To register a company in Ireland, you do not usually arrive with one finished document called a “company application”. You provide a set of decisions, identity details and company information that allow the incorporation Form A1 and the LTD constitution to be prepared correctly. The CRO then considers the application and, if it is acceptable, incorporates the company.
This guide is a practical pre-filing checklist for an Irish private company limited by shares, known as an LTD. It separates the information that is needed to incorporate from the work that happens after incorporation, such as RBO registration, banking and Revenue registration.
Quick answer
Prepare a proposed name and backup, the company activity, a physical Irish registered office, directors, a secretary, shareholders and issued shares. You also need the relevant PPSN or IPN identity details. A one-director LTD needs a separate secretary, and a company with no EEA-resident director usually needs a Section 137 bond route. The RBO filing follows incorporation, but beneficial-owner details should be collected early.
Documents and Information at a Glance
| Item | Why it is needed | Prepare before filing? |
|---|---|---|
| Company name choices | The CRO assesses whether the name is acceptable | Yes, include backups |
| Form A1 information | Records the company, officers, members, shares and activity | Yes |
| LTD constitution | Sets the company's internal constitutional rules | Yes |
| Officer identity details | Required for CRO filings and verification | Yes |
| Irish registered office | Official address for CRO correspondence and notices | Yes |
| Beneficial-owner information | Needed for the RBO filing after incorporation | Collect early; file after incorporation |
1. Proposed Company Name and Backup Names
Start with a first-choice company name and at least two alternatives. The CRO can reject a name that is identical or too similar to an existing registered name, implies an unapproved connection with the State, contains restricted wording without consent or is otherwise undesirable. Exact spelling is only one part of the check: names that sound alike can cause a problem as well.
The company name must reflect the company type. An LTD normally includes “Limited”, “Ltd” or the Irish-language equivalent where relevant. Check the name before a logo, domain purchase or launch announcement becomes expensive to undo. Use the company name check to review CRO similarities and the practical trade-mark question.
2. The Information Required for Form A1
Form A1 is the CRO application for incorporation. A formation provider can prepare and file it, but the people forming the company must supply accurate underlying information. CRO guidance covers the name, registered office, company email, director and secretary information, subscribers, issued shares and the principal company activity.
- The proposed company name and company type.
- The registered office address in Ireland and company email address.
- Each director's full name, residential address, date of birth and consent to act.
- The company secretary's details and consent to act.
- Each subscriber or first shareholder and their shareholding.
- The number, class and nominal value of issued shares.
- The principal activity, NACE code and Irish location where the activity will be carried on.
Read the CRO Form A1 guide before deciding that a detail is “only administrative”. The form fixes the initial public record, so correcting it later may mean additional filings.
3. LTD Constitution
The constitution is the company’s constitutional document. It records the type of company and its internal rules. A private company limited by shares registered under Part 2 of the Companies Act 2014 uses the one-document LTD constitution. It is not a generic document to copy casually from an unrelated company, particularly where there are investors, multiple classes of shares or bespoke governance rights.
StartCompany.ie formation packages include the constitution. Founders with complex ownership, investment, family-business or holding-company arrangements should obtain legal advice before the subscriber and share terms are finalised.
4. Directors and the Company Secretary
Every company needs at least one director and a company secretary. An LTD can have one director, but a sole director cannot also be the secretary. The secretary can be another suitable person or an eligible corporate secretary. The people named in the application should understand that company officers have legal roles; they are not merely contacts for the form.
Confirm the officers before filing, including spelling, address and date of birth. A director must be at least 18 and an individual. Our one-person company guide explains the roles, and the company secretary service is available where a founder needs support.
5. PPSN, VIF and IPN Identity Information
CRO director identity requirements are a key part of a modern incorporation checklist. A director with an Irish PPSN needs to ensure that their first name, surname and date of birth supplied to the CRO match the official Department of Social Protection record. A mismatch can delay the application or a later filing.
A director without a PPSN uses the CRO Verification of Identity Form process and obtains an Identified Person Number, or IPN. CRO guidance states that VIF forms submitted after 30 April 2026 require the witness and declarant to be physically together. This is worth arranging early, especially for founders outside Ireland. See the PPSN, IPN and VIF guide for the full process.
6. Shareholders, Subscribers and Issued Shares
A subscriber is a person or entity that agrees to take the first shares in the company. Their details and shares are stated on the incorporation documents. For a simple founder-owned company, this may mean one shareholder holding all issued ordinary shares. For a company with co-founders, decide the ownership split, voting position and contributions before the application is prepared.
Do not leave an investor, spouse, holding company or nominee arrangement to an informal later conversation. Issued shares affect ownership, control and beneficial ownership. They can also have tax and legal consequences, so take advice where the arrangement is not simple.
7. Physical Registered Office in Ireland
Every Irish company needs a physical registered office in the State. This is where formal notices and CRO correspondence are served. A PO box alone is not sufficient. The address may be a home, business premises or a professional registered-office service, but it needs to be reliable and maintained after incorporation.
Think about privacy as well as eligibility. The registered office is publicly visible on the CRO record. A registered office address service may be preferable if using a home address would create unwanted exposure or mail-handling risk.
8. Principal Activity and NACE Code
Form A1 asks for a principal activity and NACE code, together with the place in Ireland where the activity will be carried on and where central administration will normally be conducted. Describe the business clearly enough to reflect what it will actually do. Avoid a vague activity description that will be hard to reconcile with banking, tax or later records.
An online business, consultancy or international trading company can still have a clear principal activity. The activity description does not replace specialist licences, tax advice or proof that the company has the required right to trade in a regulated sector.
9. Non-Resident Director and EEA Residence Evidence
A shareholder can live anywhere, but Irish company law generally expects at least one director to be resident in the EEA. Where no director meets that condition, the usual new-company route is a Section 137 bond with a value of EUR25,000 for two years. A Section 140 certificate can be relevant in certain cases with a real and continuous economic link to Ireland, but is not normally an immediate substitute for a new company with no history.
Establish the director-residency position before the rest of the paperwork is finalised. TheSection 137 bond guide and non-resident formation checklist explain the practical route.
What You Need After Incorporation, Not Before
Some important tasks are post-incorporation tasks. You can prepare for them in advance, but they do not replace the incorporation documents. The company will normally need to file beneficial ownership information with the RBO within five months of incorporation. It also has a first CRO annual return due generally six months after incorporation. Revenue registration, bank KYC and business-specific licences depend on the company’s actual activity.
Keep the information ready, then follow our post-incorporation checklist once the Certificate of Incorporation has been issued.
Final Pre-Filing Checklist
- Three company-name options, checked for similarity and restricted words.
- Chosen LTD structure and constitution requirements.
- Accurate director and separate secretary details, including consents.
- Verified PPSN details or a prepared VIF and IPN route.
- Physical Irish registered office and company email address.
- Subscribers, issued shares, share classes and ownership split.
- Principal activity, NACE code and Irish activity location.
- EEA-resident director position or Section 137 bond route.
- Beneficial-owner information ready for the post-incorporation RBO filing.
Ready to Prepare the Filing?
When the information is ready, StartCompany.ie can prepare the incorporation documents and file the application. Basic formation starts at EUR240. Choose Standard, Premium or Non-Resident where IPN, registered office, first-year compliance or bond requirements apply. Incorporation remains subject to CRO acceptance.
Compare the live formation packages or ask us to check the details you need before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents do I need to register a company in Ireland?
You need the information for Form A1, an LTD constitution, director and secretary details, shareholder and share details, a physical Irish registered office, company activity information and verified identity details. The exact supporting evidence depends on the people and structure involved.
Do I need a PPSN to be a director of an Irish company?
A director with a PPSN uses it for relevant CRO filings. A director without one normally uses the CRO Verification of Identity Form process to obtain an Identified Person Number, or IPN. Names and dates of birth need to match official identity records.
Do I need an Irish address to register a company?
The company needs a physical registered office in Ireland. It is the address for CRO correspondence and legal notices. A PO box alone is not enough, although a suitable registered-office service can be used.
Can one person register an Irish LTD?
Yes. One person can own all shares and be the only director of an Irish LTD. However, a single-director LTD must appoint a separate company secretary.
What is Form A1 in Ireland?
Form A1 is the CRO incorporation application. It records the proposed company name, registered office, directors, secretary, subscribers, issued shares, principal activity and statutory declarations required for incorporation.
What share information is needed for incorporation?
You need to decide who will subscribe for the first issued shares, the number and class of shares, their nominal value and the ownership split. Complex founder, investor or holding-company arrangements should be reviewed before filing.
Do non-residents need extra documents to form an Irish company?
The core incorporation information is similar, but directors without a PPSN may need the IPN route. If no director is EEA-resident, the company generally needs a Section 137 bond at incorporation unless another statutory route applies.
Do I need to register beneficial ownership before incorporation?
No. RBO registration happens after incorporation. A newly incorporated relevant entity normally has five months from incorporation to file its beneficial-ownership information, so collect the details before filing even though the RBO submission follows later.
Official Sources
- CRO: company incorporation guidance
- CRO: Irish company types
- CRO: current VIF and identity guidance
- RBO: beneficial ownership information
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, financial or company-secretarial advice.