Register a private limited company with BRS
Business Registration Service · sources read 30 Sep 2026
Apply on BRS eCitizen: choose private limited company, give 3 to 5 names, add directors and shareholders, sign and upload the forms, then pay KSh 10,750. It takes about 3 to 5 days.
- Fee
- KSh 10,750Registration of a private limited company
- How long
- About 3 to 5 days
- Deadline
- Submit your beneficial ownership register (form BOF1) to the Registrar within 30 days of preparing it
- Where
- Online on the BRS portal on eCitizen
What you need
- A recent coloured passport photo for each director and shareholder
- Each director and shareholder must already be registered on KRA iTax
- The forms the system generates (CR1, CR2, CR8 and statement of nominal capital), signed, scanned and uploaded
Steps
- Log in to BRS on eCitizen and choose Private Limited Company.
- Enter 3 to 5 names you like, in order of preference, then fill in the company's general details.
- Add the directors and shareholders with their passport photos, then fill in who holds which shares.
- Download the forms the system generates, sign, scan and upload them. Check everything before you submit.
- Pay online by mobile money or card. Registration usually takes 3 to 5 days.
Watch out
- You must also declare the real owners behind the company: anyone holding at least 10% of the shares, directly or indirectly. This is done on BRS with form BOF1.
- Pay the exact amount eCitizen shows at checkout. Some BRS pages still show an older fee.
- Get every director and shareholder a KRA PIN first. The application needs them to be on iTax.
Who can apply
- A private company can have at most 50 members (shareholders) and cannot invite the public to buy its shares.
Official sources (5)
- FAQs (How do I register a private limited company?) brs.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Fee Schedule - Companies Registry brs.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Entities Registered Under BRS in Kenya brs.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Guide on Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership Information brs.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- BRS on eCitizen brsv2.ecitizen.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026