Millions of Pakistanis abroad are watching the business landscape back home - some with homesick nostalgia, others with real commercial intent. If you're an overseas Pakistani or non-resident wanting to register a company in Pakistan without necessarily moving back, this guide is for you.
The good news: it is entirely possible to incorporate a Pakistani company as a non-resident, manage it remotely, and repatriate profits. The paperwork is more involved than for a resident, but the path is clear.
Can a Non-Resident Incorporate a Company in Pakistan?
Yes, under the Companies Act 2017. There is no citizenship or residency requirement for shareholders or directors of a Pakistani private limited company. Non-residents can be sole shareholders (SMC-Pvt Ltd), co-shareholders, or directors.
Two Common Situations
- Situation 1: Overseas Pakistani (Pakistani Passport or NICOP)If you have a NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis), use it for SECP and FBR registrations. It functions identically to CNIC and greatly simplifies remote verification.
- Situation 2: Foreign National (Non-Pakistani Citizenship)Requires notarized/apostilled copies of passport pages, local registered address, and appropriate business visas if executing physical paperwork inside Pakistan.
Documents Required for Non-Resident Registration
| Document Type | For Overseas Pakistani | For Foreign National |
|---|---|---|
| Primary ID | NICOP or valid Pakistan Passport | Valid Passport (Notarized) |
| Attestation | NADRA-verified NICOP sufficient | Apostille or Embassy attestation |
| NTN Pakistan | Obtainable online via NICOP | Obtainable online via Passport |
| Local Address | Required (Registered office) | Required (Registered office) |
| Bank Account | Needed for active operations | Needed for active operations |
Step-by-Step: Registering Remotely
Ensure your identity documents are active. Foreign nationals must get passport scans notarized and apostilled.
Having a local agent, lawyer, or trusted director facilitates physical signing, bank verifications, and SECP correspondence.
File NTN request on Iris using passport/NICOP. Requires a contact email/Pakistani mobile number to receive OTP codes.
Submit name reservation, upload MoA/AoA, pay incorporation fees online using international card, and receive digital Certificate of Incorporation.
Open corporate accounts. Banks generally require in-person visits to sign verify, or formal local POA authorized signatories.
FX Remittance & Repatriation Rules
Inbound currency: Retaining foreign client USD/GBP receipts is possible under SBP guidelines. IT exporters registered with PSEB receive additional foreign exchange retention benefits.
Outbound Repatriation: Dividends, capital gains, and liquidation values are legally repatriable. The company's bank executes remits after verifying FBR withholding taxes and SBP inward investment certificates.
Common Mistakes
Attempting FBR or SECP registration with expired passports or missing NICOPs creates verification blocks.
Failing to open a corporate account during the transition mixes personal and business taxes, raising direct audit warnings.
Transferring seed investments via personal channels without formal bank certificates makes future capital repatriation impossible.
Operating fully remote without a local resident manager/director complicates physical bank checks and local municipal trade licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can register as sole director of an SMC. However, appointing at least one resident director simplifies bank and municipal compliance operations.
The company pays corporate taxes in Pakistan. As a non-resident individual, you only pay withholding tax on dividends at source.
SECP and NTN registrations are 100% digital and remote. Corporate bank account opening is the only step requiring a physical visit or local attorney execution.