New Requirements for Registering External Companies in South Africa

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CIPC has updated the process for registering external companies (foreign companies operating in South Africa) via Form CoR20.1 on its online platform.

This replaces Practice Note 6 of 2022 and parts of Practice Note 1 of 2024.

Key Requirements

1. Addresses Required

   • You must provide both physical and postal addresses for the company’s main office inside and outside South Africa.

   • You no longer need to upload proof of the physical SA address, CIPC will now validate this electronically.

2. Industry Information

   • You must specify the industry the external company will operate in within South Africa.

3. South African Representative

   • The person who will accept documents on the company's behalf in SA must:

     • Be a natural person

     • Live in South Africa

     • Provide their name, ID number, postal and physical address, email, and cellphone number.

4. If a Company Is a Director

   • If a juristic person (like a company) is a director, provide:

     • The name and registration number of that entity

     • Its email and cellphone contact details.

Documents to Upload Electronically:

• A mandate authorising the person filing the application

• A board resolution approving registration in South Africa

• Certified copy of the certificate of incorporation

• Certified copy of constitutional or governance documents

• Certified translation (if any document is in a foreign language)

• Securities register.

Check the latest CIPC Practice Note 4 for rules on how documents must be certified.