Set up a limited company in Ireland

Register a private company limited by shares (LTD) online with the Companies Registration Office. Expect about two weeks from a complete application to your certificate.

You set up a private company limited by shares (LTD) by filing Form A1 and a constitution with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). You do it online on CORE and the fee is €50.

Who this is for

An LTD is the most common company type in Ireland. Its owners (shareholders) are only liable for any amount still unpaid on their shares. The company is a separate legal person from you.

• You need at least one director and a secretary. If you have one director, someone else must be the secretary.
• Directors must be 18 or over. A person cannot usually be a director of more than 25 companies.
• At least one director must live in the European Economic Area (EEA). If not, the company needs a €25,000 bond or a certificate from the CRO.

What you need

• A company name ending in "Limited" or "Teoranta"
• A registered office: a physical address in Ireland (a PO box is not enough)
• Names, addresses and dates of birth of the directors and secretary, with their consent to act
• A PPS (Personal Public Service) number for each director. A director without one uses a Verification of Identity Form (VIF).
• A constitution, signed by each subscriber (the first shareholders), with witnessed and dated signatures
• The number of shares each subscriber takes (at least one each)
• Your main business activity, using the NACE code list on the CRO site

Step by step

1. Check your name is free on the CRO register. To hold it, reserve it on CORE for €25 for 28 days.
2. Create a free account on CORE.
3. Prepare your constitution. For an LTD it is one document, set out in Schedule 1 of the Companies Act 2014. The CRO does not supply templates.
4. Fill in Form A1 on CORE with the name, office, officers, subscribers and shares.
5. Get the constitution signed by every subscriber, with each signature witnessed and dated.
6. Submit Form A1 and the constitution on CORE and pay the €50 fee.
7. Wait for your certificate of incorporation and company number.
8. Register your beneficial owners on the RBO portal within 5 months. There is no fee.
9. Register the company for tax with Revenue using form TR2, or ask your tax agent to apply through ROS.

How much it costs and how long it takes

Fé Phráinn is a faster scheme for companies needed at once. You must first get the CRO to approve a standard constitution. On 16 October 2026 the CRO was working on ordinary applications received on 5 October.

Common mistakes

• Making the sole director the secretary too. An LTD with one director needs a separate secretary.
• Using a VIF form witnessed online. Since 30 April 2026 the CRO only accepts VIFs signed with the witness in the same room.
• A company name on the constitution that does not match Form A1 exactly.
• Forgetting the RBO. It is a separate register from the CRO.
• Trading before you register for tax. You need a Tax Reference Number to trade and file returns.

Related guides

• How to register a business name
• How to register for VAT
• How to register as self-employed
• How to get a tax clearance certificate
• How to file a Form 11 tax return