How Long Does It Take to Register a Company in Ireland?
Staxo Team, 2026-09-16
People ask this question expecting a single number. The honest answer is that incorporation itself is quick, often a matter of days, but getting to a company that can trade, invoice and pay people takes longer. This guide walks through each stage, what the CRO says about its own processing targets, and where the delays usually come from.
Stage 1: Choosing and checking the name
Before anything is filed, the company name must be acceptable to the CRO. The name must be distinctive, must not be too similar to an existing company, and must not include restricted words without permission. You can check names free of charge on CORE.
If you want certainty, the CRO offers a name reservation for 25 euro. The name is held for 28 days and the fee is deducted from the incorporation fee if you file within that time. Reservations are processed quickly; on the CRO's published processing update for 10 August 2026, name reservations were being handled the same day.
Time: minutes to check, one to two days if you reserve.
Stage 2: Preparing the documents
An LTD needs a Form A1 and a one document constitution. The A1 asks for the company name, registered office, details of directors and secretary and their consent to act, the subscribers and their shares, and a declaration that the Companies Act has been complied with.
The details that slow people down are:
- PPSNs for every director. The name, date of birth and PPSN must match Department of Social Protection records exactly, or the filing is bounced.
- Directors without a PPSN must first file a Form VIF to get an Identified Person Number. Since 30 April 2026 the VIF must be witnessed in person, which adds days if the director is abroad.
- A separate secretary if there is only one director.
- A registered office address in the State.
- A Section 137 bond if no director is resident in the EEA. The bond must be in place at the date of incorporation and a certified copy submitted with the A1.
Time: one day if all details are ready, one to two weeks if a VIF or bond is needed.
Stage 3: Signing
The A1 is completed online on CORE but the signature page must be printed, signed by the directors, secretary and subscribers, and delivered to the CRO. Formation services usually collect signatures electronically where the CRO permits it, or by post. Chasing signatures from busy co-founders is a common cause of delay.
Time: same day to a week, depending on the people involved.
Stage 4: CRO processing
The CRO runs two online incorporation schemes with different service standards:
| Scheme | CRO published target | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Fé Phráinn A1 Online | The CRO aims to issue the certificate within five working days of a correct submission | Formation agents whose constitution has been pre-approved by the CRO |
| Ordinary Online A1 | The CRO tries to issue the certificate within ten working days of a correct submission | Anyone filing directly, or agents without a pre-approved constitution |
These are targets, not promises. The CRO publishes daily processing dates showing which submission date it is currently working on. As an example, its 10 August 2026 update showed Fé Phráinn applications received on 31 July being processed, and Ordinary Online A1 applications received on 25 July. That is roughly six and eleven working days respectively. Check the current update on cro.ie before you make commitments to customers or landlords.
Submissions are processed in date order. Anything sent back for correction goes to the back of the queue based on its resubmission date, so getting it right first time matters more than filing fast.
Time: typically one to two weeks from a correct submission, based on the CRO's published targets and processing dates.
Stage 5: After incorporation
The certificate of incorporation is the start, not the finish. Several things now run in parallel.
Tax registration with Revenue
The company must be incorporated and have its CRO number before it can register for tax. If a tax agent represents the company, they register it through ROS. Otherwise the company files Form TR2. Registration covers corporation tax and, if needed, VAT, employer PAYE and RCT. Corporation tax registration is usually straightforward. VAT registration can take longer because Revenue may ask for evidence of trading intentions before issuing a VAT number.
Register of Beneficial Ownership
Beneficial owners must be filed with the RBO within five months of incorporation. Filing is online and free. Do it in the first week while the details are fresh.
Bank account
Banks and payment providers run their own identity and anti-money laundering checks. Some digital providers open accounts within days; traditional banks may take longer and may want to see the certificate of incorporation, the constitution and identification for every director and beneficial owner. This stage is outside the CRO's control and is often the slowest part of the whole process.
Other setup
Company seal, statutory registers, first board minutes and a share certificate for each shareholder should be completed soon after incorporation. If the company trades under a name other than its full name, register that business name with the CRO within one month.
A realistic overall timeline
| Stage | Fast case | Typical case |
|---|---|---|
| Name check and document preparation | 1 day | 2 to 5 days |
| Signatures | Same day | 2 to 5 days |
| CRO processing | Around 5 working days (Fé Phráinn) | 5 to 10 working days |
| Tax registration | A few days | 1 to 3 weeks for VAT |
| Bank account | A few days | 1 to 4 weeks |
| Total to a trading company | About 2 weeks | 3 to 6 weeks |
The fast case assumes every director has a PPSN, all details are correct first time, and you use a provider on the Fé Phráinn scheme. The typical case allows for a query or two.
How to keep it short
- Check the company name on CORE before you pay anyone.
- Collect each director's name, date of birth and PPSN exactly as held by the Department of Social Protection.
- Sort a VIF or Section 137 bond before you file, not after.
- Decide on the secretary and registered office in advance.
- Use a formation provider on the Fé Phráinn scheme.
- Start the bank application the day the certificate arrives.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a company in one day in Ireland?
No. Even under the Fé Phráinn scheme the CRO's published aim is five working days from a correct submission, and it processes applications in date order.
Can I trade before the certificate of incorporation issues?
The company does not exist until it is incorporated, so it cannot sign contracts or invoice. Anything done before that is done personally by the promoters.
Does a non-resident director slow things down?
It can. A director without a PPSN needs a VIF witnessed in person, and if no director is EEA resident a bond must be in place before filing.
When is my first annual return due?
Six months after incorporation. No financial statements are needed with the first return.
Sources
- CRO: Registration methods (Fé Phráinn and Ordinary Online A1)
- CRO: Daily processing times, 10 August 2026
- CRO: Required steps
- CRO: VIF form update, 30 April 2026
- Revenue: How to register for tax as a new company
- RBO: Who must file and when
Staxo forms your company online for 199 euro ex VAT and then supports you through tax registration and the RBO once the certificate issues, with accounting software and human support from day one. Form your company with Staxo.