MLV LAW GROUP
Company Formation
A chronological guide to establishing and registering a Cambodian private limited company.
Last reviewed: 5 September 2026
This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements and administrative practice can change; timelines are typical estimates rather than guarantees.
Default vehicle
A Cambodian private limited company is the standard starting vehicle for most operating businesses. The right structure depends on ownership, activities, financing and regulatory constraints.
Branch office
- Purpose: extension of a foreign company. Limitation: it does not create a separate Cambodian legal person. Appropriate where the foreign company will operate directly, subject to registration and sector rules.
Representative office
- Purpose: market research and liaison. Limitation: it generally cannot conduct income-generating commercial operations. Appropriate for pre-investment presence.
Partnership
- Purpose: business conducted by partners under partnership rules. Limitation: liability and governance differ from a company. Appropriate where a partnership model fits the business and risk allocation.
Formation sequence
- 1. Company-name reservation — Ministry of Commerce — proposed names and applicant details — output: reserved name — timing: To be confirmed by MLV — availability and corrections can delay filing.
- 2. Articles and corporate documents — Ministry of Commerce — articles, directors, shareholders, address and supporting identification — output: complete incorporation dossier — timing: To be confirmed by MLV.
- 3. Certificate of Incorporation — Ministry of Commerce — approved dossier and applicable fee — output: certificate and registration record — timing: To be confirmed by MLV.
- 4. Tax registration — General Department of Taxation — TIN, patent tax and VAT registration where applicable — output: tax registration — timing: GDT states requirements and service timing can vary; confirm before filing.
- 5. Labour registration — Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training — enterprise and employee information — output: labour registration/notifications — timing: To be confirmed by MLV.
- 6. Bank account — selected bank — corporate certificate, constitutional documents, authority and KYC materials — output: corporate account — timing: bank-dependent.
- 7. Beneficial ownership filing — competent authority through applicable registration/tax process — ownership and control information — output: filing/record — timing: To be confirmed by MLV.
- 8. Company chop/seal — company / service provider — approved design and authority — output: seal where required or practically used — timing: provider-dependent.
Estimated timing
Individual step timings and the overall formation range: To be confirmed by MLV after reviewing the company, owners, address and activities. Government processing, document legalisation, bank compliance and sector approvals can affect timing.
What MLV handles / What the client provides
What MLV handles
- Structure and name review
- Preparation and submission of incorporation, tax and labour filings
- Authority follow-up and registration record review
What the client provides
- Ownership, directors and beneficial-owner information
- Registered address evidence and source documents
- Business description, signatures, powers of attorney and bank KYC materials
After incorporation
Maintain statutory registers and corporate records, file tax and labour obligations, renew licences, update changes in ownership or directors, and keep beneficial-owner information current where required.
Related resources
- For projects seeking investment incentives, see Invest in Cambodia / QIP.
- Contact MLV Law Group to discuss your proposed structure.
Sources
- Online Business Registration: https://registrationservices.gov.kh/
- General Department of Taxation: https://www.tax.gov.kh/en/
- Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training: https://www.mlvt.gov.kh/