Company setup in New Zealand

Start with the right structure

Explore legal entity forms and registration sources for New Zealand. Use the local terminology below when discussing your application with the relevant authority.

Detailed foreign-investor rules for this jurisdiction have not yet been independently reviewed here. The registry sources below are the starting point for confirming the available formation route.

Company & entity types

Listed forms include commercial companies and other legal entities. A listing is not confirmation that a foreign founder can establish that form. Local names are preserved to avoid misleading legal translations.

Find a legal form or sub-jurisdiction

14 legal forms listed

Incorporated Society

New ZealandELF 3EPRIS; Inc Soc

Unlimited Liability Company

New ZealandELF 4LEAUnltd;Ultd

Limited Partnership

New ZealandELF F7KILimited Partnership;LP;L.P.

Māori Incorporation

New ZealandELF FCAN

Building society

New ZealandELF HX4T

Credit union

New ZealandELF I8Z8

Industrial and provident society

New ZealandELF LFSO

Limited Liability Company

New ZealandELF P2R9Ltd;Ltd.;Limited

government entity

New ZealandELF Q4BE

Sole Trader

New ZealandELF QF8K

Friendly society

New ZealandELF RVWS

Charitable Trust

New ZealandELF TF8LCT

Partnership

New ZealandELF WEIB

Cooperative Company

New ZealandELF Z6ZUCOOP

Source: GLEIF ELF v1.6, February 2026 ↗. Active codes only; language variants grouped by code. The source is not an exhaustive list of all available legal forms.

What to confirm before applying

These are planning questions, not verified New Zealand requirements.

Foreign ownership & activity

Ask whether your nationality, ownership percentage and proposed business activity require investment approval, a local partner or a sector licence.

Directors & local presence

Confirm the required directors, shareholders, registered office, local representative and any residency or company-secretary rules.

Capital & incorporation costs

Obtain the current minimum capital, filing fees, notarisation costs, translations and annual renewal or service charges for the selected legal form.

Tax & ongoing compliance

Verify corporate tax, VAT or sales tax, withholding, beneficial-ownership reporting, accounting, audit and annual-return obligations.

Banking & immigration

Check bank onboarding and source-of-funds evidence separately. Company registration should not be treated as approval for banking, residence or work permission.