Representative office registration
Give your foreign company a presence in the Philippines for marketing, quality control, customer support or communication, without setting up a business that earns income locally.
What it is
A representative office is a liaison office that serves your business at home or in other countries. It can market your products, check quality and handle communication, but it can't sell to Philippine customers. It's often used for customer support operations.
You'll remit USD30,000 at setup and every year after, and appoint a resident agent. Our all-inclusive fee is PHP145,000.
Key requirements
| Ownership | 100% owned by the foreign head office; not a separate legal entity |
|---|---|
| Minimum capital | USD30,000 at setup and at least USD30,000 every year after; the SEC needs proof of remittance before approval |
| Resident agent | Required: an individual living in the Philippines, or a domestic corporation, to receive summons and legal notices |
| Revenue | Not allowed to earn income or offer services to third parties in the Philippines |
| Income tax | Not subject to income tax |
| Liability | The foreign head office is fully liable |
| Visa & work permits | Eligible |
| Registration time | Within about 35 days |
What our PHP145,000 fee covers
One clear price that includes government, legal, professional and notary fees, transport, Official Receipt printing and incidentals.
- Consultation with our legal team
- Company name reservation
- Preparation of registration documents
- Notarization
- Filing and registration with the SEC
- BIR registration in your city
- LGU registration: Barangay, Mayor's, Sanitary and Fire Safety permits
- Free 45-minute accounting consultation on compliance at hand-over
Representative office questions
What can a representative office do?
Marketing, information dissemination, quality control, communication and support for the head office. It can't earn income or serve third parties in the Philippines.
What's the minimum capital?
USD30,000 at setup, then at least USD30,000 every year after.
Does it pay income tax?
No. It can't earn income locally, so it isn't subject to income tax.
Will I need an office address?
Yes, for BIR and LGU registration. A vOffice virtual office covers it.
What if I want to sell locally later?
You'd need a structure that can earn revenue, such as a branch office or a foreign-owned corporation.
Establish your presence in the Philippines.
Book a free consultation with our incorporation team.