1. Choose your business type:

  1.1. Free Zone Company – FZCo

  FZCo registration allows for multiple shareholders

  Can be individuals (person) and/or non-individuals (company)

  An FZCo is essentially a limited liability company within the Free Zone

  1.2. Free Zone Establishment – FZE

  FZE registration allows for a single shareholder

  The shareholders can be an individual (person) or non-individual (company)

  An FZE is essentially a limited liability company within the Free Zone

  1.3. Branch of a Company

  A branch is considered a legal entity of its parent company

  An entity established outside of Djibouti International Free Trade Zone may establish a branch within DIFTZ.

2. Drafting of your company’s business plan

Ensure presenting a short description of your business profile; describe size of your company & capacity, type of products trade, origin and final destination etc…

3. Drafting of the company’s articles of association; Notarization of this Articles of Association

4. Notarization of the specimen of signatures of the new company directors and manager

5. Drafting of the board of resolution of the new company; appointing the manager of the new company and containing various mandatory clauses, in accordance with the Free Zone company law of Djibouti. Notarization of this resolution.

6. Submission of the all file to Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority; along with your company application form for registration & license

7. After reviewing your file; DPFZA will issue an opening bank account letter for the capital deposit

8. Applicant to open commercial bank account for the capital injection. According to the Free Zones Act. Law, 3 types of Free Zone company is allowed in Djibouti Free Zones.

  8.1. FZE(1 Shareholder) USD 140,000 of Capital Injection

  8.2. FZCo(2 Shareholders minimum) USD 70,000 of Capital Injection

  8.3. BRANCH(Representative of foreign company, no legal person) USD 10,000 of deposit as Capital. Once the company has been registered and licensed, the injected capital can be freely used for the company’s operations.

9. After the capital injection, the Bank issue a letter to the applicant to be returned to DPFZA. Applicant shall proceed with the Payment of the company’s registration fee (USD 4000 one time payment) along with the license and office rental in the Free Zone.

There are 2 types of Trading License:

  1. “Simple Trading License” limited to 5 products types for a fee of (USD 2500 per Year)

  2. “General Trading License” for an unlimited number of products for a fee of (USD 4000 per Year).

Be advice, until the license is obtained, the bank account with the capital deposited is frozen.

It is then necessary to pay the registration, the license fees, and the office rental in advance, because the Bank will only unblock the bank account with the presentation of the original certificate of registration and License.

10. After getting the license, an official document must be submitted to the Djibouti Customs office to obtain the NIF Code (Tax Identification Number)

  The NIF Code will allow you to connect to Djibouti Custom’s Sydonia IT System, start operations, and import goods into Djibouti.

11. Drafting and printing of the Shares Capital Certificates, registration of the Shares Capital Certificates with DPFZA.

12. One Year visa, Resident Card and Work Permit procedures start for the manager of the company.

  Foreign Directors (Board Members) of the company with no employment contract with the company can only apply for one year Visa.

1. Buyer Registration