Registering a company abroad: country, documents, bank account and CFC
price on requestfrom 3 business days* - required fields
In short. We help owners based in Ukraine set up a company abroad: we choose the country and company type for your market and bank, prepare translated and apostilled documents, register through local partners and support the bank account opening. We also plan your Ukrainian obligations: CFC notice and report, NBU currency limits. Quote after a consultation.
Price and timing
| Our support | price on request: depends on the country, company type, bank account and licences; you get the full estimate after a consultation, before work starts |
|---|---|
| Consultation | 30 minutes online — €100, written answer — from €200 |
| Document preparation | from 3 business days after we receive your details (site price list) |
| Registration in the country | in Poland or Estonia usually from a few days to 2–3 weeks; depends on the national register and complete documents |
| Bank account | a separate stage: the bank checks the owners and the business (compliance), which can add a few weeks |
| Back in Ukraine | a notice to the State Tax Service within 60 days if you become a controlling person of a CFC, then an annual CFC report (Art. 39-2 of the Tax Code) |
State fees, registered agent, address and accounting services in the country of registration are paid separately; we list them in the estimate before we start. If your goal works with a Ukrainian company or sole proprietorship, we will say so.
How we register a company abroad: 5 steps
You always know what stage the matter is at and what we need from you: we report after every step. Details of beneficial owners and the structure reach no third parties; we disclose only what the law or the register requires.
How we choose the country
The goal of the company decides the country: where your clients are, who pays you, which bank or payment provider will accept the business and what the yearly upkeep costs. We compare:
| What we check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Market and clients | counterparties in the EU or the US often prefer a local company |
| Taxes there and in Ukraine | profit may be taxed in the country and, through CFC rules, in Ukraine |
| Bank or payment provider | owner checks, business type, whether a personal visit is needed |
| Director, address, presence | who runs the company and from where, whether a local director or office is needed |
| Yearly costs | accounts, audit, agent and address are paid every year on top of the one-off registration |
Examples. A Polish sp. z o.o. needs share capital of at least PLN 5,000 (Art. 154 of the Polish Commercial Companies Code). An Estonian company can be run remotely with the e-Residency digital identity. For other countries we prepare an estimate on request.
What you need to do in Ukraine afterwards
- CFC rules. If you, as a Ukrainian tax resident, become a controlling person of a foreign company under Art. 39-2 of the Tax Code, you file a notice with the State Tax Service within 60 days and then an annual CFC report together with your annual return.
- Currency limits. Under martial law, payments abroad, including capital contributions to a foreign company, are restricted by NBU Resolution No. 18 of 24.02.2022. The exceptions change, so we check the payment route with the bank on the transfer date.
- Your Ukrainian company or sole proprietorship. You do not have to close it: these are separate persons in different countries. We draft the contract between the Ukrainian and the new company so that prices and services are clear to the bank and the tax office.
Documents for registration
- passport of the founder and director, proof of residential address;
- company name (2–3 options), business activities, shareholdings, share capital;
- if the founder is a Ukrainian company: a shareholders’ resolution and a translated extract from the Unified State Register;
- a power of attorney for the partner in the country if you do not travel;
- for countries party to the 1961 Hague Convention, Ukrainian documents get an apostille, with a notarised translation where the register requires it.
You get the exact list once the country is chosen: registers and banks ask for different things.
What our support includes
- consultation: the company’s purpose, country and form, consequences for you in Ukraine;
- an estimate of all registration and first-year costs before work starts;
- documents, translations and apostilles in Ukraine;
- registration through local partners, with us accountable to you;
- bank account support: bank questionnaire, business description and source of funds;
- a plan of Ukrainian obligations: CFC notice, contracts with your Ukrainian company, international contracts.
Looking to register a company in Ukraine instead?
For foreign founders setting up in Ukraine we have separate pages: registering foreign investments, opening a representative office and LLC registration in Ukraine.
Why clients choose Zakon Lviv to register a company abroad
- Group practice: 14 years and clients in more than 50 countries.
- Honest about unnecessary steps: if a foreign company or a complex structure is not needed yet, we say so plainly, even when that means less work for us.
- One accountable party: we coordinate the jurisdiction, the documents and the local partner.
- Confidentiality: details of the beneficial owners and the structure reach no third parties.
Related services
- International contract drafting — contracts between your companies and with clients
- Registration of foreign investments — investing into Ukraine
- Foreign representative office in Ukraine — a presence without a new company
- LLC registration in Ukraine — from €500
- D-U-N-S number — for tenders and foreign platforms
- Legal outsourcing — ongoing support after registration
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a company abroad?
How long does registering a foreign company take?
Can I register a company abroad without leaving Ukraine?
What documents are needed?
What is a CFC and does it apply to me?
Do I have to close my Ukrainian business first?
Let’s discuss your company abroad
Tell us what you will sell, to whom, and where the money will come from. A lawyer will suggest 1–2 countries, list the costs of registration and the first year, and explain what you need to do in Ukraine. Office in Lviv, 2A Tershakivtsiv St.; we also work online.
