Applies to women only: Obtain husband’s permission to leave the home
Agency: Domicile
According to Personal Status Law, Arts. 74 and 75 a woman must obtain a husbands permission to leave the marital home. Therefore, she must obtain a husbands permission to leave the home and start a business.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Apply for company name reservation and commercial registration at the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection
Agency: Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection
The founders complete a draft of the memorandum of association and present it to the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection. The Ministry reviews the draft and requests that the founders make changes needed to comply with the law. If no amendments are required, the founders are called to sign the company memorandum before the Director of Interior Trade at the Ministry. Once approved, the founders are given ten certified copies, which they should take to the Directorate of Finance for registration upon declaring an address and place of business and paying the stamp duty.
Time and cost: 7 days, SYP 30
Open a financial record for the company, register for taxes and buy stamps at the tax authority of the Ministry of Finance
Agency: Tax Authority
The founders must open a financial record for the company at the Tax and Financial Department. In this procedure, the Tax Department will be informed about the start of business activities. Stamp duty is calculated at 0.4% of the capital amount, and the local administrative fee is calculated at 5% of the Stamp Duty collected. In addition a receipt stamp in the amount of SYP 20 is payable.
Time and cost: 3 days, 0.4% of capital (stamp duty) + 5% of the stamp duty (local administrative tax) + SYP 20 (receipt stamp)
Publish the memorandum of association in the Official Gazette
Agency: Official Gazette
Limited liability companies are required by law to publish the decision of the establishment of the company in the Official Gazette. Payment is to be made to the Official Gazette before obtaining the commercial registration certificate.
Time and cost: 1 day (simultaneous with procedure 2), SYP 4,000 per page
Deposit the initial capital in a bank and obtain a statement thereof
Agency: Bank
The founders are required to deposit initial capital (40% of the capital at the time of registration) before finalizing commercial registration with the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection.
Time and cost: 1 day (simultaneous with procedure 2), SYP 1,000
Visit commercial registry with the signed copy of the articles of incorporation
Agency: Commercial Registry
The company will be registered upon presenting the articles of incorporation and the other requested documents, including proof of headquarters (ownership or lease contract of the premises), bank statement for proof of deposit of the company capital, criminal record certificate for the company signatory (usually the CEO), copies of the partners’ ID cards, certificate of no objection letter from the Ministry of Finance, and the Official Gazette receipt. Furthermore, the company’s headquarter can also be domiciled at the attorney’s office temporarily (for a maximum period of 6 months).
Time and cost: 1 day, SYP 10,000
Register with the Social Security Organization
Agency: Social Security Organization
The company must register its employees with the social security organization within 15 days of employment. The social security organization takes care of pension and worker’s compensation.
Time and cost: 1 day, SYP 20
Make a company seal
Agency: Seal maker
Though not explicitly cited in Syrian law, the use of a seal is a commercial custom. The official authorities, especially the tax authorities, assume that companies use a seal to authenticate their transactions. Under the Syrian commercial law, commercial custom is considered as a source of commercial law.
The cost for obtaining a seal from the seal maker varies depending on the type of seal.
Time and cost: 3 days, SYP 2,500
