Incorporating a company creates a body corporate under Guyana’s Companies Act. It is a separate legal process from registering a business name, obtaining a GRA TIN, registering for VAT or securing a sector licence.
This guide covers the formation of a local company through the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority (DCRA).
Quick answer
A local company is incorporated by filing articles and the required supporting notices with the Registrar and paying the prescribed fees. DCRA’s current incorporation page describes the process as preparing the prescribed forms, submitting the package and paying the fees, then uplifting the certificate. As last verified on 14 August 2026, DCRA stated a GYD 60,000 prescribed fee and a three-working-day service period for uplifting the certificate. Confirm all current amounts and requirements before filing.
Step 1: Decide whether incorporation is the right structure
A company and a registered business name are not interchangeable. A company has its own corporate identity and is governed by its articles, the Companies Act and continuing corporate-record obligations.
Before filing, determine the proposed ownership, share structure, directors, secretary, registered office and any restrictions or special provisions that need to appear in the articles. DCRA’s operational page advises applicants to check with a local attorney-at-law when preparing the prescribed form. The page wording should not be read as a universal statement that every applicant has identical legal needs.
Step 2: Search and reserve the company name
The proposed name must comply with the Companies Act and the Registrar’s naming rules. A name may be reserved subject to the Registrar’s approval.
Complete the current name-search and reservation form and do not make branding, lease or printing commitments until the name position is clear.
Step 3: Prepare the incorporation package
DCRA’s current page lists the following documents:
1. Articles of Incorporation. 2. Notice of Director. 3. Consent to Act as Director. 4. Notice of Secretary. 5. Consent to Act as Secretary. 6. Notice of Registered Office. 7. Declaration of Compliance. 8. Request for Name Search and Reservation. 9. Copy of a national identification card or passport.
The articles address the company name, share structure, restrictions on share transfers, the number or range of directors, any restrictions on the business, other provisions and the incorporators.
The company must have a registered office and file the required address notice. The supporting director and secretary notices should be completed consistently with the articles and identification records.
Step 4: Submit and pay the current fees
As last verified on 14 August 2026, DCRA separately listed:
- prescribed incorporation fee: GYD 60,000;
- notices: GYD 3,200; and
- mandatory copy: GYD 350.
Do not calculate or advertise a universal total without confirming how the notices apply to the specific package. DCRA also stated that cash is accepted up to GYD 100,000 and amounts above that are payable by manager’s cheque.
Step 5: Review and uplift the certificate
DCRA currently states that the company certificate may be uplifted in three working days. This is a service statement, not a legal guarantee. The actual timeline can be affected by the name review, incomplete forms, inconsistencies or requests for additional information.
When the certificate is issued, retain:
- the certificate of incorporation;
- stamped or accepted copies of the articles and notices;
- the payment receipt;
- the initial registers and corporate records; and
- the supporting ownership and identification information used in the filing.
Beneficial ownership
Companies must identify and verify their beneficial owners and keep the information accurate and current. The controlled guidance describes a 25-percent shares or voting-rights threshold and control by other means, while emphasising that the ultimate beneficial owner must be a natural person.
The evidence does not establish a universal incorporation-stage sequence for every beneficial-ownership filing. Do not state that the beneficial-ownership form is always submitted simultaneously with incorporation unless DCRA confirms the current package for the specific filing.
What happens after incorporation
The certificate is the beginning of the company’s compliance lifecycle. Common next steps include:
- obtaining an organisation TIN from GRA;
- determining applicable VAT, PAYE and corporation-tax obligations;
- registering as an NIS employer and registering employees where applicable;
- opening and maintaining company accounting and statutory records;
- identifying any activity-specific licence or approval; and
- scheduling annual returns and other DCRA notifications.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating name reservation as completed incorporation.
- Leaving the share structure or director range unclear in the articles.
- Using different names, addresses or officer details across the forms.
- Assuming the certificate automatically creates tax, NIS or licensing registrations.
- Assuming a complete online filing-and-payment route exists; the controlled evidence does not establish one.
Official sources
- DCRA — Incorporating a Company
- DCRA — Forms
- Companies Act, Cap. 89:01, LRO 1/2012
- DCRA beneficial-ownership guidance and current official forms
Editorial note
This guide provides general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm current forms, fees, channels and service times directly with DCRA. Obtain qualified advice for the company’s articles, ownership and regulated activities.
