Services · Company formation

Company registration in the Czech Republic in 2026

Updated 7 October 2026

A limited liability company with nominal capital, a commercial register entry via a notary for about $130 and 21% corporate tax. We prepare documents, address and registration end to end.

The Czech Republic is one of the cheapest EU countries to start a business in. The registered capital of a limited liability company is nominal, under $1, and the first commercial register entry through a notary costs about $130. The company pays 21% corporate tax, VAT is 21% and 12%, and VAT registration becomes compulsory once turnover in a calendar year exceeds $93,000.

A foreigner can be both the founder and the director of a Czech company: the law does not restrict citizenship or residence. The key conditions are an address in the Czech Republic with the owner's consent and proof of the director's clean criminal record.

Who a Czech company suits

A Czech company is chosen for trade and services in the European Union, for manufacturing and logistics in the centre of Europe, for software development and for work with clients in Germany, Austria and Poland. It brings an EU VAT number and an account in euros or koruna, and it can be registered in one to three weeks.

It suits less those who expect to relocate through a business: an entrepreneur's residence permit is granted not for registration as such but under separate requirements of the migration authority, and nationals of some countries currently cannot get one at all. Nor does it work as a company without activity: the bank will ask about clients, contracts and the source of funds.

Which company to set up in the Czech Republic

• Limited liability company - the choice of most foreign entrepreneurs: nominal capital, a single founder can also be the director, and the company, not the owner, bears liability.
• Joint-stock company - for larger capital and raising investors, with more complex governance and reporting.
• Sole trader - working under a trade licence without a company; a non-EU foreigner needs a residence permit that allows business activity.

If the goal is a residence permit through business, the form and capital are chosen to meet the migration authority's requirements, not the legal minimum.

Requirements and documents

One founder and one director are enough; they can be the same person, including a foreigner without a residence permit. A person who is barred from doing business or disqualified by a court from managing companies cannot be a director.

• the founding document in the form of a notarial deed;
• passports of the founders and the director;
• the property owner's consent to the registered address, with a certified signature;
• the director's declaration that the legal requirements are met and a criminal record certificate with an apostille and a Czech translation;
• proof that the capital has been paid: capital of up to $930 can be handed in cash to the administrator of contributions, without a bank account;
• documents of a corporate founder: a register extract and proof of authority, with an apostille and a translation by a court translator.

You do not have to travel for registration: a representative can sign the notarial deed under a power of attorney with a certified signature and an apostille. After the register entry the company automatically receives an electronic data box for correspondence with the state: the tax office, courts and agencies write only there, and a message counts as delivered after 10 days even if it has not been opened.

How to register a company in the Czech Republic: steps and timelines

Overall, the path from signing the documents to the register entry usually takes 1-3 weeks if the foreign director's documents are ready in advance.

How much does it cost to open a company in the Czech Republic in 2026

Amounts are converted to dollars at the Central Bank of Russia rate of 7 October 2026 and rounded up.

State payments for the registration itself usually stay within $180: the register entry through a notary and the trade licence. Turnkey registration with an address and support is in the price table below; a manager will calculate the total for your structure in the chat.

What taxes a Czech company pays

• Corporate tax is 21%.
• Dividends to the owner are taxed at 15% at source, 35% for countries without a double tax treaty.
• VAT is 21% and 12%; registration is compulsory once turnover in a calendar year exceeds $93,000.
• Contributions on the salaries of employees and an employed director.

The corporate tax return is filed within three months of the year end, four months if filed electronically, and six months if the accounts are audited or the return is filed by a tax adviser. Details with worked examples are on the taxes in the Czech Republic page.

Why registration gets delayed

• There is no written consent from the property owner to the registered address.
• The director's clean record is not proven: a certificate from the country of citizenship with an apostille and a Czech translation is needed.
• Foreign documents without an apostille or a certified translation.
• The activity requires a separate licence rather than a simple trade notification.
• Details in the notarial deed do not match the founder's documents.

Restrictions for certain nationalities

The law does not restrict founders and directors by citizenship: a national of any country can open a Czech company, and no residence permit is needed for that. The restrictions concern relocation and banks.

Since 2022 the Czech Republic has not accepted visa and residence permit applications from nationals of Russia and Belarus, with narrow exceptions, so they cannot obtain a residence permit through their own company. Russian passports without biometrics are not accepted with applications. For nationals of Russia and Belarus without a residence permit in the European Union an EU regulation applies: a bank does not accept deposits from them above $120,000, and a company account with such owners takes longer to check.

Nationals of other countries get a business residence permit under the general rules: what counts is not registration as such but the company's real activity and income.

Annual obligations of a Czech company

• The annual financial statements are published in the collection of deeds of the commercial register.
• An audit is mandatory if for two years running two of three thresholds are exceeded: assets above $1.9 million, turnover above $3.7 million, more than 50 employees.
• Beneficial ownership details must be kept up to date: an unrecorded owner means a fine of up to $24,000, and the company may not pay that owner dividends.
• Corporate tax and VAT returns and payroll contribution reports are filed electronically only.
• A change of director, address or shareholders is entered in the register through a notary or the court.

We keep the books and filings together with registration, so that data box messages and deadlines do not go unanswered.

What we do

We choose the form for your goal - business, an account or a residence permit, prepare the founding documents and accompany you at the notary, provide a registered address, arrange the trade licence and the register entry, register the company with the tax office and help open an account. Prices for each service are in the table below.

Fees

See also

Business account · Personal account · Investment property · All country programs

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