Small business registration

Check a business name and prepare the registration of a sole trader, company, farm or cooperative.

Responsible body: Register of Firms, Ministry of Economy, through the district offices

Guide to this service

Sole traders, companies, cooperatives and farms are registered by the Register of Firms of the Ministry of Economy through the district offices. Check that the name you want is free on this page, then register in one visit at your district office with the originals.

Who can apply

Any adult resident of the ISEZ, as a sole trader or founder.
Foreign nationals with a residence card, and foreign firms through a registered branch.
Associations and religious bodies are not registered here: they are registered by the Ministry of Justice.

What to bring

Form RF-1
Your identity card and residence registration
Proof of premises: lease, ownership certificate or the owner's letter
The Talasbank receipt for the state duty
For a company or cooperative: the charter signed by all founders
For a farm: the land-use certificate

Fees and state duty

Sole trader	IS 150
Company or cooperative	IS 600
Farm	IS 100
Extract from the Register of Firms	IS 50

How long it takes

If the documents are complete, registration is done in one visit and the certificate is issued within five working days.
Names with words such as “Irad”, “State”, “National” or “Governor”, or with registered trademarks, need the approval of the Ministry of Economy and take longer.
A name found free is not reserved until registration is completed.

Where to go

The district office of the Register of Firms for the place of business, Monday to Thursday, 9:00–12:00.

Common reasons for refusal or return

A firm with a similar name is already registered in the district.
The premises are a residential flat without a change of use.
The charter is not signed by every founder in front of the registrar or a notary.
The founder is a director of a firm struck off for unpaid taxes in the last three years.

Forms for this service

Application for registration of a business entity RF-1 · PDF

Print on A4 paper and complete by hand in block capitals, in black or blue ink. Forms printed from e-Irad are accepted at every counter.

After registration

Publishers and printers register with the Department of Public Information before they publish. Food businesses need a sanitary certificate from the city health inspectorate. Taxi and passenger transport need a licence from the Department of Infrastructure and Communications.

Legal basis

Tax Code of the ISEZ 2009 (№ 09-11) registration of taxpayers; patents for small trades; state duty, budget codes 142141–142144
Executive Directive 2026/24 census of business entities, 2026