What documents are required to register a branch or office of a foreign company in Syria?

The following documents are required to register a branch or office (temporary, regional or representative) of a foreign company in the Syrian Arab Republic.

Required documents

1. A copy of the “company or establishment memorandum of association”, or the “instrument of incorporation of the entity together with its articles of association”.
2. A resolution of the company’s board of directors establishing the office, stating the body it reports to, and appointing a manager for it.
3. The certificate of registration of the foreign legal person in the commercial register of its own country (the parent company’s commercial register certificate).
4. A copy of the power of attorney of the branch manager (if their authority is not already set out in the board resolution).
5. A document proving that the paid-up capital of the company or establishment is not less than USD 50,000 (fifty thousand US dollars) or the equivalent (if the capital is not stated in the parent company’s commercial register or in the board resolution). Foreign non-profit entities and institutions are exempt from this requirement.
6. The financial statements (balance sheet) for the most recent financial year of the foreign legal person at its head office (in the home country), certified by a licensed auditor.
7. A letter of authorisation for the person appointed by the foreign legal person to pursue the registration procedures (if their authorisation is not stated in the board resolution).

Authentication of the documents

These documents must be authenticated as follows:

• The competent authorities in the state where the foreign legal person is registered.
• The Syrian embassy in the foreign company’s country.
• The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

Forms to be completed

Two copies of the information form on the branch manager (with a personal photograph) and of the declaration of the branch office address are to be completed, and signed by the branch manager at the department.

What the branch registration application must contain

• The commercial name and address of the foreign legal person.
• Its nationality and place of incorporation.
• Its legal form.
• Its head office and domicile.
• The type of registration.
• The objects and activities it will carry out in Syria.
• Its capital, if it is a company or establishment; non-profit entities and companies are exempt from this.
• The location of the branch or office, or their chosen temporary domicile.
• The divisions, if any, and their domicile.
• The name of the general manager, their nationality, and their chosen domicile in Syria.
• The name of the person authorised to pursue the registration procedures in Syria.
• The email address of the foreign legal person.
• Detailed particulars of the partners in partnerships, or of the board members in capital companies.
• The name of the auditor of the foreign legal person.
• The name of the account inspector in Syria.