LAWYER FOR FOREIGN COMPANY (BRANCH OFFICE AND REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF A FOREIGN COMPANY) – The procedure for registration a branch or representative office of a foreign company is carried out before the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia by an authorized registration agent – a lawyer.
Our law office is authorized for conveying all kinds of procedures before the Central Registry, including procedures for registration of a branch or representative office of a foreign company.
When do you establish a branch office, and when a representative office of a foreign company?
A foreign company that intends to carry out a commercial activity in North Macedonia should establish a branch office.
A foreign company that intends to research the market potential, promote its services and goods, should establish a representative office. The representative office does not have the right to carry out commercial activities. The representative office does not have the status of a legal entity. Any obligations and responsibilities that will arise from the operation of the representative office, fall on the foreign company.
Whether you need to establish a branch office or a representative office, you should hire an expert. The authorized registration agent (the lawyer), will help you with the preparation of the necessary documentation and conveying the procedure before the Central Registry of North Macedonia.
What is the legal status of the foreign company’s branch office?
The foreign company’s branch office has the full legal and business capacity as a domestic legal entity. The legal entity means access to the courts on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, as well. The branch office acts in legal transactions on behalf of the foreign company. When performing, it must use the company’s name and headquarters. The foreign company is responsible for all the assets and obligations that arise from the branch office’s operations.
How many branch offices can a foreign company establish?
The foreign company can organize one or more branch offices, depending on the number of the activities. If the foreign company organize several branch offices, it must label the main branch office under it will operate in Macedonia. The other branch offices will act as secondary branch offices of the main branch office.
For each branch office, the foreign company must appoint a representative, who can simultaneously represent several branch offices of the foreign company.
What are the obligations of the foreign company’s branch office?
The foreign company’s branch office must regularly and chronologically keep the commercial books. It also must publish the annual account and the audit report, the annotations in the commercial register or another appropriate register, as well as all other annotations that are significant for the financial position of the foreign company.
How does the foreign company’s branch office cease to exist?
The branch office ceases to exist when the foreign company ceases to exist. Also, the branch office will terminate with the expiration of a certain period. Also, the branch office can be terminated by a court decision in precisely defined cases.
When the main branch office terminates, the foreign company determines a new main branch office from the remaining ones.
If you need legal advice or help regarding the procedure for the establishment or termination of a branch/representative office of a foreign company, feel free to contact us!