Company formationEuropeA Finnish osakeyhtiö (Oy) is a limited company founded by a memorandum of association signed by all its shareholders and registered by PRH. As of November 2026, a private Oy can be formed with EUR 0 of share capital, must be notified within three months of signing, and pays 20% income tax on its profits.
Updated
FinlandEurope
The shareholders sign a memorandum of association with the articles, and the company is notified to the Trade Register within three months of signing, or the incorporation lapses. Shareholders may be individuals or companies; PRH states that ordinary businesses face no restrictions on share ownership based on residence or citizenship.
Since 1 January 2026, notifications are filed online only, at ytj.fi or through PRH's online forms, with strong electronic identification. Where nobody responsible for the company has a Finnish personal identity code, the filing is made by a contact person with Finnish identification, by a responsible person using an accepted e-ID from certain EU countries on PRH's form for foreign persons, or by an attorney.
The board has one to five members unless the articles say otherwise, with at least one deputy if it has fewer than three; a managing director is optional. At least one ordinary board member, at least one deputy member where the board has deputies, and any managing director must live in the EEA unless PRH grants a permit. A representative authorised to receive service is needed unless an EEA-resident board member, managing director or signatory is registered.
The Trade Register Act sets PRH the target of registering a limited company within five working days of receiving everything needed for an electronic start-up notification. Beneficial owners are filed with PRH, also when there are none, and the same start-up notification can register the company for VAT and as an employer with Vero.
A foreign company can instead open a branch. It files a start-up notification for the branch before operations begin, a company from outside the EEA also needs a permit from PRH, and the branch files the foreign company's financial statements within six months of its year end.
Redomiciled coordinates the registration, the representative for service where one is needed, bookkeeping, financial statements, and tax, VAT and payroll registrations with Finnish providers; Finnish advisers give the legal and tax advice.
You invoice in euro and want an EU limited company that can start without share capital.
You need a local employer and a Finnish VAT number for customers and staff in Finland.
An ordinary board member, a deputy member where the board has deputies, and the managing director living in the EEA meet the residence rule without a PRH permit.
Dividends from Finnish and EU or EEA companies are, with exceptions, tax-exempt, and qualifying gains on fixed-asset shares are tax free.
Redomiciled coordinates the formation; licensed local agents file it. We start from where the company will trade and bank, and once it exists we introduce it to banking partners whose criteria fit. Formation and account opening are separate steps, each subject to its own checks.
The entity we recommend, with what banks will ask of the company, set against where it trades and banks.
We prepare the documents with you and coordinate the filing with our local partners.
We present the new company to banking partners whose criteria fit it.
Reminders for renewals, annual filings and the information banks request at periodic reviews.
Scope and fee are agreed with you up front, before any work begins.
With the articles of association; the company is notified within three months of signing.
At least one deputy if there are fewer than three members; board members are natural persons of age.
At least one ordinary board member, at least one deputy member where the board has deputies, and any managing director must live in the EEA unless PRH grants a permit.
The articles name the Finnish municipality where the company has its registered office.
With PRH, including a notification when there are none, and every change without delay.
Needed unless an EEA-resident board member, managing director or signatory is registered.
Optional for a private Oy; where shares are paid in cash, payment goes into a company account.
Not required while the company stays within the size limits of the Auditing Act.
General information, not tax advice. Your position depends on your circumstances.
Approved financial statements are filed with the Trade Register within eight months of the end of the financial period, also for a company without activity. An auditor is not required while no more than one of three limits is exceeded in the last two years: EUR 100,000 balance sheet total, EUR 200,000 net sales and 3 employees.
The company keeps its beneficial owner details current with PRH and files changes without delay. At least one ordinary board member, at least one deputy member where the board has deputies, and any managing director continue to live in the EEA unless PRH has granted a permit, and a representative for service stays registered where the law requires one.
The tax return, earnings payment reports and VAT returns follow Vero's deadlines, and the board keeps the company's own list of beneficial owners.
Since 1 January 2026 filing is online only. Without Finnish identity codes, the notification is filed by a contact person with Finnish identification, by a responsible person using an accepted e-ID from certain EU countries on PRH's form for foreign persons, or by an attorney.
The Trade Register Act sets PRH the target of registering a limited company within five working days of receiving all the information an electronic start-up notification needs. PRH also publishes the arrival dates it is currently processing.
No. At least one ordinary board member, at least one deputy member where the board has deputies, and any managing director must live in the EEA unless PRH grants a permit. A representative to receive service is needed unless an EEA-resident board member, managing director or signatory is registered.
Not if no more than one of three limits is exceeded in both of the last two financial years: EUR 100,000 balance sheet total, EUR 200,000 net sales and 3 employees on average.
Financial statements to the Trade Register within eight months of the year end, the tax return within four months after the last calendar month of the accounting year, and earnings payment reports within five days of each payday.
Yes. It files a start-up notification for the branch before operations begin, and a company from outside the EEA also needs a PRH permit. The branch files the foreign company's financial statements within six months of its financial year end.
Cyprus
Denmark
Hong Kong
United States
United Kingdom
British Virgin Islands
Redomiciliation moves a company's legal home to another jurisdiction while it stays the same company. What the law on both sides must allow, the steps and documents, and what changes for tax and banking.
A territorial tax system taxes income that arises in the country and leaves most foreign-source income alone. How Hong Kong and Singapore apply the idea, where the limits are, and why territorial does not mean tax-free.
Economic substance rules require companies in certain low-tax jurisdictions to carry on their core activities locally. What the Cayman, BVI and Hong Kong rules require, what changed in the UAE, and why banks ask about substance.
Answer a few questions and we come back with a recommendation for your situation, without obligation.
