Published by ChinaMNC · Longhu

Registering a Company in China: Documents, Steps and Timeline

A practical guide for founders setting up a company in Longhu, Guangdong, covering the documents to prepare, the registration steps and a realistic timeline for the process.

Why Longhu, Guangdong?

Longhu is a district in Shantou, a city on the eastern coast of Guangdong Province. For founders, the appeal is practical: Shantou sits within Guangdong's wider manufacturing and trade ecosystem, has its own port and airport connections, and offers a lower cost base than the Pearl River Delta core cities. Longhu itself is an established urban district with commercial space, local service providers and access to the municipal government services that handle company registration. If you are considering Longhu as your base, the registration process follows the same national framework as elsewhere in China, with local execution handled by the Shantou and Longhu authorities.

Choose the Right Entity Type First

Before collecting documents, decide on the legal form. The most common options for foreign founders are:

• Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE) — a limited liability company owned entirely by foreign investors. Common for businesses that need to invoice customers, hire staff and control operations directly.
• Sino-foreign equity joint venture — a company shared with a Chinese partner. Useful where local licensing, land or distribution relationships require a domestic shareholder.
• Representative office — a non-profit liaison office. It cannot generate revenue, so it suits market research or coordination only.

Most founders setting up an operating business in Longhu choose a WFOE. The entity type determines the documents you will need, so settle this early.

Documents to Prepare

Chinese registration authorities expect a consistent, complete document set. Exact requirements can vary by business scope and district, so confirm the current list with your local adviser or the Longhu market regulation bureau before submission. The typical package includes:

Corporate and investor documents

• Passport copies of the foreign legal representative and shareholders (for individual investors).
• Certificate of incorporation and good standing documents for corporate shareholders, notarised and legalised (or apostilled where applicable).
• Board resolution authorising the investment and appointing the legal representative.
• Notarised and legalised power of attorney if a local agent signs on the investor's behalf.

Company formation documents

• Articles of association (company charter) in Chinese, consistent with the equity and governance terms.
• Name pre-approval application, with several candidate names in Chinese.
• Registered address proof — a lease or property certificate for the Longhu office. Some districts accept serviced-office arrangements; verify this locally.
• Business scope description, drafted to match permitted categories.
• Capital contribution plan, including amount, currency and schedule.

People and post-registration items

• Legal representative, supervisor and executive director appointments, with identity documents.
• Company seals (official, financial, contract, legal representative) carved after approval.
• Bank account opening documents, including the business licence and seals.
• Tax registration and invoicing setup with the local tax authority.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Name pre-approval

Submit several candidate Chinese names to the market regulation system. Names must follow Chinese naming rules and avoid restricted terms. Approval is usually quick, but you should have backups ready.

Step 2: Prepare and notarise foreign documents

Corporate shareholder documents and powers of attorney generally need notarisation and consular legalisation, or an apostille if the issuing country is a party to the Apostille Convention. This step often takes the longest, so start it first.

Step 3: Submit the establishment application

File the charter, investor documents, address proof, appointments and business scope with the Longhu market regulation authority. In many districts this can be done online through the provincial enterprise registration platform, with physical documents submitted or checked afterwards.

Step 4: Obtain the business licence

Once approved, the company receives its business licence, which carries the unified social credit code. This is the foundation for everything that follows.

Step 5: Carve seals and open a bank account

Register with the public security seal system and have the company seals made. Then open a basic RMB account and, if needed, a foreign currency capital account at a bank in Shantou.

Step 6: Tax, customs and other registrations

Complete tax registration, sign the tripartite tax-bank agreement, and register for invoicing. If you will import or export, add customs and foreign trade registrations. Businesses in regulated sectors may need additional licences before operations begin.

Step 7: Capital contribution and ongoing compliance

Fund the capital account according to the contribution schedule in the charter. Set up bookkeeping, annual reporting and, where applicable, foreign exchange and tax filings from day one.

Realistic Timeline

Timelines vary with document readiness and sector. As a planning guide:

• Name pre-approval: a few working days.
• Notarisation and legalisation of foreign documents: often several weeks, depending on the jurisdiction and courier time.
• Establishment approval and business licence: typically one to three weeks after a complete submission.
• Seals and bank account: roughly one to two weeks, depending on bank onboarding.
• Tax and customs registrations: days to a few weeks.

In practice, founders should allow around two to three months from starting document preparation to a fully operational company, and longer if sector licences or complex shareholder structures are involved. Local advisers familiar with Longhu and Shantou can help avoid back-and-forth with authorities.

Practical Tips for Longhu Founders

• Confirm the registered address requirement with the district authority before signing a lease.
• Keep Chinese translations of all foreign documents consistent with the originals.
• Draft the business scope carefully; it affects licensing and invoicing.
• Budget for ongoing compliance, not just registration fees.
• Use a local accountant and, where needed, a legal adviser for the charter and equity terms.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Registration requirements, document lists and processing times in China can change and vary by district and business activity. Always verify current requirements with the relevant Chinese authorities or a qualified local professional before acting.