Company Registration in Macau - Offshore Business Starting & Setup

Want to set up a firm in Macau? We can assist you in starting a business or in buying a shelf company in Macau with a full package of necessary documents, legal advice and follow-up support. Incorporation of a firm in Macau includes provision of a registered office (for at least 1 year in any of our service plans), an apostilled set of constitutional documents, secretarial services and assistance with compliance fee and pre-approval for opening an account in banks of Macau. The total price of an offshore company formation in Macau includes all necessary fees and charges for the first year of operation, as well as full one-year nominee service (package Optimum).

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Service packages Legislation Tax System Audit Services
Service packages
Express
Standard
Optimum
Company registration
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Legal address per year
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Secretarial services for the first year
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Fees and duties for the first year
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Apostilled bound set of incorporation documents
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Nominee service per year
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Bank Account Pre-approval
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Price
16 500 USD

17 620 USD

18 230 USD

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Corporate information

Types of entity in Macao

Under the Commercial Code, the following types of commercial entities may be established in Macau to carry on business:

  • Individual Entrepreneur (Empresário Individual - E.I);
  • Unlimited Liability Company (Sociedade em Nome Colectivo - S.N.C.);
  • Mixed Liability Company by Quotas (Sociedade em Comandita - S.C.);
  • Mixed Liability Company by Shares (Sociedade em Comandita por Acções - S.C.A.);
  • Limited Liability Company by an Individual Quota (Sociedade por Quota Unipessoal - Sociedade Unipessoal Lda.);
  • Limited Liability Company by Quotas (Sociedade por Quotas - Lda.);
  • Limited Liability Company by Shares (Sociedade Anónima - S.A.);
  • Foreign Branch;
  • Representative Office.

The most common form of business vehicles for foreign companies wishing to carry on business is Limited Liability Company by Quotas.

Registration

Company name

There are the following requirements for the company name:

  • should not be identical with already registered company names;
  • should not be a common expressions without and adequate translation in the official languages;
  • should not correspond, wholly or partly, to names of shareholders;
  • should not be a trademark of legitimate use;
  • should not result from the merging of words or parts of words which belong to official languages, directly related with the activities exercised, taken from the other elements of the names of the shareholders;
  • should not aim at facilitating larger penetration of market to which the activities exercised are directed;
  • can be registered in 1) Chinese; 2) Portuguese; 3) or both (in this case an English name may also be added);
  • should have an identification of commercial entity (Limitada or Lda. In Portuguese, its equivalent in Chinese or in English if both Chinese and Portuguese are used).

Procedure of a Company Registration in Macau

To register a company in Macau, you need to go through the following procedure:

1. Apply for a company name and scope of business at the Commercial Registry Office and get Certificate of Admissibility of Trade Name.

2. Prepare Articles of Association with local lawyer and notarize it with registered notary (Chinese version is required) within 60 days after receipt of Certificate of Admissibility of Trade Name;

3. Company registration at the Commercial Registry Office within 15 days after getting notarized Articles of Association:

Required documents:

  • Application;
  • Notary Certificate of Articles of Association;
  • List of names and addresses of shareholders and of members of the boards;
  • Acceptance of Appointment by the members of the boards;
  • Copy of Certificate of Admissibility of Trade Name;

4. Apply for Declaration of Initiation of Activity at the Financial Service office:

Required documents:

  • Form for Industrial Tax;
  • Copy of identification documents of applicant, shareholders and directors;
  • Acceptance of Appointment by the members of the boards;
  • Copy of the Certificate of Registration from the Commercial Registry Office;
  • Copy of the Articles of Association.

After completion of company registry, employers should fill in the M/2 form and submit it to the “Finance Services Bureau - Professional Tax Division” within 15 days of any employment. The Employer is also responsible for the enrolment of himself and for his employees to the "Social Security Fund". Besides, the company should file Fixed Asset Listing, Balance Sheet and Meeting Minutes Book after commencing operation. The Business Registry will then issue a certificate of incorporation, certifying the name, date of incorporation of the company, object of activity, shareholders, company capital, division of company capital, and representation of the company.

Local registered office

Macau companies must maintain a registered office in Macau. It should be a real address, not a PO Box. The administration of the company can freely move the registered office within the Territory.

Seal

Although the commercial code does not require a company seal, mandatory forms for social security, finance services and other public departments require that a company chop is placed next to the legal representative’s signature making it mandatory. The seal should have a company name engraved on it.

Redomicile

The redomiciliation of companies either to or from Macau is not permitted.

Company structure

Directors

A Macau company is required to have a minimum of one director. Directors are elected by shareholders for an undetermined term if otherwise is required by the Articles of Association. Directors can be non-residents and non-shareholders. Director can be a corporate, but in this case he should appoint an individual as his representative. However, in practice it is not recommended to appoint a corporate as a director, as it requires to do a lot of documents in case of any stuff change in the structure of a company. Directors can be removed by shareholders’ decision.

Information on directors is disclosed to a local agent, and the Business Registry keeps a public record of their names, addresses and business titles. The articles of association can create a board of administration made of at least three members; except if there is a provision of the articles of association to the contrary. Board meeting can be held anywhere in Macau, as long as the place of meeting is specified in the meeting notice.

Secretary

In Macau a company secretary must be nominated for limited liability company by shares, companies with more than 10 shareholders or quota holders, if they issue bonds or if their capital is above the limit defined by Executive Order of the Chief Executive. All other companies can also nominate a company secretary if desired.

A director or an employee of the company can be nominated as a company secretary. The Business Registry will keep a public record of the name and address of the company secretary.

Shareholders

Macanese companies may have at least two or maximum 30 shareholders. Shareholders can be individuals and corporates, residents and non-residents. The name, address and shareholding of the company shareholders are disclosed to the local agent and filed on public record at the Business Registry.

General Meetings are to be held annually within three months immediately following the end of each accounting period anywhere within Macau SAR as long as place of meeting is specified in the meeting notice.

Beneficiary

Information on beneficiary is not disclosed.

Quotas and capital

Capital in Macao limited company is represented by quotas which are not evidenced by share certificates, but represent a percentage or fixed amount. Minimum paid-up share capital to incorporate a company is MOP 25 000. It should be paid fully upon registration. The amount exceeding minimum can be paid within 3 years, but this amount should not exceed 50% of company capital. If one of the shareholders does not fulfil obligations on capital payment, the rest shareholders are obliged to pay the rest part in proportion to their quotas in the company.

Shares with no par value and bearer shares are not permitted.

Offshore companies in Macau

Until 2021, Macau had an offshore regime that provided certain benefits to companies. As of today, this regime has been abolished.

Gambling

Gambling in Macau

Macau is the only place in the People’s Republic of China, where Chinese can gamble legally. There are 33 casinos in Macau, and the income from the business amounted USD 23,5 milliards in 2010, what is 4 times higher than in Las Vegas. It is Macau’s biggest source of revenue, making up 70% of government income.

Gambling Legislation and Licensing

Gambling in Macau is regulated by Law 16/2001 (regime jurídico da exploração de jogos de fortuna ou azar em casino), adopted in August 2001. It replaced the monopoly system to generate competition, and casino operating concessions were granted through bid. Today there are 6 operating concessions (and subconcessions) which belong to:

  • SJM Holdings,
  • Wynn Resorts,
  • Las Vegas Sands,
  • Galaxy Casino,
  • StarWorld,
  • Melco Crown Entertainment.

It means that chances to enter the gambling market are very slim. Maybe the only opportunity is to buy a stock of shares from one of the operators. However, there are no such offers, so in fact the mark here is almost closed for the newcomers. There are also monopoly concessions for pari-mutuels (horse and dog racing).

Licensing procedure and all the following activity are strictly regulated including taxation and financial statements. Besides, a detailed agreement is to be signed with each operator. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (known as DICJ) is the main government unit that oversees the operation of different gaming activities.

From the perspective of company law, gaming concessionaires must be public companies, to which special rules apply, in addition to the general rules stated in the Macau Commercial Code. Except from other numerous requirements gaming concessionaires are subject to a principle of full disclosure, including information on shareholders and financial statements.

The law mentions 24 legal forms of gambling (blackjack, baccarat, roulette, boule, Sic bo, Fan Tan, keno, etc.).

Gambling Taxation

The taxation of casino sub/concessionaires is made of a fixed part and a variable part. The variable part falls on the gross gaming revenue. The tax rate is currently of 35%, plus two contributions of up to 2% and 3% for social and economic purposes. The maximum tax is therefore 40%. In addition, a fixed premium is also payable, plus a premium per VIP table, other table, and slot machine. Gaming promoters pay taxes on commissions received.

Online Gambling in Macau

At the present time, Macau does not license online gaming operations. Online form of gambling has the same fate as the offline one – it's forbidden. At some stage the national lottery tickets were sold online, but after the emergence of scam websites selling fake tickets, the idea was dismissed.

Frequently Asked Questions about Company Registration in Macau

How long does it take to set up a company in Macau?
The process of setting up a new company in Macau, from applying for registration to receiving a set of documents, is 15 days.
How much does it cost to register a company in Macau?
The cost of opening a company in Macau depends on the type of company to be registered and the type of activity you will be engaged in. The minimum package of services costs USD 16500 and includes: registration of the company on a turnkey basis, lease of the registered office for a year and secretarial services, payment of all necessary duties and fees, as well as apostilled translation of the constituent documents.
Can foreigners start a business in Macau?
Yes, foreigners can start a business in Macau. However, the process for setting up a company as a foreign national may be different from that for local residents, and may require additional documentation and legal requirements to be fulfilled. For example, foreign nationals may need to obtain a visa and work permit to live and work in Macau, and may also be subject to be restrictions on the types of businesses they are allowed to set up.
Is Macau an offshore?
Macau is not typically considered an offshore jurisdiction in the same way as traditional offshore financial centers. Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China with a high degree of autonomy. It has its own legal system and currency. While it operates with a level of autonomy, it is not commonly categorized as an offshore financial center or tax haven. If you have specific considerations related to business or financial matters in Macau, it's advisable to consult with legal or financial professionals familiar with the jurisdiction.

Core Services and fees for the formation of a company in Macau

The total amount of core services include incorporation services, legal services and delivery of documents by courier mail

— Incorporation

Price16 500 USD

including incorporation service and first year servicing, NOT including Compliance fee

— Registration fee

Price1 300 USD

depends on registered capital amount, if the minimum amount is registered, registration fee is 100 US dollars

— Corporate legal services

Price3 900 USD

including registered address and registered agent, NOT including Compliance fee

—Delivery of documents by courier mail

Price250 USD

DHL or TNT, at cost of a Courier Service

— Apostilled set of Statutory documents

Pricefrom 750 USD

Basic set of documents for setup of a company in Macau

Business Registration Certificate / 商业登记证明

counterpart of the Russian legal entity registration certificate

Memorandum and Articles of Association

standard documents on incorporation, corporate structure and business scope

Director Resigantion Letter

Applicable for nominee director sevice. As a rule, this document is undated.

Director Acceptance Letter

signed by director (nominee or real director) and returned to be kept at the registered office in Macau

Director's Appointment

required to appoint a new director
Compare Jurisdictions

    Nominee Director

    Price640 USD

    Paid-up “nominee director” set includes the following documents

    Compliance fee in Macau

    Compliance fee is payable in the cases of: incorporation of a company, renewal of a company, liquidation of a company, transfer out of a company, issue of a power of attorney to a new attorney, change of director / shareholder / BO (except the change to a nominee director / shareholder), signing of documents

    Basic

    Price350 USD

    simple company structure with only 1 physical person

    For legal entity in structure under GSL administration

    Price150 USD

    additional compliance fee for legal entity in structure under GSL administration (per 1 entity)

    For legal entity in structure not under GSL administration

    Price200 USD

    additional compliance fee for legal entity in structure NOT under GSL administration (per 1 entity)

    For client with high risk Status

    Price450 USD

    Signing of documents

    Price100 USD

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