A foreign investor can normally own 100% of a mainland Chinese company by registering a WFOE. You need a verifiable registered address in China, a legal representative, a defined business scope and a capital figure that matches that scope. Once documents are prepared, the business licence usually issues in 5–10 working days.
What you actually need before filing
Most delays come from documents, not from policy. Before anything is submitted you need five things settled:
- A registered address in China. Since 2023 the market regulator cross-checks addresses against property and utility records. A licensed virtual address or serviced office is normal for foreign founders; a post office box is not accepted.
- A legal representative. This person signs for the company and does not have to be a Chinese national. It can be the foreign founder, but it carries personal liability, so some investors appoint a local director instead.
- A business scope. Written from a standard catalogue of permitted activities. Anything outside the catalogue needs a licence or is refused, which is why scope is where most first drafts fail.
- Registered capital. A subscribed figure, not money you must pay immediately. It still needs to be credible against the scope and is subject to a five-year contribution timetable.
- Notarised or apostilled incorporation documents for the foreign parent or shareholder, plus passport copies.
The four filing steps
Registration in China is a sequence of separate authorities, and each one can only start after the previous step produces a document:
- Name approval and business licence — the Administration for Market Regulation issues the unified social credit code. Typically 3–5 working days once the file is accepted.
- Seals and bank account — company seal, legal representative seal, finance seal and invoice seal are engraved against the licence, then a RMB basic account is opened in person. This is the slowest stage, often 1–3 weeks.
- Tax registration and invoicing — the tax bureau records the entity, sets the taxpayer status (small-scale or general) and enables the electronic invoice system.
- Ongoing filings — monthly or quarterly VAT, monthly individual income tax, and annual corporate income tax and market-regulator reports.
What drives the timeline
A straightforward service WFOE in Shenzhen normally reaches “licence in hand” in two to three weeks and “able to invoice” in four to six weeks. Two variables dominate: whether the shareholder documents need notarisation abroad, and how long the bank takes on due diligence.
Manufacturing, education, medical and financial activities are on the negative list or require a pre-approval and can add two to three months. We tell you which category you fall into before you commit to a fee.
Typical timeline, service WFOE in Shenzhen
| Stage | Working days | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Name approval + business licence | 3–5 | Scope wording, address documents |
| Seals + bank account | 7–20 | Bank due diligence, signatory availability |
| Tax registration + e-invoicing | 3–7 | Taxpayer status election |
| Work permit for foreign staff | 15–30 | Category, degree and experience evidence |
Frequently asked
Do I have to be in China to register a company?
No. Registration and tax steps can be completed with a notarised or apostilled power of attorney. Bank account opening is the exception: most banks require the legal representative or an authorised signatory to appear in person, though a small number accept remote video onboarding for existing clients.
How much registered capital do I need?
There is no universal minimum for most service companies. Registered capital is a subscribed amount with a contribution deadline, not a deposit. Set it high enough to look credible to banks and licensing authorities, low enough that you can actually fund it — banks increasingly ask for evidence of the shareholder's ability to pay.
Can a foreigner be the legal representative?
Yes. Any person with a valid passport and no disqualifying record can act as legal representative. Note that the role carries signing authority and, in some circumstances, personal liability for company obligations, so many investors appoint a trusted local director instead.
Not sure which route applies to you?
Tell us what you are trying to do. The first call is a feasibility check, not a sales pitch.