User Guide No. 1 Introduction Who can Form a Company Decisions Prior to Incorporation Step 1: Choose available name Step 2: Registered Office Step 3: Memorandum and Articles Step 4: Directors and Shareholders Applying to the Registrar Fees

BVI Financial Services Commission User Guide No. 1 - Incorporating a Company Limited by Shares

Step 1 - Choose an available name

The Act contains a number of requirements with respect to the names that may be used by companies. These are described more fully in User Guide No. 2 [Company Names].

Your registered agent can conduct an electronic on-line search to discover whether a name is in use or has been in use and should be able to advise you on whether your proposed name is likely to be accepted by the Registry. Alternatively, you can go to the Registry and undertake a search yourself.

It is not necessary for you to choose a specific name for your company. If you prefer, the name of the company can be its BVI Company Number, which the Registry will give to the company when it is registered, together with the required ending. A BVI company number name will be in the form “BVI Company Number 12345” with the appropriate ending, such as “Limited” or “Ltd.”.

A company may also have a foreign character name.