Guidance

Certificate of Incorporation

Provided that the Registrar of Companies is satisfied that all relevant legal requirements for the registration of the company, have been met, he will proceed with the publication of the Company’s registration to the Official Gazette and the issuance of the certificate of incorporation.

The issuance of the certificate of incorporation marks the beginning of the company’s legal existence and it constitutes undisputable evidence that all the legal requirements regarding its registration, as well as all relevant steps preceding its registration have been complied with. The company’s registration number is stated on the certificate of incorporation.

The certificate of incorporation may be obtained via e-filing (in case of electronic submission of the application), from the Department’s mail boxes or by post.

Certified Copies

Optionally, by paying the amount of one hundred and twenty euros (€120) accompanied with a certified copy of the memorandum and articles of association, or at the cost of one hundred and thirty euros (€130) if no copy is attached, the following certificates/certified copies of the company are issued:

• Certificate of Shareholders;
• Certificate of Directors and Secretary;
• Certificate of the Registered Office Address;
• Certified copy of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association;
• Certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation.

If the accelerated process is chosen the above certificates/certified copies can be issued, faster, at the additional cost of one hundred euros (€100).

The certificates and certified true copies that are issued electronically are marked with an authenticity code. The authenticity of documents can be verified electronically for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of issue.

Certificate of Public company’s commencement of business

It is noted, that a public company may not commence business, or take out loans or other related obligations, unless it has first obtained from the Registrar of Companies the certificate of commencement of business, by submitting form ΗΕ9.

You may submit the form for public company’s commencement of business (form ΗΕ9), by hand/post, accompanied by:

• bank confirmation regarding the amount paid;
• invitation to subscribe (prospectus) if the company issued an invitation to subscribe;
• statement in lieu of prospectus of public company (form ΗΕ8) if the company hasn’t issued an invitation to subscribe;
• fee of two thousand and twenty euros (€2020) and an additional fee of twenty euros (€20) if you wish to accelerate the procedure.

It is noted that within one (1) to three (3) months from the issuance of the certificate of commencement of business , the company is obliged to prepare and submit a statutory report signed by two (2) directors (if applicable) and certified by an auditor.

You are advised to refer to the Explanatory Notes of form  HE9, Explanatory Notes of form HE8 so as to acquire a better understanding of what is required and to facilitate the process.

The new and consolidated form ΗΕ9 has been implemented as from December 6th, 2021 in replacement of forms HE9 and HE10. In parallel, the redesigned form ΗΕ8 has been implemented as from December 6th, 2021.