Foreign company registration cost in Zimbabwe
Short answer
Amashad charges $2,550 to register a foreign company in Zimbabwe. The fee covers structuring advice, name reservation, preparation and lodgement of the foreign company registration pack, appointment of a local representative and registered office, and beneficial ownership filing. Registrar lodgement fees, notarisation, apostille, certified translations and any ZIDA licence fees are payable separately at cost.
A company incorporated outside Zimbabwe must register as a foreign (external) company within one month of establishing a place of business, or it can incorporate a separate Zimbabwean subsidiary. Both routes involve more documentation than a local PBC or PLC and must be supported by notarised and apostilled documents from the home jurisdiction.
The $2,550 service fee is for Amashad's work in advising on structure, reserving the name, compiling the registration pack, appointing the local representative and following the matter through the Registrar of Companies. Government and third-party costs are quoted separately before lodgement.
Full cost breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign company registration service fee | $2,550 | Branch or subsidiary route |
| Registrar of Companies lodgement fees | At cost | Quoted before submission |
| Name reservation | Included | Up to 3 proposed Zimbabwe names |
| Local representative appointment | Included | Resident agent and registered office |
| Beneficial ownership declaration | Included | Filed as required by law |
| Notarisation / apostille assistance | At cost | We guide you; fees paid to notaries / apostille authorities |
| Certified English translation | At cost | Where constitutive documents are not in English |
| ZIDA investment licence | At cost | Only where required for the sector |
What the price includes
- Branch versus Zimbabwean subsidiary structuring advice
- Name clearance and reservation with the Registrar
- Preparation and lodgement of the foreign company registration pack
- Appointment of local representative and registered office
- Beneficial ownership declaration preparation and filing
- Follow-up until the certificate of registration is issued
- Digital copies stored in your dashboard
What costs extra
- Registrar of Companies statutory fees
- Home-country notarisation and apostille costs
- Certified translations of foreign documents
- ZIDA licence fees where an investment licence is required
- Post-registration tax, NSSA, bank account or work-permit services
Turnaround: 15 – 25 working days once all apostilled documents are in order.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the $2,550 the total cost to register a foreign company in Zimbabwe?
- No. The $2,550 is Amashad's service fee. Registrar fees, home-country notarisation, apostille, translation and any ZIDA fees are additional and quoted separately before we lodge.
- What is the difference between a branch and a subsidiary?
- A branch (external company) is an extension of the parent and trades under the parent's name. A subsidiary is a new Zimbabwean Private Limited Company owned by the foreign parent and is usually easier to bank, tender and hire under.
- Can a foreign company be 100% foreign owned?
- Yes in most sectors, but reserved sectors require local shareholding. We check your activity against the indigenisation and investment laws before lodging.
- How long does the registration take?
- Typically 15 to 25 working days from the moment complete, correctly apostilled documents are received.
- What documents are required from the parent company?
- A certified and apostilled certificate of incorporation, constitution, director and shareholder list, board resolution, good standing or audited financials, and identity documents for beneficial owners and the Zimbabwe representative.