Other overseas company forms

These forms are for overseas companies (other than Australian companies) that are carrying on business in New Zealand, as defined by the Companies Act 1993.

To register or maintain details for overseas companies you need to complete and submit paper forms.  The one exception is that you can apply to reserve a company name online.

• View forms for Australian overseas companies.
• Learn more about registering and maintaining an overseas company in New Zealand.

Notes about our PDF forms

To view or print our forms you will require PDF viewing software such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.  If you are experiencing problems downloading our forms, make sure you have updated your PDF reader to the latest version.

While viewing the form in your PDF viewer you can enter details directly into fields on these forms before printing them.  Alternatively you can print a blank form and complete it neatly by hand.

Here you will find forms to

• Register an overseas company
• Update an overseas company
• File an annual return for an overseas company
• Remove an overseas company

Payment of fees

If you would like to pay any of the fees associated with registering documents for an overseas company by credit card or by charging them to your direct debit account download the payment of fees attachment.  If paying by cheque make your cheque payable to Ministry of Economic Development.

• Attachment: Payment of fees [55 kB PDF]

Register an overseas company

Registering an overseas company in New Zealand is completed in two steps.  Begin by reserving the company name, then submit your application for registration.

With the exception of the name reservation step, there are currently no online services for registering overseas companies.

To submit your application for registration, please select and download the forms you require from the list below.  Once completed send the forms and the appropriate fee to the Registrar of Companies.  The address is noted on the forms.

• Form 4: Application for Reservation of a Company Name [61 kB PDF]
  Use this form to manually apply to reserve a name for an Overseas company.  The name you reserve can then be used to register an overseas company.
  
  Note | If the overseas company name ends with the word 'limited' you can reserve the name through the online service (NZ$10 compared to NZ$25 to file a paper application). 
  
• Form 16: Application for Registration of an Overseas Company on Overseas Register [82 kB PDF]
  Use this form to make application to the Registrar of Companies in New Zealand for an overseas company to be registered on the overseas register.  Note | There is a fee of NZ$250 payable with this application.  Read more about the payment options. 
  
• Form 20: Application by Overseas Company to Register as a Company [47 kB PDF]
  Overseas companies use this form to apply to the Registrar of Companies in New Zealand to register as a company under the Companies Act 1993.  Note | There is a fee of NZ$250 payable with this application.  Read more about the payment options. 

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Update an overseas company

Apart from reserving a new company name online, there are currently no online services for updating details of overseas companies.

Please select and download the forms you require from the list below.  Send your completed forms to the Registrar of Companies.  The address is noted on the forms.

• Form 4: Application for Reservation of a Company Name [61 kB PDF]
  Use this form to manually apply to reserve a name for an overseas company.  The name you reserve can then be used to register a change of name of overseas company (Form 15).
  
  Note | If the overseas company name ends with the word 'limited' you can reserve the name through the online service (NZ$10 compared to NZ$25 to file a paper application). 
  
• Form 15: Notice of change of name of overseas company [47 kB PDF]
  Use this form to change the name of a company that is registered on the overseas register.  Note | Although there is a fee for applying to reserve the new name (Form 4), there is no fee payable when filing this notice.
  
• Form 17: Notice of overseas company's changes [84 kB PDF]
  Use this form to notify a range of changes for a company registered on the overseas register.  Changes you can notify here include alteration of constitution, change in place of business or changes in directors or persons authorised to accept service.  Note | There is no fee payable when filing this notice.
  

File an annual return for an overseas company

To file an annual return for an overseas company you need to file a paper form.

Please select and download form 18 below.  Send your completed form to the Registrar of Companies.  The address is noted on the form.

• Form 18: Annual return for an overseas company [73 kB PDF]
  An annual return must be filed to maintain registration as an overseas company on the register.  The annual return confirms that the information on the overseas register is correct.   Note | There is a fee of NZ$30 payable with this application.  Read more about the payment options. 

For more information on filing an annual return for an overseas company take a look at the How do I? section of our website.

Remove an overseas company

Use Form 19 to give notice of the intention to cease to carry on business in New Zealand.  Please select and download Form 19 below.  Send your completed form to the Registrar of Companies.  The address is noted on the form.

• Form 19: Notice of intention to cease to carry on business [45 kB PDF]
  Overseas companies should use this form to give notice of their intention to cease to carry on business in New Zealand. You must also provide the date that you gave public notice of this intention.  Note | There is no fee payable when filing this notice.
  

For more information on removing an overseas company from the register take a look at the How do I? section of our website.  You will also find information on restoring an overseas company to the register.