanon?

Four to eight weeks for a SARL and six to ten for an SAL or offshore company, assuming documents come back promptly. The legal drafting takes days. The calendar is set by the notary, the registry, the bank, and how fast signed originals are returned.

Reference

Registering a company in Lebanon

Registration has five stages. Reserve the name. Draft and notarise the articles. Deposit the capital and get the bank's certificate. File at the Commercial Registry of Beirut for a registration number. Register with the Ministry of Finance for a tax number. Expect Four to ten weeks depending on the company type. Signatures must be wet ink. The registry rejects digital signatures.

By Gracia Hobeich, lawyer, Beirut Bar Association Last reviewed 23 September 2026

Requirements

A virtual office is not enough. You must register at a specific Lebanese property. The registry needs proof of property ownership. The owner must also consent.

Document	From	Note
Passport or ID copy	Each owner	Valid and legible.
Judicial record extract	Each owner	The sijill adli. Short validity. Obtain this late.
Company name	You	Check availability at the registry.
Land registry certificate	Property owner	The ifada aqariyya for the registered address.
Head office undertaking	Property owner	Signed. Include a copy of their ID.
Auditor's name	You or introduced	Required for an SAL or an offshore company.
Power of attorney	Owner abroad	Legalised at a Lebanese consulate.

The Process

Name and activity check. Check the proposed name against the register. Test your intended activity against the company form. Some activities are closed to a SARL. An offshore company cannot serve clients in Lebanon at all.
Drafting. Prepare the articles of association. Draft the manager or board appointment. Prepare the head office undertaking. An SAL also needs subscription documents and the first general assembly.
Signature. Sign in wet ink. Use a blue pen. Prepare three originals. Initial every page. Electronic signatures are rejected.
Notarisation. Legalise the articles before a notary public. This is the katib al-adl. They are a separate profession from lawyers in Lebanon.
Capital deposit. Deposit capital at a Lebanese bank. The bank issues a certificate. A SARL pays its capital in full. An SAL pays a quarter of each share.
Commercial Registry. File the documents at the Commercial Registry of Beirut. The company receives a registration number. It legally exists from this moment.
Ministry of Finance. Register for tax. Obtain a tax number. Register for VAT where the turnover threshold applies.

Timelines

Legal drafting takes days. The notary, registry and bank take the most time. Signed originals must return quickly. Signatures in black pen will be rejected. Redoing them can cost a month.

Company	Typical	What sets the pace
SARL	4 to 8 weeks	Fewer owners. No board. No mandatory auditor below LBP 30,000,000 of capital, about US$335.
SAL	6 to 10 weeks	Three shareholders to collect documents from. A board to appoint. An auditor to engage.
Offshore SAL	6 to 10 weeks	Same as an SAL. Banks also treat offshore clients as higher risk.

After Registration

Keep the registry file current. Changing a manager, object, capital or owner requires a filing. Late filings attract penalties.

File annually with the Ministry of Finance. Submit accounts certified by an auditor where required.

Expect your bank to request new documents periodically. They will ask for current extracts and resolutions.

Which company type to choose · What it will pay in tax

Sources

Lebanese Code of Commerce, Legislative Decree No. 304 of 24 December 1942, as amended by Law No. 126 of 29 March 2019.
Decree-Law No. 46 of 24 June 1983 on offshore companies, as amended.
Commercial Registry of Beirut filing practice.

General information, not legal advice. Registry practice varies and changes.