Company registration Sri Lanka from overseas is fully possible — and thousands of foreign investors do it every year without ever stepping foot in the country. The entire process runs online through the eROC portal operated by the Department of the Registrar of Companies.
This guide covers everything you need to know. It walks you through every step, every document, and every requirement for completing your company registration Sri Lanka from overseas — quickly, correctly, and without unnecessary delays.
Company Registration Sri Lanka from Overseas: Is It Really Possible?
Yes. Sri Lanka digitalised its entire company registration system through the eROC platform. Furthermore, the government actively encourages foreign investment. As a result, you can create an eROC account, reserve a company name, submit all documents, pay government fees, and download your Certificate of Incorporation — entirely from your laptop or phone.
Moreover, you do not need a Sri Lankan co-director or local partner in most sectors. Sri Lanka permits 100% foreign ownership across the majority of industries. Therefore, a single foreign national can own and direct a Sri Lankan company entirely from overseas. However, two mandatory local requirements apply — a registered office address and a licensed Company Secretary. Both of these are things ASAC provides for overseas clients.
What You Need Before You Start
Getting these items ready before you begin saves significant time. Furthermore, having everything prepared avoids the most common delays in company registration Sri Lanka from overseas.
Certified passport copies. Every foreign director and shareholder needs a certified copy of their passport. A notary public, lawyer, or government official in your home country must certify it. A plain scan is not acceptable. Moreover, get this done before you contact ASAC — it is the single biggest cause of delays for overseas clients.
Proof of home address. A recent utility bill or bank statement confirming your residential address overseas works in most cases.
Registered office address in Sri Lanka. Every company must have a physical address in Sri Lanka from the moment of registration. You cannot use a foreign address, a virtual address, or a PO Box. If you do not have premises in Sri Lanka, ASAC provides a fully compliant registered office address facility. Learn more about our company registration services here.
Licensed Company Secretary in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan law makes this mandatory for every Private Limited Company. The Company Secretary must be resident in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, they must hold a valid Certificate of Practice from the Department of the Registrar of Companies. ASAC acts as Company Secretary for all overseas client companies. Read more about what a Company Secretary does here.
Clear company details. Prepare your preferred company name, business objectives, share structure, and all director and shareholder information before you start. As a result, document preparation moves much faster once you engage ASAC.
Sector Eligibility: Check This First
Before anything else, confirm that your industry allows foreign ownership. Sri Lanka categorises industries into three groups.
100% foreign ownership permitted. Information Technology, BPO, Tourism and Hospitality, Construction, Healthcare, Food Production, Logistics, Accounting and Professional Services. If your business falls here, company registration Sri Lanka from overseas as a fully foreign-owned company is straightforward.
40% foreign ownership cap. Travel Agencies, Mass Communication, Primary and Secondary Education, Agriculture, Mining, Timber, Coastal Shipping. In these sectors, you need a local joint venture partner holding at least 60%.
Reserved for Sri Lankan nationals. Pawn Brokering, Coastal Fishing, Retail Trade below USD 5 million, Security Services. Foreign ownership is not permitted in these categories.
Choosing the wrong structure at the start creates serious problems later. Therefore, always confirm your sector eligibility before reserving a name or preparing documents. ASAC provides a free eligibility assessment as part of our initial consultation. Read our full foreign ownership guide here.
Step-by-Step: Company Registration Sri Lanka from Overseas
Step 1 — Book an Initial Consultation
First, speak with a registered Company Secretary before doing anything else. ASAC assesses your sector eligibility, confirms your ownership structure, and tells you exactly what you need. Furthermore, we identify whether your company needs Board of Investment approval before registration. This step prevents costly mistakes.
Step 2 — BOI Approval (If Required)
Some foreign-owned companies need BOI approval before they can register. This applies to certain industries and larger investment sizes. If your company needs BOI approval, start this process first. It runs separately from eROC registration. Moreover, it can take several weeks. Therefore, start it as early as possible.
Step 3 — Reserve Your Company Name
Log in to your eROC account at eroc.drc.gov.lk and apply for name reservation. The Registrar typically responds within 2 to 3 business days. Furthermore, prepare two or three backup names before applying. Your reservation is valid for three months. As a result, you must complete registration within this window.
Step 4 — Prepare Your Documents
Once your name is approved, ASAC prepares all documents on your behalf. These include:
- Form 1 — company name, type, address, directors, shareholders, share structure
- Form 18 — one for each director, signed personally by that director
- Form 19 — signed by your licensed Company Secretary
- Articles of Association — with the company name in English, Sinhala, and Tamil for all foreign-owned companies
- Certified passport copies — for all foreign directors and shareholders
ASAC drafts every form and the Articles of Association. Furthermore, we review everything before sending it to you for signing.
Step 5 — Sign Documents Digitally
You do not need to print, sign physically, and post documents back to Sri Lanka. ASAC coordinates the signing process specifically for overseas clients. We send you documents in a format you can review and sign from any device — phone, tablet, or computer.
Once signed, ASAC prepares the final execution copies in the format required for eROC submission. Furthermore, we handle all quality checks before anything goes to the Registrar. As a result, overseas clients complete the signing stage in as little as one business day — regardless of their time zone
Step 6 — eROC Submission
ASAC uploads all completed documents to the eROC portal. We pay the government registration fees on your behalf. Furthermore, we follow up directly with the Registrar of Companies until your application is approved. You do not need to do anything at this stage.
Step 7 — Receive Your Certificate of Incorporation
Once the Registrar approves your application, your digital Certificate of Incorporation arrives by email. You can also download it from your eROC dashboard at any time. This certificate is your company’s official proof of legal existence in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, you need it to open a corporate bank account and register for tax.
Step 8 — Open a Corporate Bank Account
After incorporation, open a corporate bank account with a licensed Sri Lankan bank. ASAC prepares all required board resolutions and banking documentation. However, some banks require a video call or an in-person visit to finalise account opening for overseas-owned companies. As a result, research your bank options early. ASAC advises all overseas clients on the most suitable banking options for their situation.
How Long Does Company Registration Sri Lanka from Overseas Take?
Here is a realistic timeline for overseas registrations. Local registrations typically take 7 to 14 business days. Company registration Sri Lanka from overseas takes slightly longer due to document certification and time zone differences.
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Initial consultation and eligibility check | 1 business day |
| Document preparation and certified passports | 3 — 5 business days |
| Name reservation | 2 — 3 business days |
| Digital document signing via Adobe Sign | 1 business day |
| eROC submission and Registrar review | 5 — 7 business days |
| Certificate of Incorporation issued | Same day as approval |
| Total | 10 — 21 business days |
The certified passport step causes most delays. Therefore, get your passports certified before you start. As a result, you save at least 3 to 5 business days off the total timeline.
Key Requirements Unique to Company Registration Sri Lanka from Overseas
Certified passport copies. Get these certified by a notary or lawyer in your home country before contacting ASAC. This is mandatory and non-negotiable.
Trilingual Articles of Association. All companies with foreign shareholders must include the company name in English, Sinhala, and Tamil in the Articles of Association. ASAC handles this automatically.
Physical registered address in Sri Lanka. A foreign address, virtual office, or PO Box does not qualify. ASAC provides a compliant registered address facility for all overseas clients.
Local Company Secretary. This person must reside in Sri Lanka and hold a valid Certificate of Practice. ASAC fulfils this role for all overseas client companies year-round.
Investor Visa (optional). Foreign investors who invest at least USD 100,000 can apply for a 5-year renewable investor visa. Moreover, a USD 200,000 investment qualifies for a 10-year renewable visa. This is optional — you do not need a visa to complete company registration Sri Lanka from overseas.
Managing Your Company from Overseas After Registration
Many ASAC clients run their Sri Lankan companies entirely from overseas. Your Company Secretary handles all local compliance obligations on your behalf. These include Annual Returns, board resolutions, director changes, shareholder updates, and all Registrar correspondence.
Furthermore, all ASAC clients get access to The Boardroom — our 24/7 company records platform available on mobile and desktop. Your Certificate of Incorporation, statutory documents, Annual Returns, and board resolutions are all accessible from anywhere in the world at any time.
As a result, you stay in full control of your company without needing to be physically present in Sri Lanka.
Common Mistakes Overseas Investors Make
Not getting passport copies certified before starting. This is the number one cause of delays in company registration Sri Lanka from overseas. Get your passports certified before you do anything else.
Not checking sector restrictions first. Some industries cap foreign ownership at 40% or prohibit it entirely. Registering in the wrong structure forces mandatory restructuring later. Therefore, always confirm your sector eligibility first.
Using a virtual address or PO Box. Foreign addresses, virtual offices, and PO Boxes are not accepted. You need a real physical address in Sri Lanka from the moment of registration.
Skipping the local Company Secretary. Many overseas investors try to avoid this requirement. However, it is non-negotiable. Without it, your registration will fail immediately.
Waiting until after registration to think about banking. Some Sri Lankan banks have strict requirements for overseas-owned companies. As a result, research your bank options early. Furthermore, ASAC advises on which banks work best for overseas clients.
Not protecting your brand. A registered company name does not protect your brand from similar names or trademarks. ASAC provides trademark registration services to protect your brand alongside your company registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I complete company registration Sri Lanka from overseas without visiting Sri Lanka? Yes. The entire process runs online through the eROC portal. You do not need to visit Sri Lanka at any point during the registration process. ASAC manages everything remotely on your behalf.
Do I need a Sri Lankan partner for company registration Sri Lanka from overseas? Not in most sectors. Sri Lanka permits 100% foreign ownership in the majority of industries. However, some sectors cap foreign ownership at 40%. Confirm your sector rules before you start.
Can I be the sole director and shareholder of a Sri Lankan company from overseas? Yes. A single foreign national can act as the sole director and sole shareholder of a Private Limited Company in Sri Lanka. This applies in all sectors that allow 100% foreign ownership.
How do I sign documents for company registration Sri Lanka from overseas? ASAC uses Adobe Sign for digital document execution. You receive signing requests by email and sign from any device. No printing or posting is required.
Do I need a Sri Lankan bank account to register a company from overseas? No. You do not need a bank account to complete the registration. However, you need one to operate your company after incorporation. ASAC helps overseas clients navigate the bank account opening process.
Can I manage my Sri Lankan company from overseas after it is registered? Yes. Your ASAC Company Secretary handles all local compliance on your behalf. Furthermore, The Boardroom platform gives you 24/7 access to all your company records from anywhere in the world.
How ASAC Can Help
Ananda Sirisena & Company (ASAC) has specialised in company registration Sri Lanka from overseas since 1991. We have assisted clients in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Middle East, Singapore, Canada, and across Asia to complete their Sri Lanka company registration entirely remotely.
We handle everything. Sector eligibility assessment, name reservation, document preparation, certified document coordination, digital signing via Adobe Sign, eROC submission, registered office address, Company Secretary appointment, and corporate bank account documentation — all under one roof.
Furthermore, we manage your company’s ongoing compliance after registration. Annual Returns, board resolutions, director changes, shareholder updates — we handle it all while you focus on building your business.
All ASAC clients get access to The Boardroom — our 24/7 company records platform on mobile and desktop. Your company is always at your fingertips, wherever you are in the world.
If you are ready to begin your company registration Sri Lanka from overseas, or simply want to understand the process first, book a free 15-minute call with our team below. We will give you a clear, accurate plan for your specific situation.
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