How DRC Businesses Can Register a Company in Zambia (2026)

Yes. Zambia has no minimum local ownership requirement for foreign investors. A DRC individual, SARL, or SA can hold 100% of the shares in a Zambian Private Limited Company. There is no minimum capital threshold to register, though capitalisation must be adequate for the intended business activity. M&J handles the complete PACRA incorporation process — remotely — using scanned passports and notarised KYC.

A standard Private Limited Company is operational in 7–10 working days from receipt of KYC documents. PACRA name reservation takes 1–2 days, incorporation 3–5 days, and ZRA TPIN, NAPSA and Workers' Compensation a further 3–5 days. A Branch of a Congolese parent (Part XIII) is longer — typically 4–8 weeks — because of the additional embassy attestation and French-to-English translation chain.

A foreign-owned LLC package from M&J starts at USD 950, covering PACRA name reservation, incorporation, ZRA TPIN, NAPSA, Workers' Compensation and bank account introduction. Branch Office (Part XIII) starts at USD 1,800. Add USD 25–35 per A4 page for certified French-to-English translation of RCCM extracts and resolutions, plus approximately USD 80–150 per document for Zambian embassy attestation in Kinshasa or Lubumbashi.

Yes — the whole process is remote. M&J handles PACRA, ZRA, NAPSA and Workers' Compensation registrations on your behalf using scanned passports and notarised documents couriered or transmitted from the DRC. You don't need to be in Zambia for incorporation, although a short visit may help with the bank-account opening. Several Zambian banks now offer fully remote onboarding for foreign-owned entities.

Embassy attestation, not apostille. The DRC is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, so apostilles are unavailable. Instead, RCCM extracts, certificates of incorporation, and board resolutions must be notarised in the DRC, legalised by the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then attested at the Zambian Embassy in Kinshasa or the Zambian Consulate in Lubumbashi. M&J coordinates the full chain.

Without a Double Taxation Agreement, cross-border payments (dividends, interest, royalties, management fees) from your Zambian company to the DRC are subject to Zambia's full 20% domestic withholding tax. You may be able to claim a unilateral foreign tax credit in the DRC under Congolese domestic law, but there is no treaty-guaranteed relief. M&J advises on structuring (e.g. through a treaty-network jurisdiction with substance) to minimise overall tax exposure where appropriate.

Both Zambia and the DRC are members of COMESA, SADC, and AfCFTA. Under the COMESA Free Trade Area, qualifying goods can move at preferential or zero tariff — particularly valuable for mining equipment, agricultural products, and manufactured goods crossing Kasumbalesa. COMESA also offers the Yellow Card motor vehicle insurance scheme and the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) for consignments under USD 2,000, reducing costs for small-scale traders.

Yes. Since January 2025, DRC passport holders enter Zambia visa-free for up to 30 days for business and tourism. This is a major upgrade from the previous visa requirement and makes scouting, partner meetings and pre-incorporation site visits much easier. Employment in Zambia still requires an Employment Permit (4–8 weeks processing).

Profits are repatriated as dividends, royalties, interest, or management fees from your Zambian company to the DRC shareholder. The Bank of Zambia does not impose exchange controls on dividend remittances — however, since there is no DTA, the full 20% Zambian WHT applies on dividends, interest, royalties, and management fees. On the Congolese side, the dividend is subject to DGI tax treatment, with any unilateral foreign tax credit determined under DRC domestic rules.

Very few. Zambia's reserved list (Citizens Economic Empowerment Act) covers small-scale activities such as small-scale mining of specific minerals, retail trading below specified thresholds, and some sub-contracting categories. Mainstream sectors — mining services, manufacturing, large-scale agriculture, logistics, tourism, ICT, financial services, construction — are fully open to 100% DRC ownership. M&J reviews your business activity against the current reserved list.

No. Zambia does not require a Zambian-resident director or a local shareholder for a foreign-owned Private Limited Company. You do need a Zambian registered office address, which M&J provides as part of our package. A Congolese director living in Lubumbashi or Kinshasa can hold all directorships, but a local company secretary or representative is recommended for day-to-day PACRA and ZRA correspondence.

Yes. PACRA, ZRA, NAPSA, and Workers' Compensation operate exclusively in English — French-only documents are not accepted. Articles of association, board resolutions, RCCM extracts, contracts filed at PACRA, and any French ID documents must be translated by a certified translator into English. M&J includes certified French-to-English translation as part of our DRC investor package.