Keeping MISA registration and your CR current

A foreign-owned company holds two registrations that both need attention once a year: its investment registration with the Ministry of Investment (MISA), and its commercial registration (CR) with the Ministry of Commerce. Neither is "renewed" in the old sense any more — under the current laws each is kept alive by a yearly update — but missing either can stop the company.

Under the Investment Law's Implementing Regulation, the investor submits an annual update of its registered data and undertakings.

• It can be filed during the 60 working days before the due date, and MISA sends a reminder 30 working days ahead.
• Once the date passes, MISA allows up to 30 more working days.
• After that the registration can still be reactivated within three years; beyond three years, the investor has to register again.

MISA's Investor Guide adds that the foreign shareholder's commercial registration in its home country must still be valid, that MISA processes the update within 5 working days, and that its fee must be paid within the period MISA gives, or the registration is treated as void.

Under the Commercial Register Law, the CR no longer expires; the company confirms its data every 12 months, starting one year from the date of registration. The Ministry warns 14 days before suspending, and a confirmation not made within 90 days of its due date suspends the CR together with every licence tied to it.

• For a foreign-owned company, the Ministry of Commerce's annual confirmation service asks for an investment registration that is still valid for at least 30 more days. A lapsed MISA registration can therefore block the CR confirmation.
• When the investment registration is amended — new partners or activities, for example — MISA's Investor Guide asks the company to update its partners' resolution and CR within 30 days, or MISA may restore the old data.

The two dates rarely fall on the same day. Keep MISA current first, then confirm the CR.

Mohla Comply puts both dates on your 12-month calendar and reminds you 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each one — you choose which reminders you receive. When you ask, Mohla's team makes the MISA update or the CR confirmation for you, as a case you can follow in your account.

Government fees are paid at cost. Mohla's own fee is in the written quote you receive before any work starts.