BVI Formation

Step 1 of 2

Company search & certificate of good standing

For any BVI Business Company, whether or not we act for it. These are public records, so all we need is enough to identify the company: its name, its number, or both.

Details of the company

Give the name, the registration number, or both. Both is faster and removes any doubt about which company you mean.

Where to send it

If the certificate cannot be issued, you are not charged. The Registrar issues a Certificate of Good Standing only for a company that is actually in good standing. If the company has been struck off, dissolved, or is behind on its fees, no certificate can be issued: we tell you what the Register shows and refund that item in full. The same applies if the company cannot be found at all.

Questions

Do I have to be connected to the company?

No. Anyone may search the Register of Corporate Affairs about any BVI company, and anyone may request a Certificate of Good Standing for one. You do not need to be a director, a shareholder, or a client of ours.

What is the difference between the two?

The search is our report of what the Register holds: broader, faster, and useful when you want to know the position, including a bad one. The certificate is the Registrar’s own document, issued under seal, and it only exists if the answer is good. Banks and foreign registries usually want the certificate; due diligence usually wants the search.

Will the company know I asked?

No. Neither the search nor the certificate is notified to the company or its registered agent.

Can I get it apostilled?

Yes, and a physical original can be couriered. Neither is on this page because both are priced by destination. Tell us where it is going and we will quote before you commit.

How current is the information?

Both are taken from the Register on the day we act. A certificate is dated, and counterparties commonly refuse one more than three months old, so order it when you need it rather than in advance.