# How to register a company in Pakistan with SECP: steps and fees

URL: https://which.pk/business/guides/how-to-register-a-company-in-pakistan/
Author: Ahtisham Imtiaz
Updated: 7 Oct 2026

## Summary

You register a company in Pakistan online through SECP's eZfile portal (leap.secp.gov.pk). One application covers name reservation and incorporation: you sign up with your CNIC and mobile number, choose the company type, name and business, add members, and pay by card or 1Bill. The online fee is Rs 6,655 for capital up to Rs 1 lakh, plus Rs 932 per extra lakh, with no minimum capital. SECP sends your details to FBR, which issues the company's NTN.

## Key facts

- Online fee from: Rs 6,655
- Apply on: SECP eZfile
- Minimum capital: None
- Members: 1 (SMC) or 2–50

You register a company in Pakistan online with the **SECP** (Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan) on its **eZfile** portal, leap.secp.gov.pk. One application covers both the company name and incorporation. You need a CNIC and a mobile number in your own name, and you pay by card or 1Bill. The online fee starts at **Rs 6,655** for capital up to Rs 1 lakh, and there's no minimum capital. SECP then passes your details to FBR for the company's NTN.

## Which type of company should I register?

Under the Companies Act 2017, a company limited by shares can be:

| Type | Members | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Single member company (SMC) | 1 | You must name a nominee who is your spouse, parent, sibling or child |
| Private limited company | 2 to 50 | The most common choice |
| Public limited company | 3 or more | |

In May 2026, 60% of new registrations were private limited companies and 38% were SMCs, according to SECP figures reported by APP.

## What do I need before I start?

- A **CNIC** (or NICOP or passport) for each subscriber and director
- A **mobile number registered against your own CNIC**, used for a one-time code
- A proposed company name, and two backups if you like
- Your business activity, capital, and a correspondence address

You don't need a registered office on day one. You can incorporate with a correspondence address and give SECP the registered office address **within 30 days**.

## How do I register, step by step?

1. **Sign up on eZfile** (leap.secp.gov.pk). SECP checks your CNIC against NADRA and your mobile number with an OTP. Your username is your CNIC number.
2. **Choose "name reservation and incorporation"** and the company type.
3. **Check the name.** You can propose any name that isn't an exact match of a reserved one; restricted words are flagged. Explain what the name means.
4. **Pick your business sector and main activity.** The business must fit the company name.
5. **Enter capital, address and contact details.**
6. **Add subscribers and directors** with their CNICs. For an SMC, add the nominee and their relationship to you.
7. **Review the memorandum and articles**, which eZfile generates for you. You can edit the articles.
8. **Fill in the FBR details** (required) and, if you want, EOBI and social security registrations.
9. **Sign and pay.** Each member enters a PIN, then you pay by credit or debit card or through 1Bill (mobile banking, Easypaisa, ATM or over the counter).

SECP emails a digitally signed **certificate of incorporation**, which you can also download from your eZfile account.

**How long does it take?:** SECP doesn't publish a current turnaround time. The Board of Investment's undated page says about a week for the whole process, including NTN. In May 2026, 99.9% of new companies were registered online, according to SECP figures reported by APP.

## How much does it cost?

**Online incorporation fee:** Rs 6,655 (For nominal capital up to Rs 1 lakh, from SECP's fee calculator (2026 values))

Above Rs 1 lakh, add **Rs 932 for every Rs 1 lakh** of nominal capital, or part of it:

| Nominal capital | Online fee |
|---|---|
| Rs 1 lakh | Rs 6,655 |
| Rs 5 lakh | Rs 10,383 |
| Rs 10 lakh | Rs 15,043 |

Filing on paper costs more: the base fee is Rs 12,100. The **name reservation fee is separate**; it was Rs 1,000 for online filing after SECP's November 2024 fee revision (S.R.O. 1806(I)/2024). SECP updated its fee schedule again in April 2026, so check its calculator before you pay.

There's **no minimum capital**. SECP charges the minimum fee as if your capital were Rs 1 lakh.

## What happens after incorporation?

- **NTN:** SECP forwards your FBR details to FBR, which issues the company's NTN if the information is complete. See [how to check an NTN](/business/guides/how-to-check-ntn-number/).
- **Registered office:** give SECP the address within 30 days if you incorporated with a correspondence address.
- **Sales tax:** if the company will manufacture, import, trade wholesale or sell goods online, it must also register for sales tax. See [what an STRN is](/business/guides/what-is-strn/).
- **Shares:** since 3 March 2025, new companies must issue shares in book-entry (dematerialised) form.

More guides: [Company Setup](/business/company-setup/).

## Questions people ask

### How much does it cost to register a company with SECP?

SECP's fee calculator (2026 values) gives an online incorporation fee of Rs 6,655 for nominal capital up to Rs 1 lakh, plus Rs 932 for each extra Rs 1 lakh, so about Rs 15,043 for Rs 10 lakh of capital. Paper filing costs more, and the name reservation fee is extra.

### Is there a minimum capital to register a company?

No. SECP's incorporation FAQ (September 2025) says there is no minimum authorised capital; the minimum fee is simply worked out on Rs 1 lakh.

### Can one person register a company?

Yes, as a single member company (SMC). You must name a nominee who is a close relative: spouse, parent, sibling or child.

### What documents do I need?

For online filing, each subscriber needs a valid CNIC (or NICOP or passport) and a mobile number registered in their name. eZfile generates the application, memorandum and articles for you.

### Do I get an NTN with the company?

SECP forwards the FBR details you enter during incorporation to FBR, which issues the company's NTN if the information is complete and accurate.

## Sources

- [Registration of Company](https://www.secp.gov.pk/company-formation/registration-of-company/), SECP (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Frequently Asked Questions on Incorporation (Sep 2025)](https://www.secp.gov.pk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FAQs-Incorporaiton.pdf), SECP (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Fee Calculator: Company Incorporation](https://www.secp.gov.pk/company-formation/fee-calculator/company-incorporation-fee-calculator/), SECP (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Schedule of Fee (Seventh Schedule)](https://www.secp.gov.pk/company-formation/fee-calculator/schedule-of-feesixth-schedule/), SECP (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [eZfile user manual: name reservation and incorporation](https://www.secp.gov.pk/document/ezfile-user-manual-name-reservation-and-incorporation-2/?wpdmdl=50708&refresh=65f0aa9f96a671710271135), SECP (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [SECP significantly increases fees for company registration](https://bloompakistan.com/secp-significantly-increases-fees-for-company-registration-amid-reforms/), Bloom Pakistan (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [SECP prepares to launch eZfile, a new corporate registry](https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/02/12/secp-prepares-to-launch-ezfile-a-new-corporate-registry), Profit (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Reserve the name, register company, pay fees, obtain NTN on the SECP e-portal](https://invest.gov.pk/node/415), Board of Investment (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [SECP registers 258,000 companies in FY25](https://www.zameen.com/news/secp-registers-258000-companies-in-fy25.html), Zameen.com (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Record 415 companies incorporated in a single day](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1219119), Associated Press of Pakistan (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Pakistan's corporate sector achieves record growth in FY 2025-26](https://www.app.com.pk/?p=1238571), Associated Press of Pakistan (accessed 7 Oct 2026)