Published · Iran

China Company Registration: Documents, Steps and Timeline for Founders from Iran

A practical guide for Iranian founders on registering a company in China: the documents you need, the step-by-step process, realistic timelines, and the Iran-specific points to plan for. General information only, not legal or tax advice.

Setting up a company in China is a well-defined process, but for founders coming from Iran it comes with a few extra layers: document legalisation, banking, and sanctions-related compliance at banks and payment providers. This guide walks through what you need to prepare, the sequence of steps, and how long each stage usually takes. It is general information for planning purposes only and is not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Rules and local practice vary by city and change over time, so confirm details with a licensed local professional before you commit money or sign documents.

First, choose the structure and the city

Most foreign founders register one of two vehicles:

• Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) — a limited liability company owned entirely by the foreign founder or foreign parent company. This is the most common choice for founders who want to control their China operation directly.
• Joint Venture (JV) — a company shared with a Chinese partner. Useful when local licences, land, or distribution relationships require a Chinese shareholder, but it adds governance complexity.

You will also choose a registered address (the company's legal domicile). Many founders start with a serviced office or an incubator address that is approved for company registration. Confirm with the provider that the address can be used for your specific business scope.

City choice matters. Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou have deep professional ecosystems and English-speaking service providers. Smaller cities can be cheaper but may have less experience handling foreign-invested entities.

Documents you will need

Requirements differ by city and by business scope, but a typical WFOE application package includes:

Corporate and identity documents

• Passport copies of the legal representative, directors, supervisor, and shareholders (for a natural-person shareholder).
• If the shareholder is a company: certificate of incorporation, articles of association, and a register of directors/shareholders, plus board resolutions appointing the China entity's directors and legal representative.
• Proof of address for the foreign shareholder company (utility bill, bank statement, or similar) where requested.
• CVs and passport photos for directors and the legal representative.

China-side documents

• Lease agreement for the registered address, plus the landlord's property certificate and, where required, a filing certificate for the lease.
• Articles of association for the new China company (often drafted by your local agent).
• Name reservation result — proposed Chinese and English names, with alternatives in case of rejection.
• Business scope wording, matched to the standard catalogue used by the local market regulator.
• Application forms for the market supervision bureau, plus tax, customs, and foreign exchange registrations where applicable.

Legalisation and translation

Foreign documents generally need to be notarised, legalised, and translated into Chinese. China's practical approach has shifted toward accepting apostilles for documents from countries that are party to the Apostille Convention. Iran's status under that framework, and the specific requirements of your city's registry, should be confirmed directly with a qualified local agent or the relevant Chinese authority before you prepare documents. Build in time and budget for notarisation at home and translation in China.

The registration steps, in order

Step 1: Name pre-approval

Submit several candidate names to the local market supervision bureau. Names must follow Chinese naming rules (region + trade name + industry + company type). This is usually quick but can take longer if names are rejected.

Step 2: Prepare and legalise the document package

This is often the longest stage for Iranian founders because it involves work in Iran, courier timelines, and translation. Start here early.

Step 3: File the establishment application

The market supervision bureau reviews the articles, business scope, address, and appointments. If the package is complete, you receive the business licence (营业执照). Many cities now accept online filing, but foreign-invested applications often still require in-person or agent submission.

Step 4: Company seal carving

After the licence, you register and carve the official seals — company seal, legal representative seal, finance seal, and contract seal. Seals are legally significant in China; keep them controlled.

Step 5: Bank account opening

Open the basic RMB account. Banks will run know-your-customer and sanctions screening. For founders with Iranian links, expect additional questions about ownership, source of funds, and business partners. Have a clear, documented explanation ready. Some banks may decline or take longer; it is worth speaking to several banks or using a reputable corporate services firm.

Step 6: Tax, customs, and foreign exchange registration

Complete tax registration (including invoicing setup), and if you will import or export, customs registration. Register with the foreign exchange authority as needed for capital contributions and payments.

Step 7: Capital contribution

Contribute registered capital according to the subscribed timeline in the articles. Keep bank records and remittance documentation; these matter for future profit repatriation and audits.

Step 8: Work permit and residence permit

If you will live in China and manage the company, you need a work permit and residence permit. This is a separate process with its own documents (degree, experience, health check, police clearance) and should be planned alongside registration.

Realistic timeline

Timelines vary widely by city, business scope, and how quickly you can produce legalised documents. As a planning baseline:

• Name pre-approval: a few working days, sometimes longer.
• Document legalisation and translation: commonly several weeks, depending on notarisation and courier time. Treat this as your critical path.
• Business licence: typically one to three weeks after a complete filing, longer if revisions are requested.
• Seals: a few working days.
• Bank account: one to four weeks; sanctions screening can extend this.
• Tax and customs registration: one to two weeks.
• Work and residence permits: several weeks to a few months depending on the permit category and city.

A realistic end-to-end estimate for a straightforward WFOE is often six to twelve weeks from a complete document set, with banking and immigration adding further time. Plan for buffers.

Iran-specific points to plan for

• Banking is the hardest part. Sanctions screening affects account opening and international payments. Document your business model, customers, and source of funds clearly, and get professional advice on payment routes before you sign a lease.
• Document legalisation path. Confirm with your local agent whether your documents can be apostilled or need consular legalisation for your city's registry.
• Language. All filings are in Chinese. Use a professional translator; do not rely on machine translation for legal documents.
• Local agent. A licensed corporate services firm or lawyer in your chosen city will save significant time, especially on address compliance and business scope wording.

Practical checklist before you start

• Decide structure, city, and business scope.
• Secure a registrable address and landlord documents.
• Collect and notarise corporate and identity documents in Iran.
• Arrange certified Chinese translation.
• Shortlist banks and ask about onboarding requirements for your ownership profile.
• Budget for registration fees, agent fees, translation, legalisation, and office costs.

China's registration system is procedural and predictable once your documents are in order. For founders from Iran, the real planning work sits in legalisation and banking — start those early, keep records clean, and take local professional advice before committing.

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Requirements differ by city and change over time; consult licensed professionals for your specific situation.