How to Register a Company in Zambia — PACRA Guide (2026)

Company Types in Zambia

Before registering, you need to choose the right structure. Zambia offers several options:

The limited liability company is the right choice for 90% of businesses. It provides limited liability protection, credibility with banks and partners, and is the structure expected by ZRA, investors, and government procurement.

PACRA Name Search — Checking Availability

Before incorporation, you must reserve a company name with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA).

Rules for Company Names

• Must be unique — not identical or confusingly similar to an existing registered company
• Cannot contain restricted words (Bank, Insurance, University, Government) without relevant regulatory approval
• Must end with “Limited” or “Ltd” for limited liability companies
• Cannot be offensive or misleading

How to Search

1. Go to the PACRA online portal
2. Navigate to Name Search
3. Enter your proposed company name
4. Pay the name search fee (check PACRA for current fees)
5. PACRA checks the name against the register
6. If available, the name is reserved for 30 days

Tip: Search for 2–3 alternative names in case your first choice is taken. The fee applies per search.

Required Documents

For a Limited Liability Company

For Sole Proprietorship

• NRC or passport of the owner
• Proof of business address
• Business name registration form

For Branch of Foreign Company

• Certificate of incorporation from the home country (apostilled or notarised)
• Articles of association of the parent company
• Board resolution authorising the Zambian branch
• NRC or passport of the local agent/representative
• Proof of registered office in Zambia

Step-by-Step: PACRA Online Registration

Step 1: Create a PACRA Account

Visit the PACRA online portal and register an account. You will need an email address and phone number.

Step 2: Reserve Your Company Name

Complete the name search and pay the applicable fee. Once approved, your name is held for 30 days.

Step 3: Complete the Incorporation Application

Fill in:

• Company name (as reserved)
• Company type (limited liability company)
• Registered office address
• Share capital structure (number of shares and nominal value)
• Director details (name, NRC/passport, address, nationality) — minimum 2 directors required
• Shareholder details and shareholding percentages — minimum 2 shareholders required
• Company secretary details (optional for limited liability companies)

Step 4: Upload Supporting Documents

Upload all required documents as scanned PDFs. Ensure documents are clear and legible.

Step 5: Pay Incorporation Fees

PACRA fees are calculated based on the share capital. Check the PACRA portal for the current fee schedule, as fees are updated periodically.

Step 6: Submit and Await Processing

Review your application and submit. PACRA reviews all documents and, if satisfactory, issues:

• Certificate of Incorporation — your company officially exists
• Company registration number — used for all official dealings

Processing time: 5–10 business days.

Step 7: Download Your Certificate

Once approved, download your Certificate of Incorporation from the PACRA portal. This is the document you will present to ZRA, banks, and all other institutions.

After Registration: The Full Sequence

Getting your PACRA certificate is step one. Here is everything else you need to do, in order:

1. ZRA TPIN Registration (1–3 days)

Register for a corporate TPIN with ZRA. See our TPIN Registration Guide. You cannot open a bank account or register for any tax type without this.

2. Tax Type Registrations (same time as TPIN)

Register for the tax types relevant to your business:

• PAYE — if you will employ anyone
• VAT — if turnover will exceed K800,000 (or voluntarily)
• Income Tax or Turnover Tax — depending on your regime choice (see our Turnover Tax vs Income Tax Guide)

3. NAPSA Registration (5–10 days)

Register as an employer with NAPSA if you have employees. See our NAPSA & NHIMA Guide.

4. NHIMA Registration (5–10 days)

Register with NHIMA for mandatory health insurance contributions.

5. Open a Business Bank Account (1–2 weeks)

Most Zambian banks require:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• TPIN certificate
• Board resolution authorising the account opening
• NRC/passport of authorised signatories
• Proof of business address

Popular banks for business accounts in Zambia: Stanbic Bank, Standard Chartered, Zanaco, FNB Zambia, Atlas Mara.

6. Business Licences (varies by industry)

Depending on your sector, you may need additional licences:

• Council trading licence — required for most businesses operating in a specific district
• ZEMA environmental licence — for manufacturing, mining, and construction
• ZABS certification — for food and beverage manufacturing
• Health licence — for restaurants, clinics, and food businesses
• Mining licence — from the Ministry of Mines
• Tourism licence — from the Ministry of Tourism

Common PACRA Rejection Reasons

1. Name too similar to existing company — PACRA has strict similarity rules. “Zambia Trading Ltd” and “Zambia Traders Ltd” will likely clash
2. Incomplete director information — every director needs full details including NRC number, residential address, and nationality
3. Missing or illegible documents — scanned copies must be clear. Blurry NRC copies are a common rejection cause
4. Restricted words without approval — using “Bank”, “Insurance”, “University” requires prior regulatory approval
5. Incorrect share structure — the articles must be consistent with the share capital declared in the application

Timeline Summary

M&J runs these processes in parallel rather than sequentially. While PACRA is processing, we prepare your ZRA and NAPSA applications so they can be submitted the day your certificate is issued.