Registering an Overseas Company in Jamaica

Registering an Overseas Company

Overseas companies may operate in Jamaica but must be registered at the Companies Office of Jamaica. Any changes in the documents at the time of registration must be filed with the Companies Office of Jamaica. The registration fee is $25,000.00. Once registered, an overseas company must file a Balance Sheet, Profit and loss account in accordance with the Companies Act 2004.

Certification for Registering an Overseas Company

A company incorporated outside of Jamaica which establishes a place of business within the island shall within one month of the establishment of the place of business deliver to the Registrar for registration a Form 31 together with a certified copy of the Charter, Statute or Articles of the company or other instrument constituting or defining the constitution and name of the company.

The copy of the Charter, Statutes or Articles aforesaid is to be certified to be a true copy of the original by an official of the Government body responsible for custody of the original.

Notification of Changes for an Overseas Company

• Notification of changes to the directors of the company or the particulars contained in the list of directors is to be given to the Registrar by means of a Form 5.

• Notification of  a change in the names or addresses of persons authorized to accept service on behalf of the company is to be communicated using the Form 31.

• Notification of changes made to the name of the company is to be communicated via a Form 5 together with a certified copy of the certificate of change of name or other document constituting the change in the company's name. The copy of the certificate is to be certified to be a true copy of the original by an official of the Government body responsible for custody of the original.

A translation can be certified in the following ways.

(a)    If made outside of Jamaica in a country having a Jamaican embassy or consulate, by –

(i)  the Ambassador, Consul-General or any person designated by that representative; or

(ii) A minister of Government or Government official of equivalent authority or a person designated by him, who certifies that the translator is known to him as competent to translate it into the English language;

(b)    If made outside of Jamaica in a country not having a Jamaican embassy or consulate, 

(i)    by any minister of Government or Government official of equivalent authority in that country or a person designated by him, who certifies that the translator is known to him as competent to translate it into the English language;

(c)   If made in Jamaica, by the minister responsible for  foreign affairs or any person designated by him, who certifies that the translator is known to him as competent to translate it into the English language.